Benchmade 810 Contego Review
Once in a great while a knife comes along, that just hits all the right buttons. More often than not, it is a knife that does not initially impress. I have seen this happen before with several knives, and it has happened again, with the 810 Contego.
When the 2012 line up was released, I saw the picture of the 810, and sort of thought… Well it looks like a 950 RIFT on steroids. I am a bit lukewarm towards the 950 so I pretty much discounted the knife. Don’t get me wrong, the 950 is a solid performer, just something never kept one in my collection. However after seeing more pictures of the 810, I pulled the trigger on one, and boy I am happy I did.
Particulars for this knife should be readily available for you on the Benchmade site, I will just add it has a lot of M4 steel going on. The one issue I have with the 950, is addressed with this knife (the handle).
This is a big knife, however it is a big tactical folder that behaves in the pocket. Unlike say, the 275, which is a big hulk of a knife, the 810 rides in the pocket like a much smaller knife, reminds me a lot of the 806 AFCK in this regard. As will be noted later, the handle is pretty aggressive in the texture department, so I would expect this knife to eat up pockets on the tune of a 520.
The handle is ergonomic to the point of being comfy. Where the 950 just seems a bit odd looking (but it works) the 810 has sold ergos. The G-10 came with a dry techy feeling to it, and honestly I like that. It had that new G-10 smell, that I have only found on Emerson Knives… Which again I like. The G-10 is both machined and heavily textured where not machined. It is not slick in any shape of the term.
Now, “jimping” is popular these days. Lots of internet knife reviewers fall all over themselves praising the jimping on a knife. I have found for some strange reason, it is knife reviewers who are gun guys (or girls) who really get off on the jimping. Knife folks know that jimping is really not needed (or at least much). Proper grip and design make for a secure hold on a knife. All jimping will do is abrade your hand if it slips, and actually is irritating during long term use. Jimping gives the IMPRESSION of a secure grip. That being said, people love it, so companies give it to them. And I will say, this knife is as “jimped” as any knife I have ever seen, and even rivals the most over jimped production knife of all time (the Spyderco Manix 2). There is jimping on the back of the handle for the thumb, a heavy jimped/machined stainless steel backspacer, and jimping on the underside for 3 fingers. Wrapping the handle in sandpaper would only make this knife seem more smooth and slick!!!
But I get it, and I will not give any points off my review for this design. People want it, and Benchmade is a business. So if you like jimping… Knock yourself out on this one.
When the knife first came out, I was one who said… “Oh my, ANOTHER glass breaker?” Next to jimping, glass breakers are the “it” accessory for knives these days. Not that I don’t think they can be handy or needed (especially if you travel a lot, or are in LEO or EMS professions), they just can interfere with reverse grips where the thumb needs to be present to cap the butt of the knife to lock the grip. I am happy to say, that the glass break is discreet enough that it does not interfere with a reverse grip, so party on Mr. Glassbreaker!!! You are welcome here.
The blade is the classic Reverse Tanto Osborne style. Not as tall but longer than the RIFT, it looks better and aside from the swedge, it looks more like the 940, than the 950 does. The knife came very sharp, and should provide great service with the M4 steel. This is a big knife, as a matter of fact, just eyeballing it, it close to an ½ longer (OAL) than the 275.
The clip is the new lower ride clip Benchmade is using. It is not a true low ride clip (in which none of the knife shows from the pocket) but is a lower riding folder over style clip. Same clip that is used on the 275. The clip is sturdy and works well. Making this a really good knife to take with you on a long car ride, as the knife is not so noticeable when traveling in places unknown. The clip is sturdy, looks good, and has a nice Butterfly engraved on it. It does look like it might be painted, so we will see how it holds up. I have to be honest, I wished the 275 came with the old style clip, as it is a beefy burly knife and the older clip just seems more suited to it. Here it works well.
I also like the stainless steel backspacer. I understand standoffs make sense from a manufacturing and repair standpoint (I have heard that the old Delrin backspacers were a warranty nightmare). However, some knives look better with a solid backspacer. Sometimes the standoffs give the feeling that the knife is just an assemblage of parts and don’t tie the knife design together. The 810 has a nice solid machined backspacer that really makes the design “pop.”
I have to be honest, I see a nice long love affair with this knife. I was on record as saying Benchmade really needed to come out with a kick butt tactical folder. I dare say this is it. Rides like a dream, but is a full sized capable design. High performance materials but still is well below other knives in price… Making it a great value.
This knife does what the old AFCK did so well… Gives you a full sized tactical folder designed to be carried in the pocket. And in some ways, it does this job even better than the AFCK. This is the kind of knife that gets me excited, and stays in my inventory.
If you are looking for a strong full sized tactical folder, to be carried in the pocket, and provides top shelf materials… Look no further. Good job Benchmade.
(I will add some pictures to this review in the upcoming week
)
When the 2012 line up was released, I saw the picture of the 810, and sort of thought… Well it looks like a 950 RIFT on steroids. I am a bit lukewarm towards the 950 so I pretty much discounted the knife. Don’t get me wrong, the 950 is a solid performer, just something never kept one in my collection. However after seeing more pictures of the 810, I pulled the trigger on one, and boy I am happy I did.
Particulars for this knife should be readily available for you on the Benchmade site, I will just add it has a lot of M4 steel going on. The one issue I have with the 950, is addressed with this knife (the handle).
This is a big knife, however it is a big tactical folder that behaves in the pocket. Unlike say, the 275, which is a big hulk of a knife, the 810 rides in the pocket like a much smaller knife, reminds me a lot of the 806 AFCK in this regard. As will be noted later, the handle is pretty aggressive in the texture department, so I would expect this knife to eat up pockets on the tune of a 520.
The handle is ergonomic to the point of being comfy. Where the 950 just seems a bit odd looking (but it works) the 810 has sold ergos. The G-10 came with a dry techy feeling to it, and honestly I like that. It had that new G-10 smell, that I have only found on Emerson Knives… Which again I like. The G-10 is both machined and heavily textured where not machined. It is not slick in any shape of the term.
Now, “jimping” is popular these days. Lots of internet knife reviewers fall all over themselves praising the jimping on a knife. I have found for some strange reason, it is knife reviewers who are gun guys (or girls) who really get off on the jimping. Knife folks know that jimping is really not needed (or at least much). Proper grip and design make for a secure hold on a knife. All jimping will do is abrade your hand if it slips, and actually is irritating during long term use. Jimping gives the IMPRESSION of a secure grip. That being said, people love it, so companies give it to them. And I will say, this knife is as “jimped” as any knife I have ever seen, and even rivals the most over jimped production knife of all time (the Spyderco Manix 2). There is jimping on the back of the handle for the thumb, a heavy jimped/machined stainless steel backspacer, and jimping on the underside for 3 fingers. Wrapping the handle in sandpaper would only make this knife seem more smooth and slick!!!
When the knife first came out, I was one who said… “Oh my, ANOTHER glass breaker?” Next to jimping, glass breakers are the “it” accessory for knives these days. Not that I don’t think they can be handy or needed (especially if you travel a lot, or are in LEO or EMS professions), they just can interfere with reverse grips where the thumb needs to be present to cap the butt of the knife to lock the grip. I am happy to say, that the glass break is discreet enough that it does not interfere with a reverse grip, so party on Mr. Glassbreaker!!! You are welcome here.
The blade is the classic Reverse Tanto Osborne style. Not as tall but longer than the RIFT, it looks better and aside from the swedge, it looks more like the 940, than the 950 does. The knife came very sharp, and should provide great service with the M4 steel. This is a big knife, as a matter of fact, just eyeballing it, it close to an ½ longer (OAL) than the 275.
The clip is the new lower ride clip Benchmade is using. It is not a true low ride clip (in which none of the knife shows from the pocket) but is a lower riding folder over style clip. Same clip that is used on the 275. The clip is sturdy and works well. Making this a really good knife to take with you on a long car ride, as the knife is not so noticeable when traveling in places unknown. The clip is sturdy, looks good, and has a nice Butterfly engraved on it. It does look like it might be painted, so we will see how it holds up. I have to be honest, I wished the 275 came with the old style clip, as it is a beefy burly knife and the older clip just seems more suited to it. Here it works well.
I also like the stainless steel backspacer. I understand standoffs make sense from a manufacturing and repair standpoint (I have heard that the old Delrin backspacers were a warranty nightmare). However, some knives look better with a solid backspacer. Sometimes the standoffs give the feeling that the knife is just an assemblage of parts and don’t tie the knife design together. The 810 has a nice solid machined backspacer that really makes the design “pop.”
I have to be honest, I see a nice long love affair with this knife. I was on record as saying Benchmade really needed to come out with a kick butt tactical folder. I dare say this is it. Rides like a dream, but is a full sized capable design. High performance materials but still is well below other knives in price… Making it a great value.
This knife does what the old AFCK did so well… Gives you a full sized tactical folder designed to be carried in the pocket. And in some ways, it does this job even better than the AFCK. This is the kind of knife that gets me excited, and stays in my inventory.
If you are looking for a strong full sized tactical folder, to be carried in the pocket, and provides top shelf materials… Look no further. Good job Benchmade.
(I will add some pictures to this review in the upcoming week
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wonderful review, Mark. You're much more eloquent than I and I'm glad you did this great knife justice with the review. 0 -
AWESOME!!!! review Mark, thanks 
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Good review Mark! 0 -
thanks Mark I thought I would not need this one now I have to rethink great review. 0 -
So, Mark, here is my question:
Tactically, the 810 is hands down the better. However, tactically, I'll use my 9mm. As a utility/camping/hard use folder, how would this compare to the 275? I'm thinking Boy Scouts, deer camp, lost in the woods, etc. (Boy Scouts are not allowed to take a fixed blade on camping trips) If I need to baton a branch into smaller slivers, cut notches on branches for tying paracord around, make fuzz sticks, possibly help disjoint a deer (I have a gut hook for the gutting part), clean fish, that sort of thing...
I guess my question is whether the D2 vs M4 and the blade shapes would make one a better folder for this use.
Oh, and after this review, I'm blaming you for wanting an 810...0 -
Great review, I agree with your views on the jimping and the glass-breaker. Are you happy with the handle as is? Do you feel the need for sanding it a little to make it smoother on the hand? 0 -
Bchan, I sanded mine a little to make it smoother on the hand, but I should point out that I only sanded the outer perimeter of the handle scales...like I was making the 90 degree angles into 45's. It doesn't take much, maybe 4 or 5 sideways swipes with an emery board (like women use to file their fingernails). Do it a little at a time and as soon as it quits feeling like a sharp corner, you're done. 
Oh, and great review Mark!0 -
Great review Mark. I can't wait for my pre-order to ship! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by loonybin:
Oh, and after this review, I'm blaming you for wanting an 810...
+1...
And I have 2 problems with that.
a) I would have the money but I could also save some money to go shooting...
b) I don't know which one I should get - I'd prefer a clear cerakoted blade with black liners and spacers...
Any help with these decisions?
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great review Mark!you hit the nail on the head with this one,I agree with you about the jimping but like you said the majority of people want it.Im not into the tactical fad as Im an outdoorsman/woodsman but this knife is great for both camps of users. 0 -
Great review! Just what I wanted to hear 0 -
Iam a Jimping kind of guy ....the more the merrier .
I,d rather be scratched by jimping , than cut by blade
With my luck , I,d probably do both ......LOL0 -
quote:Originally posted by loonybin:
So, Mark, here is my question:
Tactically, the 810 is hands down the better. However, tactically, I'll use my 9mm. As a utility/camping/hard use folder, how would this compare to the 275? I'm thinking Boy Scouts, deer camp, lost in the woods, etc. (Boy Scouts are not allowed to take a fixed blade on camping trips) If I need to baton a branch into smaller slivers, cut notches on branches for tying paracord around, make fuzz sticks, possibly help disjoint a deer (I have a gut hook for the gutting part), clean fish, that sort of thing...
I guess my question is whether the D2 vs M4 and the blade shapes would make one a better folder for this use.
Oh, and after this review, I'm blaming you for wanting an 810...
I consider batoning to be emergency/survival use. What I mean is that I don't expect a folding knife to hold up to a ton of this type of thing. Contrary to what many internet reviewers state, batoning should never be considered normal use for a folder. Things like pivots, stop pins, and frame screws will take a beating (pun intended) and I would expect some adverse effects for this type of usage.
I know many internet reviewers not only state a folder should be used for this type of activity, but they also believe that anyone who things different is a sissy and is wearing pink underwear.
By emergency use, I mean it is all you have, and you are in an unexpected situation. In that case, I expect the tool to be pushed beyond its' limits and to fail. If a lock on a folding knife fails during batoning, it is not a huge deal as the blade is stuck in wood and most of the time the lock just gives way but the knife does not fold much.
That being said, the 275 would make a better woods/camping/survival knife. The 810 has a swedge on the spine of the blade, which would chew up what you are using to baton the knife.
As for blade steels, both are pretty tough tool steels and would not weigh in on my discussion as to which was better for this task.0 -
This is one of those knives to me much like the Skirmish and Rukus where I wish I'd known about them when they were in production. I wish I'd handled one and bought 2-3. Carry one and put the other(s) away so I'd know for myself that there were pristine knives out there and that I owned them. I plan on buying at least two more of these just to keep nice. I think the 810 will be as highly regarded as the Rukus in a few years.
I don't know what it is that makes me love it so, but I really do. I'm going to try and put it through its paces over the next couple weeks and see what I think afterwards, but it feels great in hand and I like what I've seen so far. I also don't see them staying at the same price they're going for now for that long; there's a lot of M4 in that slab of a blade.0 -
great review mark !
i've to admit i was also reluctant with the contego for the two reasons you point out : the jimpings and the glass breaker ...
as you, i decided to give it a try ( i've allready been positively and greatly surprised those last time ... by the 275 !)
hope my felling about the contego when it will arrive will be as good as yours !0 -
I'm with you, Carson. So far, so good. Let's compare notes after a couple weeks and see how we like the 810 then.quote:Carson wrote...I'm going to try and put it through its paces over the next couple weeks and see what I think afterwards, but it feels great in hand and I like what I've seen so far.0 -
Just got my 810 this Saturday. It is the one with the clearkoted blade. I really love the smooth gray color of the blade. The only thing I do not like about this knife is the absence of a lanyard hole, as I like to add a small lanyard to my edc's so that I can use it to help pull the knife from my pocket. Since I use deep-carry clips on all my edc's, the knife is always fully enclosed within my pocket, and a small lanyard is helpful.
This clip rises above the rear end of the handle and I made it so because I wanted to add a lanyard, and still have it ride fully enclosed inside my pocket. It takes away the use of the carbide glass breaker, but hey, that's what rocks are for!
Some pics;
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Cutter, I like how you got around the absence of a lanyard hole. There is an old saying that goes something like, "Never own anything that you're not willing to drill a hole through."
Drilling through that stainless steel back-spacer at a point where it missed the blade and the clip would not be fun for me.0 -
I thought about drilling through the backspacer, but I didn't have the carbide drill bits I needed, and the clip arrangement was so much easier, so I went with it. 0 -
I know something similar was done before for the 94x series, but it should work for 810 as well. It shouldn't be too much of a problem to machine a piece of steel to look similar to this (pardon my drawing skills ):
Fit this little gizmo between clip and handle scale and you got yourself a lanyard hole0 -
Rx, that's the first time I've seen one of those. That looks like a great idea. Also, there are extra clip holes on the other side of the knife handle that aren't being used if they would be more out of the way and work better. 
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That is a capital idea RX, and good suggestion Jan on mounting it offside. Might be something to look into. 0 -
Its my turn .......LOL I like everything about the knife .....The back spacer is killer and the jimping is good for me too. If yah dont have Puzzy hands then the jimping wont bother you .....LOL
Anyway ....deep pocket clip , whats not to like , here comes more pics ...LOL
The knife is actually lighter than I thought it was gonna be.0 -
Did I mention the super grippy G-10 .....Love it. 0 -
I'll have one of those 810's in due time...like the silver accents a lot. 0 -
I need to take better pictures of mine sometime. All the logos and writing on mine is almost murky and has to be studied to be read. 0 -
quote:I'll have one of those 810's in due time..
If you havent ordered it yet .......contact me before you do.
I made a mistake and got more than I ask for......LOL0 -
Thanks, I will. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by joe_karp:
I'll have one of those 810's in due time...like the silver accents a lot.
Agreed, on both points.0 -
You nailed it Mark. Great write up.
I thought the same thing back in Jan. when I checked it out at the Shot Show.
Best new BM for 2012.
It will take a heck of an LE to improve on this one!
These will sell like Hot Cakes!
Good job BM.0
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