thoughts and pictures of the 810?

It's my favorite currently in production readily available Benchmade knife.

A real standout and exceptional on many levels. Blade design, utility, steel, and lock.

The Ergos are subjective but work very well for me. It has all the desired elements of strength, toughness and versatility. Oz for oz and at it's price point I don't think you can find a finer knife.

 
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I agree with pbcg, its a damn good knife. Some complain about the milling in the g10 and the ergos, but I find it really comfortable. I am a sucker for big knives tho, so it fits my criteria perfect.
 
I agree with you. I love mine but the size makes it somewhat difficult to wear to work sometimes. I threw mine in my Wicked Edge and put an outstanding edge on it. I took 2K grit sandpaper and hit the edges of the scales and it feels perfect in my hands now. It is almost perfect in my opinion. I would love to a version a little smaller that could be work in more professional attire a little easier.
 
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skelt11 said:
I agree with you. I love mine but the size makes it somewhat difficult to wear to work sometimes. I threw mine in my Wicked Edge and put an outstanding edge on it. I to 2K grit sandpaper and hit the edges of the scales and it feels perfect in my hands now. It is almost perfect in my opinion. I would love to a version a little smaller that could be work in more professional attire a little easier.
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Rift?

 
I love the 950 so I picked up an 810 the handle looks love/hate but it's actually pretty good for a variety of grips. The grips are pretty rough but the 950 was similar, almost like they designed it for gloved use, little fine file/sandpaper fixes it up quick. Don't like the glass breaker, wish it was removable. Overall it's a very aggressive knife, with a great blade shape, but a LONG handle. I don't think most of the pictures really impart just how long it is. The handle is a 1/2" inch longer than a ZT 0560. Compared to the 950 rift you only gain 0.3" of blade length but add nearly 3/4" of handle length. The deep carry clip is nice, but users report it bends much easier than the standard clip.

Unfortunately mine went back to BM the day after it arrived because of poor blade retention. I believe it was due to two things first the axis lock bar seemed much weaker than my other axis lock knives, (though neither spring looked broken from inside the handle) and second they have changed (actually eliminated) the "notch" the axis lock bar sits in when the blade is closed. These two things make it much easier to deploy the blade, no doubt for the knife flipping mall ninjas. The only way to get a reasonable level of blade retention was to crank down the pivot to induce friction. A couple other people have reported they've noticed the blade retention on the 810 is less than other axis locks they have. We'll see what BM does about it, hopefully they can just put some stiffer springs in it, if not looks like I'll be dumping it, I've already found one knife partially open in a pocket and that's one too many.
 
Benchmadefan915 said:
What do you guys think of the 810 Contego and its CPM-M4 blade steel?
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In a word: awesome. About the only thing that could make it better would be a blade in M390 (I dislike coated blades).


skelt11 said:
I would love to a version a little smaller that could be work in more professional attire a little easier.
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For a smaller hard use knife that is like the 810, you can get the 950 Rift. For one that would be more welcome in a professional office environment, there is the 940.
 
ToddM said:
I love the 950 so I picked up an 810 the handle looks love/hate but it's actually pretty good for a variety of grips. The grips are pretty rough but the 950 was similar, almost like they designed it for gloved use, little fine file/sandpaper fixes it up quick. Don't like the glass breaker, wish it was removable. Overall it's a very aggressive knife, with a great blade shape, but a LONG handle. I don't think most of the pictures really impart just how long it is. The handle is a 1/2" inch longer than a ZT 0560. Compared to the 950 rift you only gain 0.3" of blade length but add nearly 3/4" of handle length. The deep carry clip is nice, but users report it bends much easier than the standard clip.

Unfortunately mine went back to BM the day after it arrived because of poor blade retention. I believe it was due to two things first the axis lock bar seemed much weaker than my other axis lock knives, (though neither spring looked broken from inside the handle) and second they have changed (actually eliminated) the "notch" the axis lock bar sits in when the blade is closed. These two things make it much easier to deploy the blade, no doubt for the knife flipping mall ninjas. The only way to get a reasonable level of blade retention was to crank down the pivot to induce friction. A couple other people have reported they've noticed the blade retention on the 810 is less than other axis locks they have. We'll see what BM does about it, hopefully they can just put some stiffer springs in it, if not looks like I'll be dumping it, I've already found one knife partially open in a pocket and that's one too many.
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From what I can tell the blade is just so damn heavy that it wants to swing out just from gravity. I can hold mine closed with the blade facing the ground and open it up by doing a popping motion. I don't really mind though as when it sits in my pocket the blade is pressed against the spine of the pocket so I haven't had any issues with accidental pocket deployment. I love mine, I used one of my GF's emery boards to smooth out the sharp handle edges and it fits the hand like a dream. A real pleasure to own and use.



 
I'm currently on my fifth Contego (4 Black & 1 Gray coated blades) as I gave or traded the others away.

I haven't experienced any of the problems of which people speak. The blade retention has been fine and if anything the Axis lock a bit "stiffer" compared to other Axis lock models I have.

However they have smoothed out pretty quickly, and was only with the Black coated blades that I experienced this. One was pretty stiff but after a couple of days was just fine. The others after a few opening's and closing's. The latest and current one I have now was perfect out of the box.
 
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Its funny you guys mentioned the Rift, mine was delivered today and I love it. It is indeed the 810's little brother. I would really like just a scaled down 810. I love the look of the handle of the 810. The M4 steel of the 810 took a mean edge on my Wicked Edge. It is a true mirror finish.
 
skelt11 said:
Its funny you guys mentioned the Rift, mine was delivered today and I love it. It is indeed the 810's little brother. I would really like just a scaled down 810. I love the look of the handle of the 810. The M4 steel of the 810 took a mean edge on my Wicked Edge. It is a true mirror finish.
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I hear you. The Rift was what came to mind as far as a smaller version of the 810. I got my first Rift back around 09? I guess, around when they first came out and absolutely loved it, except I had wished at the time they made or would make a slightly larger version of it lol. Then the 810 was introduced and knew I had to have one.

But I agree completely the Rift is a great knife and still one of my favorites.

As far as BM CPM-M4 I also agree, it's hard to beat. Not only takes a very keen edge but holds it. An exceptional steel for sure and in many ways.
 
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