10 Crazy but True Facts About Benchmade
We did the digging, so you don’t have to.
For just about as long as GOVX has been in business, Benchmade has reigned supreme as the clear choice for survivalists, hunters, and uniformed professionals from all fields. The quality is unmatched, the warranty is insane, and the performance is consistently unparalleled. In short, a Benchmade blade is everything you could ask for in a knife. However, the lore behind the butterfly logo is a whole different beast to unsheathe. Here's what we've got.
10. BENCHMADE WAS FIRST KNOWN AS BALI-SONG
Believe it or not, the original name of the brand actually has its own origin story. You see, Balisong (pronounced bah-lee-song) is a Tagalog term that loosely breaks down into two words in the native Filipino language -
BALI: Meaning "to break" or "broken"
SUNG: Derived from sungay, meaning "horn"
Translating to "broken horn”, it’s a clear reference to the early 20th-century construction of the knives in the Batangas province in the Philippines, where the handles were frequently crafted from carved water buffalo (carabao) horns.
In 1979, Benchmade’s founder Les de Asis set forth to take the traditional Filipino butterfly knife design and manufacture it with high-quality materials and modern precision engineering. This resulted in the creation of their first product launch, highlighted by the well-regarded MODEL 42, considered to be the most famous butterfly ever forged.
Although the Benchmade name was formally adopted in 1988, the original butterfly logo still grazes nearly every blade they make today.
9. THE BENCHMADE NAME IS A DEEP CUT
The name "Benchmade" is meant to invoke the specific way these knives are manufactured. Back in the day, most knives were either handmade (custom-built by one person) or factory-made (mass-produced), Benchmade changed the game by utilizing precision-machined parts that were then hand-assembled and finished at a workbench.
It represented an embrace of the old and the new, combining modern tech with traditional craftsmanship.
8. THEY'VE MADE OREGON THEIR HOME
Originally based in the Los Angeles-area, Benchmade moved operations to Clackamas, Oregon (and later to Oregon City, OR) in 1990.
The reason? The Pacific Northwest is well-known as the “Knife Capital” of the United States, and the company wanted closer access to the vendors, laborers, and outdoorsmen who populate the wooded area.
7. THEY PIONEERED THE USE OF LASERS TO CUT BLADE BANKS
Before Benchmade reset the standard, a majority of blades were forged using blanking dies, which are basically an oversized cookie cutter that smashed shapes out of steel sheets. The issue was that stamping dies traditionally can only handle softer steel, if it was too hard or thick, the die would be destroyed.
Seeking a viable solution, Benchmade became the originator of using CO2 lasers to cut blade blanks. This allowed the blade maker to use "super steels" that stayed sharp much longer than anything else at the time. It also meant they could change a blade design by simply updating a computer file, rather than machining a new $10,000 metal die.
6. THEY’VE MADE THEIR MARK ON THE BIG SCREEN
Whenever you stumble across a knife scene while late night streaming or at the theater, there’s a good chance that your favorite movie star is wielding a Benchmade. Here’s some of the cameos we’ve caught:
- Benchmade AFCK: GoldenEye (1995)
- Benchmade 4905: Face/Off (1997)
- Benchmade Nimravus 140: The Hunted (2003)
- Benchmade 9100 Auto Stryker: I Am Legend (2007)
- Benchmade 42 Balisong: Kick-Ass (2010)
- Benchmade Infidel 3300BK: John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2017)
5. THEY’VE TEAMED UP WITH THE PROS
For any brand, aligning with professional leaders is the premier way to put a little power behind your products. While Benchmade has steered away from the traditional brand ambassador formats, they have worked with a pair of pros to help develop the tools they back.
Greg Thompson: The founder of the Special Operations Combatives Program (SOCP). He is represents Benchmade’s tactical line, working to design the SOCP Dagger and several other self-defense tools used by military and law enforcement.
Shane Sibert: A world-renowned knifemaker who has collaborated with Benchmade on rugged, "hard-use" fixed blades like the Adamas and the Bushcrafter.
4. THEIR KNIVES ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO
THREE CLASSES
The right task deserves the right tool. Benchmade makes it easier to identify specifically what knife would best fit your kit.
Blue Class (Everyday): High-quality, reliable tools designed for daily carry (EDC) and general outdoor use.
Black Class (Professional): Purpose-built for military, law enforcement, and first responders. These often feature tactical coatings and are designed to perform under extreme stress.
Gold Class (Collector): These are limited-run knives where Benchmade’s engineers use rare materials like Damascus steel, carbon fiber, and titanium to turn standard models into works of art.
3. THEY HAVE ONE HELL OF A WARRANTY
Yours for life™ means exactly what is says. Benchmade provides a lifetime warranty on every blade sold which covers free sharpening, cleaning, oiling, and adjustments for the life of the knife. If your workhorse gets worn out or gets ravaged by feral wolves, just simply send it back to the factory and they’ll repair it or replace it free of charge.
2. YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN CUSTOM BENCHMADE
Yes, it’s true. Benchmade was one of the first companies to allow customers to completely customize their knife order online through the Custom Knife Builder. Simply pick a base model and choose the specific steel type, handle color and hardware finish.
You can even add custom laser engraving to the blade.
1. THEY’VE USE STEEL THAT WAS MEANT FOR JET ENGINE TURBINE BLADES
For years, Benchmade’s standard high-end steel was 154CM. This metal was primarily developed for jet engine turbine blades and could withstand the high heat and friction of aerospace environments, which translated perfectly to a knife edge that refuses to dull.
