Do I really want a BM Contego?

U

Urban redneck

Joined
Sep 4, 2015
Messages
393
OK I posted this in the wrong section earlier, and the mods sent it hurling off into the nether regions, so I'll repost it.
I am in NO way a BM fan after a bad experience I had with them a while back, but a coworker asked me to sharpen his Contego for him, and I have to admit, I really liked it! I just can't seem to bring myself to pull the trigger on one. Anyone have any experience with this knife as an EDC/work knife that can convince me if I actually want one or not? Bear in mind, this is huge for me, as I swore I'd never buy another Benchmade again! Thx!
 
Had the M4 version, easy carrying big knife, but hated the looks of the blade. Not a reverse tanto fan, and the coating was ugly. Bought it with the intentions of regrinding the blade, sold it off instead.
 
I have one, and did a review that's floating around here somewhere [here]. After many months, I'm not really a fan of the Contego. Basically, you get the same blade in 950 Rift but with a much more pocketable handle with less aggressive jimping. The Contego just does not feel good in my hand.

And I've pretty much stopped buying from companies that engage in price-fixing ("MAP" pricing) that screws the consumer, but that's another story.

These are not bad knives, but in my view they are too spendy and compete in a market that is packed full of countless other better-priced options.
 
^ Partially agree. You do get basically the same blade length in the Rift, but the looks and performance aren't the same. I really like the steel, M4 has worked well for me, and the black coating has held up pretty well. I have a few Contego's actually. The plain blade, serrated blade, and the KW exclusive in M390, which is pretty cool. The jimping is very aggressive, and the G10 is a little rough, both things that can be fixed if you like the knife enough. I think the Contego is a much "cooler" knife, whatever that means, and it's absolutely up to some hard use.
 
The blade shape is one of the things that particularly grabbed me about it. I like the strong point on the reverse Tanto style
 
You should get one...

Mine:

22506639999_57e99f2346_b.jpg


:thumbup:


Also, Razor Edge Knives (I think!) did a complete blade regrind/reshape on a 810 contego; it looks like a big 943 now... :thumbup:

Edit; found it: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1343136-Reworking-a-Contego

I do believe that's a partially sharpened false edge too... :thumbup::cool:

15%2B-%2B4
 
Last edited:
I have one in drawer. That's where it'll remain until I get rid of it.
I'm a fan of Warren Osborne's designs, but I'd choose the Benchmade Rift over the Contego.

I like the aesthetics of the Contego, which remind me of a 940 on steroids. It's a large knife, perhaps a bit too large for EDC, but Benchmade overdid it with the jimping on the handle. After extensive cutting you'll feel like thowing the knife away. Not the most comfortable knife in the hand unless you're wearing gloves.

The blade coating doesn't bother me (mine is the grey version), but the mismatched shiny chrome pocket clip does throw off the look. Not a big deal though. The biggest issue with my Contego was that the blade arrived butter knife dull. It would not cut at all, so I had to reprofile the edge myself. Out of the box the blade was also rubbing against one of the scales when closed. I was able to centre the blade in the handle with a bit of tweaking, but to me it's just another example of how Benchmade's QC has somewhat decreased in recent years.
 
I think it's an excellent knife and own one but if you swore off BM then move on and don't buy it.

The one thing about knives is that there are so many good ones nobody should patronize a company they don't like.
 
I like the contego, and carried one as my main knife for a few months.
After I picked up a military though, the contego had to go.

I think the military feels much better in the hand, especially when cutting tougher materials. Much more unobtrusive in pocket too. Once I put a tip up clip on my military it was no contest.
 
I think you just want a CPM M4 blade.

I Sharpened a contego as well.

That steel is wonderful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top