The Third Circuit ruled New Jersey's "assault firearm" and high-capacity magazine bans violate the Second Amendment. Knife Rights filed supplemental briefs in its Federal Switchblade Act and Minnesota switchblade ban challenges, citing the decision's support for their arguments that commonly-used arms deserve constitutional protection.
Hook & Barrel Magazine is partnering with Beretta to give away a Beretta M9A4 Overlanding 9mm pistol in Clay finish. The sweepstakes runs through September 3, 2026, with readers able to enter via the Hook & Barrel website.
MidwayUSA is hiring two Product Specialists in Columbia, MO for Optics and Clothing, Footwear & Marketplaces categories. Positions offer $55,000-$71,500 annually with benefits including 401(k) matching, flexible PTO, and professional development opportunities.
MidwayUSA is hiring three Purchasing Specialists in Columbia, MO for Clothing, Footwear & Marketplaces; Knives, Camping & Fishing; and Ammunition & Reloading categories. Positions require 1-3 years experience, a bachelor's degree, and outdoor industry knowledge, with salaries ranging from $55,000-$71,500.
Knife Rights, founded in 2006 by the author in response to a Wall Street Journal article, celebrates two decades of advancing knife owners' civil rights. The organization has achieved 58 legislative victories and court wins repealing knife bans across 36 states, federal law, and over 200 cities, while defeating 13 anti-knife bills and litigating federal Second Amendment challenges.
WE Knife Co. and CIVIVI unveil their 2026 Hunting Lineup launching July 27, 2026, featuring the award-winning WE Notchline, CIVIVI High Grass designed by Matt Gentry, and CIVIVI Carveth. The collection combines premium craftsmanship with field-tested ergonomics for outdoor professionals and EDC enthusiasts.
CIVIVI, a sub-brand of WE Knife Co., has launched CIVIVI Elite, a premium product line debuting July 27, 2026, with its flagship Brova knife. The line features elevated materials, high-performance blade steels, and refined craftsmanship while maintaining CIVIVI's accessible philosophy.
Sportsman Channel launches "Full Draw Friday" programming block featuring bowhunting shows including Tim Wells' Relentless Pursuit, Stompin' Groundz TV, Haymaker Hunting with King Pedford, HARDCORE Pursuit with Mike Pelletier, Ranch America, Jay Gregory's The Wild Outdoors, and Steven Rinella's MeatEater, airing Fridays 8:00-11:30 p.m. ET.
Pursuit Channel announced new seasons of flagship programs including Dean Partridge's Canadian Whitetail, Red Arrow with Kip Campbell, Game On with Blaine Anthony, The High Road with Keith Warren, and Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild. Episodes will air on Pursuit Channel and stream via Pursuit UP across multiple platforms.
The Stretch 2 XL Lightweight Salt is the latest in a long line of Spyderco folding hunting knives. The back locks started out 30 years ago, and have gone through a series of tweaks, refinements, and variations along the way.
The Stretch 2 XL bumped the size up, and the Lightweight versions added FRN scales to make it easier to carry. Now the Salt version adds incredibly corrosion-resistant H2 steel to the mix.
Salty Solutions
The Stretch 2 XL Lightweight Salt (that’s a mouthful) has a 3.99 inch blade of H-2 steel with a hollow grind. It’s available in both a plain edge and fully serrated version. Lockup is by means of a classic, tried and true back lock.
Handles are of bright yellow FRM with a bi-directional texture for positive grip, especially in the wet conditions this knife is designed to be used in. Closed, it’s just under 5 inches and open it’s nearly 9. It’s a good-sized folder, although the weight is only 3 ounces.
The 2 XL Lightweight Salt is only .118 inches thick to so it’s easy to carry despite its size. You have a lot of carry options, too with a pocket clip that’s both right and left hand reversible, as well as tip up or tip down carry.
The Stretch 2 XL is made in Japan to Spyderco’s always excellent tolerances, and carries and MSRP of $186.50, although I’m seeing street prices closer to $130.
H-2 Steel
H-2 is the successor to the Japanese H-1 steel used previously in the Spyderco Salt line. H-1 provided a good balance of cutting performance and extreme corrosion resistance. Unfortunately, H-1 production fell prey to Covid-19 restrictions and never recovered.
Spyderco worked with their Japanese steel partners to develop a new replacement steel appropriately named H-2. H-2 is actually even more corrosion resistant than H-1, and is easier to produce. H-1 and H-2 are what is considered austenitic steel. Austentic steel doesn’t use a traditional hardening and tempering processes like high carbon martensitic steels. It’s hardened through rolling and cold-working processes.
H-2 is extremely corrosion resistant. I’ve worked with H-1 over the years and had a buddy test it long term while he was living on a sail boat. Even with daily exposure to salt water and salt air, including full immersion into salt water for days, then being pulled free and just left to dry, the most he was able to get it to do was discolor the blade etching slightly. More mundane testing around the lakes and creeks of Western Pennsylvania didn’t produce any different results. If H-2 is even more corrosion resistant than that, I can’t imagine what it would take to affect it.
It’s also extremely tough steel, and has a slightly lower (although still respectable) Rockwell hardness than H-1, at 55-57 HRC. That means you may need to touch your edge up a little more often, depending on your use.
In the world of super steels, I know folks gasp in horror at sharpening their knives, but it really isn’t a big deal. A Spyderco pocket ceramic stone would do nicely for an occasional touch up in the field. You trade a little bit of edge retention for extreme corrosion resistance, at what’s still a pretty affordable price.
Hands On and Thoughts on Use
In hand, the Stretch 2 XL is a comfortable knife. It has a big, well contoured handle that works well for folks with larger hands, or when wearing gloves. A buddy of mine stopped over when I was working with the Stretch 2 XL and he has big hands. He loved it. He ended up buying one after checking mine out. With that said, it’s not too big for mid or smaller hands either, it just gives you more room to choke up.
Opening the knife is easy with the classic ambidextrous Spyderhole, especially since you have a solid platform from all of the gripping area on the handle. Lockup is positive with no blade play, and the blade is well centered when closed, which I’d expect from Spyderco.
The factory edge came hair-popping sharp. Honestly, after reading that H-2 may have a bit less edge retention than some other steels, I didn’t expect it to start as sharp. I rapidly found out that I was dead wrong, and I ended up with a bare patch on my arm after skimming the Salt over it. Suffice it to say that it still comes with that precise Spyderco edge that I’m used to with their other models.
I had both a fully serrated version and a plain edge version for testing. Although I’m usually a plain edge guy, I can see the benefit of the fully serrated version if you’re working around water and cutting a lot of ropes or lines.
I have an older, fully serrated H-1 Delica Salt and I’ve used that on many beach trips over the years. Even though I like a plain edge, I can’t say having the serrated version ever impeded me in any way. The nice thing is you have the option of either edge style, depending on what your preference is.
Despite being a fairly big knife, the Stretch 2 XL carries like a much smaller blade. It’s thin, flat, and only weighs 3 ounces. Sure it takes up a little more pocket space, but that isn’t something I even noticed. The reversible clip and tip-up or tip-down carry option is nice, too as it lets you set it up for however and wherever you want to carry it.
The Salt series classically have bright yellow handles and I’m a fan. I know tactical guys may not like them since they’re bright and, well, not black or FDE. But for camping, hunting, fishing or anything of the sort, I love the bright color. If you set your knife down when you’re using it or drop it, that yellow really stands out. These really are designed as hunting, fishing, and utility knives so the color makes a lot of sense.
Wrap Up
Would I use one of the Salt series for regular EDC? It depends. If I lived near the ocean or worked around water constantly, then yes for sure. For me though I use a more conventional folder for regular EDC like my Spyderco Para 3’s, but I love having the Salt available for trips to the beach, canoe or kayak trips, or even just hiking or camping trips in foul weather. It’s nice having a tool that you don’t have to worry about, even in the most extreme elements.
Specifications: Spyderco Stretch 2 XL Lightweight Salt
