Benchmade Contego or Microtech D.O.C?

BenchCo Spydermade

BenchCo Spydermade

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Feb 10, 2014
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So I am stuck between these two knives for my next purchase. I would love some advice from people who have owned one or both or who just know about them.

I have ALWAYS had my eye on the D.O.C. but its price has been a deterrent. Still, it calls me and has sort of been my grail knife for a long time. I just love the nightmare grind and blade shape. However, After getting a bone collector axis, I love the Axis lock and would like a more tactical style large blade with an axis and I love how the contego looks.

There are some obvious factors like price difference, so to get the D.O.C. I would want to feel it delivers something the contego can't. Please give me your experiences, opinions and recommendations.

Also, try not to just "vote" but to give a reason why you chose one or the other, even if its just a few words.
 
I just got my Contego last week, and have carried it ever since. I liked it so much I got a second one. Perfect size if you like big knives, great blade shape, great cutter, and CPM-M4 is my favorite steel. Super smooth, and no blade-play. If you're gonna carry and use it, definitely the Contego. If you are gonna look at it and flip it, I'd say the DOC. If limited edition and stainless steels (keep in mind the regular Contego has a ceramic coating) are your thing, check out the Knifeworks Exclusive Contego in M390 and blue/black G10. So ya, my vote goes Contego.
 
The MicroTech DOC is great beefy flipper with the best of both Strider & Marfione designs. It's over an ounce heavier than the Contego and wider. Contego has a blade that's 0.25" longer and right now you can also get the KnifeWorks exclusive M390 Contego (the standard Contego in CPM-M4 is no slouch). There's a $115-$140 price difference based on which Contego and DOC you pick. MicroTech does great heat treat of any steel they use and have so far used quite a few on the DOC: Elmax, S30V, CPM-154 and 154CM. Additionally, the DOC comes in various handle colors like black, tan, blue, green and red.

If you want a flipper and all the design features go with the DOC. If you want something unique with great blade steel go with the M390 Contego. If you want to save the most go with the CPM-M4 Contego. All winners.
 
I bought a used DOC recently and have been EDCing it. It's a big, solid knife, which is kind of fun. The flipper is not as smooth or easy to deploy as the ZT0560, but it works.

The blade is huge and thick. The nightmare grind makes for a poor slicer. And the grind leaves the center part of the blade near the tip very thick. I also found that the grind can cause the blade to veer off path when cutting hard materials.

My take is that the design is more about marketing and style than actual performance.
 
Twindog, you make some great points. I think I was almost hoping for someone to tell me some great things about the performance of the DOC as it is kind of more a "looks" knife than a functional one, and the looks are definitely what draw me to it but it needs to at least still be edc-able and somewhat functional. Otherwize I might as well get one of those stupid fantasy knives. Then again, the contego looks great for nearly half the price and seems much more practical. Not making the decision yet, but I feel like it will take some convincing to get the DOC now.
 
I paid $195 for the 810-1401 M390. I looked at the Microtech DOC online and chose BM.
 
I've owned both.

The DOC is a great knife but it has some quirks... Namely, it doesn't flip very well, and the fugly clip. I really enjoyed the DOC while I owned it but I think it needs to be refined a bit more. It almost seems like they rushed it into production.

The only thing I dislike about the Contego is that I can't carry mine where I'm currently stationed. The Contego is also available in both CPM-M4 and M390 which are both phenomenal blade steels in my experience.

So... my vote is the Contego.
 
Just going to chime in here... I vote Contego although I do love Microtech's quality. I've owned two Contegos and in every way, I found them both to be great knives. Great ergos, easy pocketability, good overall EDC IMO. I've never owned a DOC but have held them and their quality is superb--as expected from Microtech--but to me too bulky a knife for daily carry. Good luck with your decision.
 
The Knifeworks Contego in 390M would be my choice. I love big knives, but the DOC is just..just so not me. But it may be you, and if so that's great!
 
That DOC looks like it would hang out of the pocket way too much for me. My vote goes to the Contego.
 
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