An hour south of Portland, Oregon, in a mixed-use neighborhood backed up against Mt. Hood National Forest, is an unassuming two-story building with a large butterfly logo on the front. Adjacent to a large cinema, the country clerk, a few apartments, and a performing arts center, its drab, mall-like exterior isn’t exactly what one envisions when invited to tour the largest knife factory in the country.
Yet, as I would learn, the simple facade is emblematic of what Benchmade Knives stands for: blue collar ethos and a deep attention to customer needs. Inside, the space is much larger than I’d assumed. In total, a 144,000-square-foot facility that houses a small storefront, corporate headquarters, research lab, the factory floor, and distribution. The family-owned knife maker tests, fabricates, and ships all of their products here—spanning tactical, hunting, cutlery, and other specialized lines.
I would love to visit Benchmade. If the article listed the metric by which “largest” is gauged, I missed it. Buck was pretty massive, and I think Case is up there too. But there is no denying the quality of the blades being put out by Benchmade. I think my Bugout is as close to perfect of an EDC as there is.
Very cool look behind the scenes.
Read the whole thing at MensJournal.com
Read the full article here
