Comparison Console
Benchmade Contego vs Spyderco Civilian
EDC Knives comparison. Compare price, weight, specifications, materials, and real-world use case.
Command Brief
Recommended read
Spyderco Civilian stands out as the lightest option for weight, with about a 19% gap from the closest alternative. Benchmade Contego stands out as the cheapest option for retail price, with about a 15% gap from the closest alternative.
Decision Signals
What stands out
Benchmade Contego stands out as the cheapest option for retail price, with about a 15% gap from the closest alternative.
Spyderco Civilian stands out as the most expensive option for retail price, with about a 17% gap from the closest alternative.
Spyderco Civilian stands out as the lightest option for weight, with about a 19% gap from the closest alternative.
Benchmade Contego stands out as the heaviest option for weight, with about a 23% gap from the closest alternative.
Spyderco Civilian stands out as the shortest option for closed length, with about a 2% gap from the closest alternative.
Benchmade Contego stands out as the longest option for closed length, with about a 2% gap from the closest alternative.
Benchmade Contego stands out as the shortest option for blade length, with about a 3% gap from the closest alternative.
Spyderco Civilian stands out as the longest option for blade length, with about a 3% gap from the closest alternative.
Specification Profile
Relative dimensions at a glance
Each axis is normalized against the largest raw value among the products in this comparison. Farther outward means a larger value, not necessarily a better result. Axes with an unverified value are omitted.
Price & carry
Retail price
US$245Cheapest
US$287.25Most expensive
Weight
167.83 g (5.92 oz)Heaviest
136 g (4.80 oz)Lightest
Dimensions
Blade length
101.1 mm (3.98 in)Shortest
104 mm (4.09 in)Longest
Overall length
235.7 mm (9.28 in)Shortest
236 mm (9.29 in)Longest
Closed length
134.6 mm (5.30 in)Longest
132 mm (5.20 in)Shortest
Blade thickness
3.96 mm (0.16 in)Thickest
3 mm (0.12 in)Thinnest
Materials & mechanism
Blade steel
CPM M4
VG-10 Stainless Steel
Handle material
G-10 Laminate
G-10 Laminate
Finish
Cerakote finish (corrosion resistance), Satin finish (some versions)
Unknown
Lock type
AXIS Lock/Crossbar Lock
Back Lock
Opening method
Thumb Stud
Thumb Hole
Clip type
Deep Carry Reversible Clip
Two-position clip (tip-up/tip-down, right side)
Use case profile
Best for
Tactical situationsSelf-defenseDurable daily carry
Personal protectionUndercover law enforcement use
Not best for
Very discreet daily use due to size and weight
General utilityEveryday use
Common praise
Strong and durable bladeSmooth and solid AXIS lockAmbidextrous usageGood grip with textured G10 handleFast and easy opening
Effective cutting performance with fully serrated reverse 'S' bladeErgonomic handle with textured black G-10 scalesHigh-strength back lock mechanismTwo-position clip for versatile carryEstablished and respected design for self-defense
Common complaints
Relatively large and heavy for pocket carrySome find the handle gimping excessiveThumb studs can be stiffNot the most discreet knife due to size and weight
Not intended or designed for general utility or everyday useH2 steel version prone to surface rust after marine use