Les de
Asis, founder and owner of Benchmade Knife Company, with his son
Jon.
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BENCHMADE - THE COMPANY HISTORY
Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. set-up shop in Clackamas, Oregon in 1990
(originally founded in California in 1988). The initial knives primarily
consisted of the Bali-Song knives, using a combination of outside vendors
and inside processing to build finished products. And like most companies,
starting out meant scarce money and big plans, using second hand equipment
and limited resources.
Soon, a natural born fortitude and an undying passion to make it right
and make it Benchmade, prospered into significant growth. As the product
line grew so did the in-house capabilities. Benchmade began to acquire
new machines and technologies including the first of several lasers, making
Benchmade the first knife manufacturer to have such equipment in-house.
Open minds and positive attitudes would lead to several more industry
firsts over the course of the next several years.
This was only the beginning of Benchmade's breaking of new ground in the
manufactured knife markets by using non-traditional materials and modern
manufacturing methods in not only building knives better but, inevitably
building better knives. The Designer Series was first introduced in 1991
with several custom designs being manufactured. By tapping into the custom
knife makers' knowledge and combining it with Benchmade's manufacturing
expertise they were more readily able to offer more contemporary knife
designs and innovations to the knife users.
Consecutive years of aggressive growth led to the next logical step in
1996 when Benchmade moved into its own 35,000 sq. ft. facility. A contemporary
styled building complete with all of the modern equipment and amenities
necessary to manufacture what has become recognized as a higher standard
of specialty cutlery.
Today, Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. manufactures knives for a loyal and
ever growing following of knife users. As we move into the 21st century
we are poised for even more exciting opportunities, innovations and ongoing
total world-class quality. Benchmade employs a simple philosophy- "Make
it cool, make it solid, make it happen and definitely make it Benchmade."
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