Editing Benchmade (section)

== History ==
Benchmade originally started in [[California]] in 1979 as Bali-Song, then changed their name to Pacific Cutlery Corporation in the early 1980s, before settling on "Benchmade" in 1988. In 1990, the company moved to [[Clackamas, Oregon]], to be closer to existing knife production companies in that area.<ref name="GD">{{cite book | last = Lewis| first = Jack| author-link = Jack Lewis (screenwriter)|author2=Roger Combs| title =Gun Digest Book of knives| publisher = DBI| year = 1992| pages = 193–186 | isbn = 978-0-87349-129-7}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> As part of the process of moving their production from outside vendors to in-house production facilities, the company moved again in 1996, to their own 35,000 square foot facility in [[Oregon City, Oregon]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Szostech|first1=Michael|title=Benchmade Tactical Pen Review|url=http://www.pyramidreviews.com/product-reviews/outdoors-survival/benchmade-tactical-pen-review/|website=PyramidReviews|date=2 January 2017 |access-date=2 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Benchmade History Page |url=http://www.benchmade.com/benchmade/index.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030062148/http://www.benchmade.com/benchmade/index.asp |archive-date=2006-10-30 |access-date=2006-11-04}}</ref>

Benchmade became known primarily as a manufacturer of [[Butterfly knife|butterfly knives]], or balisongs, and they continue to be manufactured under their registered [[trademark]] name "Ba“i-Song".<ref>{{cite web |title=Benchmade Copyright and Trademarks |url=http://www.benchmade.com/policies.asp#Copyright_&_Trademarks |access-date=2006-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306035722/http://www.benchmade.com/policies.asp#Copyright_&_Trademarks |archive-date=2012-03-06}}</ref> ”Benchmade's original Bali-Song design by [[Jody Samson]] was awarded ''[[Blade (magazine)|Blade Magazine's]]'' Knife of the Year Award in 1979.<ref name="burch">{{cite book |last=Burch| first=Michael|editor-first=Joe| editor-last=Kertzman|title=Knives 2008 |publisher=F&W Media |year=2007 |pages=26–30 |chapter=Butterfly Knives Take Wing |isbn=978-0-89689-542-3}}</ref> This connection to butterfly knives is the inspiration for the butterfly symbol in their logo.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Kaylene |date=June 13, 2013 |title=Benchmade's History with Butterfly Knives |url=https://www.bladehq.com/blog/benchmades-history-with-butterfly-knives |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=Blade HQ}}</ref>

Founder Les deAsis died February 21, 2020, following a stroke.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lester de Asis Obituary (1951 - 2020) |url=https://obits.oregonlive.com/amp/obituaries/oregon/195550802|access-date=2020-12-05|website=The Oregonian |language=en}}</ref> His wife Roberta deAsis, took over the position of President and CEO following his death, and was succeeded by their son Jon deAsis in October of 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Kish|first=Matthew|date=Oct 8, 2020|title=Benchmade names son of founder as new CEO|website=www.bizjournals.com |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2020/10/08/benchmade-names-son-of-founder-ceo.html|access-date=2020-12-05}}</ref>