rift, contego, or osborne?

T

Tsquaredtessin

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Apr 21, 2013
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ive decided my next knife is going to be a benchmade reverse tanto design but i'm undecided as to which model im going to get, any thoughts on ergonomics? clip strength? that sort of thing. any input would be appreciated.
 
I'm guessing you mean the 940 series when you said "Osbourne" because all three knives are Osbourne design. The Contego and Rift are very similar in design. I personally prefer the Contego because it is a far better steel in my opinion and I prefer the larger size. The only reason I see to get the Rift over the Contego is if you felt the Contego was too large with the almost 4" blade. If you meant the 940, then I would think it is quite different from the other two knives. So the question is, do you want a larger tactical folder or a great, thinner edc knife?
 
I have the 810 and 950. The Rift (950) is kind of a smaller version of the Contego (810). I feel that the Contego is the better deal as it has better steel, is larger and very solid. I like larger knives but the Rift is also a great knife.
 
If it were me id go 810, 940, then 950 in that order. The 810/940 have "better" steel for the prices. All three are great imo, but im a sucker for osbourne designs:)
 
What are your planned uses for it? That will help determine which one to get. I sold my Rift to get a Contego, as I love CPM-M4, and I want the bigger blade for camping when I can't take my fixed blade (Boy Scout campouts). The 940 is better for a sheeple-ridden area, as the green handle and smaller blade is less "intimidating." I will be getting another Rift, and my son fell in love with the Rift as well (it's his Boy Scout knife).

The 940 can be had in s30v, D2 (if you can find one), or CPM-M4 -- if you're willing to pay the price for it. The Contego is in CPM-M4, and the Rift can be found in a LE model with CPM-M4 or the standard 154CM, which is not a steel to sneeze at since Benchmade does an awesome job with it. I wish they would come out with the Rift in M390, but the 154CM holds its own quite well.
 
As stated your intended purpose for the knife would help greatly in deciding which one is best for you. They are very different as far as size, weight and carry.

For my purposes the Contego, Rift, then 940 best suits my needs.

As far as a quality, well made knife they are all standouts. I just happen to think the Contego is one of the better knives BM has come out with in a long time, so without more information that would be my recommendation.

Best of luck!
 
Right now, I personally think the Rift is a good size....a little bigger that the 940 and a little smaller than the 810.... Rift gets the most pocket time now but I think the 940 will start getting its fair share of time as summer approaches.

Bottom line is you cannot go wrong with any of them.
 
loonybin said:
What are your planned uses for it? That will help determine which one to get. I sold my Rift to get a Contego, as I love CPM-M4, and I want the bigger blade for camping when I can't take my fixed blade (Boy Scout campouts). The 940 is better for a sheeple-ridden area, as the green handle and smaller blade is less "intimidating." I will be getting another Rift, and my son fell in love with the Rift as well (it's his Boy Scout knife).

The 940 can be had in s30v, D2 (if you can find one), or CPM-M4 -- if you're willing to pay the price for it. The Contego is in CPM-M4, and the Rift can be found in a LE model with CPM-M4 or the standard 154CM, which is not a steel to sneeze at since Benchmade does an awesome job with it. I wish they would come out with the Rift in M390, but the 154CM holds its own quite well.
Click to expand...

#1 Choice for EDC: 940 (Preferably, 940-121)
Reasoning: Like loony bin said above, is very sheeple friendly. The overall design makes it a near-perfect folder, and if you can afford the 121 version, the M4 will satisfy your every need. You can barely feel it in your pocket, and it can be a real workhorse if need be.







#2 Choice for EDC: 810
Reasoning: Not very sheeple friendly. Don’t expect to pull this bad-ass chunk of M4 out in an office setting - your colleagues will think your going postal :D If you don’t need to worry about the plebeians in your office, than go for it. This knife is rugged, and will withstand anything you throw at it.

Basically comes down to the type of use, and environment you will use in.
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the 940 is a workhorse with a sexy body, it is not a gentleman's knife unless you can accept a working knife as a letter opener, it is not thin, it is not weak, it's got a rather slim handle.

I started with the 940, then the 950, then the 950-1201 and when life straightens out again I'll get the 810.

For use, they'll all work their butts off, for smoothness I don't see any competition, the 940 is smoothest of the three.

I think after the 710 and Grip series the 940 is one of the hallmark designs that retains its production status through brilliant design and sheer sexiness.
 
I say get all three of them. My 940 is what I carry the most and I love my rift. The 810 is next on my list
 
Ok, I'll be that guy -- get all 3 Osborne designs;)

What's been said above is pretty much spot on. 810 really is big & has some heft to it. 940 is super lightweight & smoothest Axis I've owned! If you can only afford 1, then the 950 Rift might be a mix of both worlds. For me, the 940 is carried the most -- at work during the week & as backup to the 810 on weekends. But if I could only have 1, it'd be the 810 for sure:cool:
 
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Well I'd go with the....

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I can't really answer for the others but the Contego is an excellent folder with good ergonomics that allows all the common grips. I got mine to my liking after picking off the scales and giving them a gentle sanding with 180 grit on the edges, before finishing with ~320 grit. It's a do-it-all kind of knife, not too big or heavy, compact enough to go into a pocket, sturdy enough to take quite a beating while still having a decent blade. An EDC, a survival tool or even for self-defense, it can sort of do it all. What it isn't is a gentlemans letter-opener kind of stylish thing. It is meant to be used and look beat up ;)

Mac
 
I have a Rift and a 943 (not a reverse Tanto, I know), and have handled a Contego next to a Rift. Keep this in mind: the Contego adds little blade length to the Rift. If you want a workhorse, Rift. If you want workhorse/tactical & don't mind a monster handle and "scary" look, Contego. Everything else: 940. :) (Oh and do get all three.)
 
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