Comparison Console
Benchmade Contego vs Spyderco Shaman
EDC Knives comparison. Compare price, weight, specifications, materials, and real-world use case.
Command Brief
Recommended read
Spyderco Shaman stands out as the lightest option for weight, with about a 12% gap from the closest alternative. Spyderco Shaman stands out as the cheapest option for retail price, with about a 2% gap from the closest alternative.
Decision Signals
What stands out
Spyderco Shaman stands out as the cheapest option for retail price, with about a 2% gap from the closest alternative.
Benchmade Contego stands out as the most expensive option for retail price, with about a 2% gap from the closest alternative.
Spyderco Shaman stands out as the lightest option for weight, with about a 12% gap from the closest alternative.
Benchmade Contego stands out as the heaviest option for weight, with about a 14% gap from the closest alternative.
Spyderco Shaman stands out as the shortest option for closed length, with about a 12% gap from the closest alternative.
Benchmade Contego stands out as the longest option for closed length, with about a 13% gap from the closest alternative.
Spyderco Shaman stands out as the shortest option for blade length, with about a 10% gap from the closest alternative.
Benchmade Contego stands out as the longest option for blade length, with about a 11% 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$245Most expensive
US$240Cheapest
Weight
167.83 g (5.92 oz)Heaviest
147.4 g (5.20 oz)Lightest
Dimensions
Blade length
101.1 mm (3.98 in)Longest
91 mm (3.58 in)Shortest
Overall length
235.7 mm (9.28 in)Longest
210 mm (8.27 in)Shortest
Closed length
134.6 mm (5.30 in)Longest
119 mm (4.69 in)Shortest
Blade thickness
3.96 mm (0.16 in)Thickest
3.7 mm (0.15 in)Thinnest
Materials & mechanism
Blade steel
CPM M4
CTS BD1N or CPM MagnaCut
Handle material
G-10 Laminate
FRN or G-10
Finish
Cerakote finish (corrosion resistance), Satin finish (some versions)
DLC coating or Plain finish
Lock type
AXIS Lock/Crossbar Lock
Compression Lock
Opening method
Thumb Stud
Thumb Hole
Clip type
Deep Carry Reversible Clip
Four-position Reversible Tip-up Clip
Use case profile
Best for
Tactical situationsSelf-defenseDurable daily carry
Everyday carryCampingOutdoor fieldworkTactical use
Not best for
Very discreet daily use due to size and weight
Heavy-duty prying
Common praise
Strong and durable bladeSmooth and solid AXIS lockAmbidextrous usageGood grip with textured G10 handleFast and easy opening
Lightweight yet strong designVersatile carry options with four-position clipSuperior edge retention especially with MagnaCut steelGood grip texture on handle materialsReliable and safe Compression Lock mechanism
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
Some models heavier than othersNot suitable for prying tasksLimited blade length for some heavy users