Recommendations on first benchmade

D

Dr.g0nz0

Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Messages
72
I need some help picking my first BM. Most of my folders are kershaw 8cr stuff. I've got a few of the 14c28n and a s30v blur that I really really like. Any knife I buy will be used daily. I work 6 days a week D.O.T. maintenance shop and st my families furniture store. I cut lots of boxes,zip ties,bailing straps,wire,shrink wrap...etc.I've got a $100 gift card from gander mountain and im ready to step up to a better quality folder. I've narrowed it down to the contego,barrage,striker,volli,and the adamas. I really like the look of the contego but not sure about the M4 and corrosion. Thanks for taking the time to help the newbie pick his first BM.
 
Considering how much you plan to use it and which knives you're looking at, I would choose the Contego. I love M4 for heavy/frequent use applications. Generally speaking M4 has better toughness and better edge retention than S30V and similar stainless steels. The corrosion on an M4 blade is really easy to keep under control by just keeping the blade clean and dry after use. I would have a lot more M4 knives if there were only more available.
 
While I like the Barrage as well, I would steer towards something with S30V.
Benchmade does a very good job with their 154CM, but IMO that steel is getting a bit "dated" given all the advances made in recent years.
That being said, I do love a couple of their knives that are strictly 154, and that has not kept me from owning those …

So … I guess this was little more than a worthless ramble - you're welcome. :cool:

Go with the one that's calling to you - you know there's one … probably the one just outside your budget …
If you can handle any of them first I would definitely try to do that, you can read specs all day long, but until you handle it, you won't know for sure.

Good luck, and have fun.

~ edge
 
I personally have only owned the Contego of the ones you mentioned. It is a nicely made knife, but I just didn't warm up to the blade shape. Of the ones you mentioned I like the looks of the Stryker and Barrage the best, but don't have any first hand experience with them. Of all the Benchmades I have owned (not that many by comparison to folks here) I like the 710 the best. Check one out before you decide.
 
Wow I couldn't disagree more with the comments about 154cm steel, especially for a new guy wanting his first quality knife. Calling it " dated"? Kind of strange indeed in fact 154 is the right choice knowing that sharpening skills will be needed at some point, why suggest anything too difficult like d2 or anything like it?Just an opinion!
 
I'd say the Contego is the best choice. The blade does have a protective coating, unlike my Gayle Bradley which is also M4.. So it actually won't be as prone to corroding. As long as you aren't using it for food prep (which it sounds like you aren't going to be) it will be fine.
 
Get a Griptilian. This is a great hard use work knife. Comfortable grips and very sturdy.
 
Dr.g0nz0 said:
I need some help picking my first BM. Most of my folders are kershaw 8cr stuff. I've got a few of the 14c28n and a s30v blur that I really really like. Any knife I buy will be used daily. I work 6 days a week D.O.T. maintenance shop and st my families furniture store. I cut lots of boxes,zip ties,bailing straps,wire,shrink wrap...etc.I've got a $100 gift card from gander mountain and im ready to step up to a better quality folder. I've narrowed it down to the contego,barrage,striker,volli,and the adamas. I really like the look of the contego but not sure about the M4 and corrosion. Thanks for taking the time to help the newbie pick his first BM.
Click to expand...

Cardboard boxes are hard on knives, so you want something with good edge retention. Cutting wire with a knife isn't the best use, but as long as it's small gauge it shouldn't be too bad. By bailing straps, are you talking the metal straps, or plastic/nylon straps?

I own a Contego and Adamas and recently sold my 581 Barrage in M390. I've handled a Volli before but didn't care for it too much.
For slicing, you want a knife thin behind the edge. The Adamas and Contego are not thin. Tough as nails and easily up to the task, but maybe not the best option for slicing boxes apart.

For your uses, the 581 Barrage in M390 is probably your best bet. It has a very high flat grind and is an amazing slicer with an awesome steel that can handle plenty. Another option would be the 950 Rift. It's 154CM, so it would have to be touched up more frequently, but the design is perfect for what you want to do. It's a smaller version of the Contego.
 
For utility purposes, there are better choices than using a high quality knife, which was not designed for prying and bending. Sure, anything Benchmade makes would work, but for boxes and wire, my 30 year old Sears box cutter that cost me $4 is a better choice. Now, on 154CM, which is a still a great steel; many of my blades are in that material, and retain an easy to maintain edge. There's nothing wrong with M4, which as a tool steel needs the protection of coating, but as a blade material is top of my list for edge retention, and often with stropping only stays useful longer than 154CM. Either way you can't lose, and then have the warranty protection the company offers.

Just use the pliers for the barbed wire and save the blades for the softer stuff, like maybe shrink wrap!
 
Out of the ones mentioned, I've had volli, barrage, and 908 stryker. For me stryker wins out of those. Never had adamas or contego and while they're both great knives they are big. Consider size and EDC comfort. If size matters not, contego would be my choice. If you desire something a little smaller and edc friendly, stryker or volli.

On a side note: go hold the stryker first. While I really enjoy it, many don't like the spine hump.

Good luck!
 
On the models; my choice would be the 908 Stryker or the Volli, as medium sized blades with great utility potential. I own a Volli and think it's a really nice knife.
 
I'm seeing a theme here....Dr.g0nz0 I think you can see from this thread that you can't go wrong with your first Benchmade. They're all sweet. Which ever one on your list you choose will undoubtedly make you happy and it will likely not be your last Benchmade. I hope you post a pick of the knife you decide on.
 
I bought my first Benchmade not long ago. I've been through a ton of them now. lol

My thoughts on steel:

Good steel is good steel. 440c is still a good steel when it is properly heat treated although most would turn their nose up at it today. 154cm is an excellent steel. Does it hold an edge as long as M390 or M4? No, is it easier to maintain and sharpen yes. Edge retention is almost always a trade off with edge maintenance. So don't let the flavor of the week fool you; 154cm is no slouch.

As far as which you should buy? I can't really say. Every Benchmade is a good knife; it just depends on what the user's preferences are. :)
 
How are your sharpening skills and how important is size to you? How big of a knife do you want? If you know how to sharpen well and you want a BIG hard use knife, the Contego is unmatched. It is a BIG blade though. It didn't click for me. I also have a 908 Stryker and a 551 Griptilian with custom scales. I've also got a 940-1 on the way. For a one knife easy do it all (minus cutting metal wire and stuff) I would do a Griptilian or a 908 Stryker. I love my stryker. Beautiful and smoother than butter. I'm carrying it today. M4 will take more abuse, but it's harder to sharpen for me and I don't abuse my knives.
you really can't go wrong with Benchmade. I am purchasing the 940-1 as a companion blade for some of my more rare or special knives that I like to carry, but won't use. There are so many options. The Axis lock can't be beat though
 
OK, so a few folks responded to my comment about 154CM being dated. Sorry, but it is. Is it a good steel? Of course it is, and everyone has their preferences, but my comment was intended to steer to OP to something in the "middle" of the current offerings. S30V is that to me ... I know no two users / sharpeners will completely agree on any steel, but IMO, S30V is a great balance between retention and ease of maintenance. I am no pro sharpener by any stretch, but I can get S30V popping hairs pretty quickly, provided it has not been let go too far.
BTW, 1095 and Case's CV are also "dated" and you can put a scalpel edge on either of those pretty easily, but spend a little time cutting through thick cardboard or packing straps and you'll be sharpening them every day. Those steels are excellent for traditional folders and "outdoors" sheath knives, making chips on the porch, doing bushcraft, etc ...

My recommendation was towards something that would hold edge through some high friction cutting (cardboard, strapping, etc), and still be fairly easy to maintain - my experience with S30V vs. 154CM is that they are similar in their ability to be sharpened, but S30V will hold an edge longer in high friction cutting ... just my experience of course. Not intended to slam 154 ... I have some great knives in that steel, and I like it just fine, but if the same knives were offered in S30v, S60V, S90V? ... no contest. Also, with all due respect, I would hardly call those steels "the flavor of the week" ... they've all been around for quite a while, and knives with them fetch a premium for the steel upgrade.

I guess "that's what makes horse races" ...

~ edge
 
Ok, to start this off - I work at a knife shop. I sell all sorts of knives to people and I sharpen\fix them all day long. Awesome decision to go with Benchmade. They are easily one of the most practical and affordable blades on the market, plus the warranty is beyond excellent. I'll try to keep this to the point. For a work knife, the Contego is definitely one of the best knives you could buy.
Use - can be used with or without gloves on, which is great. Also the carbide glass breaker is awesome as a "just in case" tool for EDC
Blade Shape - The reverse tanto is WAY better than a drop point for work. It has the piercing power of a regular tanto, but still has a belly to it (the curved part of the edge) for slicing and regular use. Tips on knives are only good for one thing, piercing things. If you constantly use the tip, you will over pierce everything you're trying to open and damage what's inside. The main reason I love this style, is along with it being one of the strongest blade styles out there, it also acts like a sheepsfoot blade. Which means that if you have to cut a strap, ziptie, rope, or etc... off a package, you can slip the knife under it then turn and cut with plenty or working room between the tip and the package below. Drop point knives don't allow for this.
Blade Steel - M4 is the sexiest stuff around. It's tempered to 64 Rockwell, making it harder than D2 - yet it cuts better than S30v or many other knives. This is due to it's high carbide content (research this topic for further knowledge). Also, it's high hardness makes it highly wear resistant, as well as resistant to edge rolling (which is the main enemy of knives that cut things like plastic ties and rubber often). Believe me, I've seen these knives come in after cutting through fences in Afghanistan and they're still fairly sharp; no joke. As far as corrosion, don't worry about it. First off, it's coated in 3 micron of ceramic Cerakote. This stuff is durable. After 3 tours of war zones by a guy in Blackwater PMC his knife is missing maybe 5% of it's coating. So yeah... it's tough stuff. However even if it does rust, this stuff isn't the same as the crap at Big 5. It doesn't pit and flake like other steels because it's way denser. It literally gets what we call a "patina" on it, meaning a layer of brown coloring that comes off with light polish; but if left alone stays the same and doesn't get worse unless it's super abused (ie left in a tackle box after taking a dip in the ocean for 3 years).
Sharpening - I tell customers every day, and it drives me nuts when they don't listen. Every knife owner should own crock sticks!!!! Seriously! No oil or water required, just come home, run them down each stick 3x, grab a beer and go inside to watch tv. That's seriously all it takes. If you want to be lazy, then use them once a week and start with the coarse rods, 4-6 strokes on each side then move to the fine rods. Either way, it takes either a few seconds or less than 10min to do. CPM M4 has the amazing properties of being insanely hard and wear resistant, while still being easy to sharpen. Trust me, I sharpen these on crock sticks for customers that I haven't seen in two weeks or more - and who abuse the hell out of their poor Contegos all day long at work; yet it takes me 10min or less and I have them back to razor sharp (no joke). It's due to the chemical make up of the steel, which again, isn't something to go into here, but believe me when I say I speak the truth. The steel is the heart of the knife, and this heart beats like a lion.
Downside - The only downside to the knife for some people can be it's size. This is a great EDC, but if people are wary of it where you live, keep in mind you're buying it for work. Carrying a box cutter in public can be frowned upon too lol. It can seem large, but when compared to other knives like the full size Benchmade Barrage, the blade is only 1\4" to 1\2" larger. Where the size comes from is the handle. The reason for this is because it was designed to be used as a kubaton as well. For me, this is a definite plus. Also, when cutting aggressive things like thick synthetic cable rope or ties, the larger blade excels at that. One final word of advice: DO NOT buy the serrated model!!! Are you buying a knife, or a mini hand saw? 80% of your cutting power is in the lower 20% of the blade. Trust me, you've never had a steel that will cut like this. You don't need the serrates. Every customer I've had that has bought the serrated model against my advice has regretted it.
Anyways, that's my input on it, and I sell them to MANY happy people every day. I own many knives, and many that cost more than this one; but if you threatened to take them all away but one, I'd have to keep my Contego. I could go into all the reasons why this knife is better than the other models you mentioned, but I'm pretty sure it's strengths speak for themselves. If you came into my shop and told me "I need a good strong work knife" my first question would be "Are you willing to spend money on a good knife, or do you want a crappy budget BIG 5 knife?" and if you say 'no thanks to big 5' then I say "This is the Contego..." and we have this conversation.

EDIT: While this knife can cut other steel\metal, just don't do it. Other metals, like baling wire, have been hardened. Keep in mind that even crappy steel can damage good steel because it has been hardened completely. Even fully hardened scrap can damage wonderful tempered steel. That's what $5 case hardened wire cutters are for.
 
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k_ozdragon said:
Ok, to start this off - I work at a knife shop. I sell all sorts of knives to people and I sharpen\fix them all day long. Awesome decision to go with Benchmade. They are easily one of the most practical and affordable blades on the market, plus the warranty is beyond excellent. I'll try to keep this to the point. For a work knife, the Contego is definitely one of the best knives you could buy.
Use - can be used with or without gloves on, which is great. Also the carbide glass breaker is awesome as a "just in case" tool for EDC
Blade Shape - The reverse tanto is WAY better than a drop point for work. It has the piercing power of a regular tanto, but still has a belly to it (the curved part of the edge) for slicing and regular use. Tips on knives are only good for one thing, piercing things. If you constantly use the tip, you will over pierce everything you're trying to open and damage what's inside. The main reason I love this style, is along with it being one of the strongest blade styles out there, it also acts like a sheepsfoot blade. Which means that if you have to cut a strap, ziptie, rope, or etc... off a package, you can slip the knife under it then turn and cut with plenty or working room between the tip and the package below. Drop point knives don't allow for this.
Blade Steel - M4 is the sexiest stuff around. It's tempered to 64 Rockwell, making it harder than D2 - yet it cuts better than S30v or many other knives. This is due to it's high carbide content (research this topic for further knowledge). Also, it's high hardness makes it highly wear resistant, as well as resistant to edge rolling (which is the main enemy of knives that cut things like plastic ties and rubber often). Believe me, I've seen these knives come in after cutting through fences in Afghanistan and they're still fairly sharp; no joke. As far as corrosion, don't worry about it. First off, it's coated in 3 micron of ceramic Cerakote. This stuff is durable. After 3 tours of war zones by a guy in Blackwater PMC his knife is missing maybe 5% of it's coating. So yeah... it's tough stuff. However even if it does rust, this stuff isn't the same as the crap at Big 5. It doesn't pit and flake like other steels because it's way denser. It literally gets what we call a "patina" on it, meaning a layer of brown coloring that comes off with light polish; but if left alone stays the same and doesn't get worse unless it's super abused (ie left in a tackle box after taking a dip in the ocean for 3 years).
Sharpening - I tell customers every day, and it drives me nuts when they don't listen. Every knife owner should own crock sticks!!!! Seriously! No oil or water required, just come home, run them down each stick 3x, grab a beer and go inside to watch tv. That's seriously all it takes. If you want to be lazy, then use them once a week and start with the coarse rods, 4-6 strokes on each side then move to the fine rods. Either way, it takes either a few seconds or less than 10min to do. CPM M4 has the amazing properties of being insanely hard and wear resistant, while still being easy to sharpen. Trust me, I sharpen these on crock sticks for customers that I haven't seen in two weeks or more - and who abuse the hell out of their poor Contegos all day long at work; yet it takes me 10min or less and I have them back to razor sharp (no joke). It's due to the chemical make up of the steel, which again, isn't something to go into here, but believe me when I say I speak the truth. The steel is the heart of the knife, and this heart beats like a lion.
Downside - The only downside to the knife for some people can be it's size. This is a great EDC, but if people are wary of it where you live, keep in mind you're buying it for work. Carrying a box cutter in public can be frowned upon too lol. It can seem large, but when compared to other knives like the full size Benchmade Barrage, the blade is only 1\4" to 1\2" larger. Where the size comes from is the handle. The reason for this is because it was designed to be used as a kubaton as well. For me, this is a definite plus. Also, when cutting aggressive things like thick synthetic cable rope or ties, the larger blade excels at that. One final word of advice: DO NOT buy the serrated model!!! Are you buying a knife, or a mini hand saw? 80% of your cutting power is in the lower 20% of the blade. Trust me, you've never had a steel that will cut like this. You don't need the serrates. Every customer I've had that has bought the serrated model against my advice has regretted it.
Anyways, that's my input on it, and I sell them to MANY happy people every day. I own many knives, and many that cost more than this one; but if you threatened to take them all away but one, I'd have to keep my Contego. I could go into all the reasons why this knife is better than the other models you mentioned, but I'm pretty sure it's strengths speak for themselves. If you came into my shop and told me "I need a good strong work knife" my first question would be "Are you willing to spend money on a good knife, or do you want a crappy budget BIG 5 knife?" and if you say 'no thanks to big 5' then I say "This is the Contego..." and we have this conversation.

EDIT: While this knife can cut other steel\metal, just don't do it. Other metals, like baling wire, have been hardened. Keep in mind that even crappy steel can damage good steel because it has been hardened completely. Even fully hardened scrap can damage wonderful tempered steel. That's what $5 case hardened wire cutters are for.
Click to expand...

I agree with everything said above. I love my Contego and I even own the m390 version. The m4 version is still my go to
 
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