Benchmade
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The Benchmade Knife Company is a knife manufacturer run by Roberta and Les de Asis in Oregon City, Oregon, United States.
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[edit] History
Benchmade started in California in 1988 as the Pacific Cutlery Corp. In 1990 the company moved to Clackamas, Oregon<ref>Benchmade History Page. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.</ref>. The bulk of Benchmade's initial output consisted of butterfly, or balisong-style knives, which it continues to manufacture, indeed the company have registered "Bali-Song" as a trademark<ref>Benchmade Copyright and Trademarks. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.</ref>. As of October 2004, the company employs approximately 125-150 people.[citation needed] Benchmade has had several years of growth and has expanded both the variety of knives it produces and the facility itself.
[edit] Products
Benchmade receives a significant amount of revenue from selling restricted-sales knives to the military and law enforcement<ref>Benchmade 'Public Safety' Military and Law Enforcement Page. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.</ref>. Benchmade produces a fairly diverse selection of "full auto", or switchblade knives, along with a range of hunting, fishing, utility and miscellaneous knives, however balisongs remain a core product.
Benchmade has a patent on the locking mechanism used in most of the switchblades they produce.<ref>Benchmade Locking Mechanism Page. Retrieved on 2006-11-22.</ref>.
[edit] Location
In 1996, Benchmade moved to Oregon City. Apart from Red Class products, which are produced in a "monitored off shores facility"<ref>Benchmade 'Red Class' products. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.</ref>, Benchmade produces all of its knives in Oregon City. One of the reasons Benchmade is located in Oregon —as are many other knife makers<ref>eg Gerber Legendary Blades</ref>— is because Oregon has very relaxed laws towards knives in general and switchblades or butterfly knives specifically<ref>Oregon Knife Club Legal FAQ Answer. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.</ref>; there are no restrictions against selling a switchblade-style knife to an Oregon resident<ref>Benchmade Legal Page. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.</ref>.
[edit] References
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