Benchmade Knife
Our 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 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 the best knives in the world led to significant growth. As the Benchmade product line grew so did our in-house capabilities. We 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 market 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 our manufacturing expertise we were more readily able to offer more contemporary knife designs and innovations to knife users. Consecutive years of aggressive growth led to the next logical step in 1996 when Benchmade moved into our own 35,000 sq. ft. facility. In 2011, an additional 20,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space was added and the entire factory was awarded the prestigious LEED Gold certification from the Green Building Council.
Today, Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. manufactures knives for a loyal and ever growing following of knife users around the globe. Our commitment to world-class quality embodied in our well known motto – It’s Not Just a Knife. It’s a Benchmade.
Our Mindset
It’s not just a knife. It’s a Benchmade.
For two decades Benchmade has been committed to designing and manufacturing world-class sports cutlery and edged tools.
We continually strive to manufacture high quality products that will deliver superior performance and provide great value for our customers.
Whether you are using a Griptilian™ as a basic cutting tool or one of our professional grade rescue hooks to perform a quick cut in an emergency situation, you can count on your Benchmade to get the job done.
The Benchmade Difference
Expect more.
Our edged tools combine innovation, high technology and a hand-crafted finish.
The 3 M’s set Benchmade apart.
Materials: Premium blade steels and strong, durable handle materials are built to last.
Mechanisms: Patented locking mechanisms like our AXIS® lock provide reliability and enhanced function.
Manufacturing: Ultra-modern laser cutters and CNC machining centers offer the precision and control usually reserved for the aerospace industry.
We stand behind our products and craftsmanship.
All Benchmade products are covered by our limited lifetime warranty and LifeSharp service.
Benchmade Quality
Benchmade has made its reputation in the marketplace over the years through the quality of its products. We have prided ourselves on providing our customers a quality product that distinguishes itself from the competition through what we call the 3 M’s – the Mechanisms, the Materials and our Manufacturing capabilities.
That said, our ability to deliver a quality product is totally dependent on our most important asset, the people here at Benchmade. All the way from our owners through to everyone who works here, the passion we have for producing a quality product is one of the vital ingredients in Benchmade’s success. That’s something that no quality management system by itself can instill; that comes from the very top, from the leadership of our owners, Les and Roberta De Asis and their management team.
To support that culture of excellence, we do have a Quality Management System (QMS) that we continue to build and improve. Our QMS is based on the ISO 9001:2008 standard, and is specifically tailored to our company’s needs. Attention to detail and continual review of our processes also ensures we are able to not only maintain but to improve all aspects of our ongoing operations.
For each USA made Benchmade product, from the New Product Introduction process where the fundamental design is fine tuned through a series of methodical review and approval steps, through the controlled manufacture of the components to tolerances and standards often found only in aerospace and precision industries, all the way through hand assembly by trained team members where each individual knife is checked against cosmetic and functional criteria and standards for component and product quality and performance, each process step is designed to produce the desired result – a Benchmade quality product.
We also have a well developed rapport with our customer base, which provides us with another key ingredient, which is the Voice of the Customer. That and our Customer Service, Sales and Marketing teams keep us in tune with our customers’ needs and provides feedback for further enhancements and improvements to our products.
In summary, it is the company culture, leadership by example and the individual contributions of each employee, supported by an ISO 9001:2008 based Quality Management System, that make Benchmade products what they are. As we say here, “Make it Cool, Make it Solid, Make it Happen, and definitely make it Benchmade!”