Benchmade

Benchmade is an American company that started in a small rented shop in California. The founder, Les de Asis, bought the equipment of a retiring manufacturer and, together with Jody Samson, who made the blades, began producing handmade butterfly knives, known as Bali-Songs. The success of their knives led to the development of their first production model, the 68.

Over the years, the company expanded its product range to include fixed blades and folding knives and changed its name from Bali-Song®, Inc. to Pacific Cutlery Corp. In 1987, Les reintroduced the company as Benchmade Knife Co., Inc., focusing on manufacturing high-quality knives in the United States. The name "Benchmade" was chosen to reflect the combination of serial production and craftsmanship.

Benchmade relocated from California to Clackamas, Oregon, where it was the first company to own and operate a high-performance laser cutter, allowing it to work with harder steels. The company also became a leader in the production of automatic knives and began supplying military units. To meet customer demand, Benchmade moved to a larger facility in Oregon City, Oregon.

Through collaborations with renowned knifemakers such as Mel Pardue and Warren Osborne, Benchmade developed a business model that integrated custom knife designs into the manufacturing process. This approach led to the introduction of the AXIS® lock, a significant innovation in the cutlery industry.

Even today, Benchmade remains committed to innovation, customization, ethical business practices, and delivering high-quality products. The company continues to grow and face challenges, but it is confident in its ability to learn and improve to provide its customers with the best knives.