Benchmade was originally founded in 1979 as Bali-Song when Les de Asis began making knives out of a second-story shop in California. Using second-hand equipment, Les de Asis began making custom Bali-Songs with Jody Samson, producing their first Bali-Song, the model 68. Over the following years, Bali-Song expanded its product line to include folding and fixed-blade knives, changing their name...

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The Boker story begins in the 17th century with a small hand tool factory under the shadow of a towering chestnut tree. This iconic tree would later become the company's enduring symbol, first appearing as a trademark in 1674. By the 18th century, Boker tools had gained renown for their quality, reaching leading status in Germany and neighboring countries.

Driven by the changing political climate and rising demand for weapons, the Boker brothers, Hermann and Robert, ventured into sword production in 1829, producing over 2000 blades a week. Their success paved the way for further diversification, leading to...

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The Buck legacy began in 1902 when Hoyt H. Buck, a 13-year-old Kansas blacksmith apprentice, developed a new method to heat-treat steel for increased edge retention. Buck began making his first knives later that same year in Mountain Home, Idaho, using old file blades as his raw material, and individually stamping the letters BUCK onto every blade. His dedication to his country and knife-making was greatly appreciated during WWII, after hearing that the government...

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The story of Case knives begins in 1889, when four brothers William Russell (W.R.), Jean, John, and Andrew Case, began selling handcrafted knives from the back of a wagon in small upstate New York villages and towns. The brothers were skilled craftsmen, and their knives quickly gained a reputation for quality and durability. In 1896, the brothers incorporated their business as the Case Brothers Cutlery Company, four years later building their factory in Little Valley, New York. Wanting to leave a trademark of their quality, the brothers began to use their signature XX mark which has become well-known throughout the world...

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Established in 1980 by Lynn C. Thompson in Ventura, California, Cold Steel has emerged as a leading force in the world of knives and edged weapons. The company has been driven by a philosophy focused on strength, sharpness, and reliability, with a mission to create some of the sharpest and toughest knives on the market...

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CRKT was founded in 1994 in Tualatin, Oregon, by Rod Bremer and Paul Gillespie. From the start, the company was driven by a philosophy of innovation, reliability, and value. Bremer and Gillespi saw an opportunity to create cutting-edge tools that combined exceptional design and functionality at an affordable price. They envisioned a company that would not only produce knives but also introduce innovative solutions to common problems faced by users in various fields, including outdoor recreation, professional work, and everyday carry...

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The journey began in 1969 when Jim Frost, a shift worker at a chemical plant, developed a fascination with collecting pocket knives. This hobby quickly blossomed into a full-time pursuit, leading him to establish "Frost Distributing" in 1972. Initially, Jim acted as a middleman, sourcing knives from established manufacturers and selling them through flea markets and catalogs. In 1976, a partnership with knife industry legend James F. Parker saw the birth of Parker-Frost Cutlery. While short-lived, it proved invaluable, exposing Jim to the intricacies of knife design and manufacturing. By 1978, armed with knowledge and experience, Jim took the bold step of launching...

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The story of KA-BAR begins in 1894, when at 19, a traveling salesman named Wallace Brown took a bold step and started his own mail-order cutlery business called the Union Razor Company in Little Valley, New York. Soon joined by his brother Emerson, they formed their own cutlery company known as Brown Brothers Razor. However, their venture was short-lived, and the brothers eventually went to work for the Cattaraugus Cutlery Company. In an effort to resurrect their business interests, Wallace Brown purchased the struggling Tidioute Cutlery Company of Tidioute, Pennsylvania in January 1902. The company’s assets were transferred to...

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Kershaw Knives was founded by Pete Kershaw in 1974 after Kershaw left Gerber Legendary Blades to form his own cutlery company based on his knife designs. To guarantee the quality of his new knives Kershaw began to search for a premier supplier to produce his knives. A partnership was made when Kershaw approached Kai Cutlery of Japan to manufacture his knife designs. Master bladesmith Ichiro Hattori was assigned to create the inaugural batch of Kershaw fixed-blade knives. A task that would establish the brand's reputation for quality and craftsmanship. These early models of knives were known as the “Kershaw Hunters” as each one underwent...

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The story of Leatherman is more than just about a multitool; it's a testament to the power of innovation, fueled by frustration and a relentless pursuit of a better solution. In the early 1980s, a young mechanical engineer named Tim Leatherman embarked on a European road trip with his wife Chau. Their trusty Fiat 600, however, proved less reliable than romantic, requiring frequent roadside fixes. Armed with only a scout knife, Leatherman found himself constantly yearning for a more versatile and portable tool. This simple yet defining moment planted the seed that would blossom into the Leatherman Tool Group, forever changing the way...

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The story of Microtech begins in 1993, not in a corporate office, but in the unassuming surroundings of an apartment in Vero Beach, Florida. It was here that Anthony and Susan Marfione, driven by a shared passion for knifemaking, laid the foundation for what would become a leading name in the industry. Anthony, a skilled craftsman with a background in tool and die making, meticulously crafted the very first knife prototypes in their apartment. Their dedication soon outgrew the confines of their living space, prompting them to move operations to a storage shed, marking the first step towards a dedicated production facility...

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Though the Old Timer brand itself only dates back to 1958, this humble story begins in 1904 in Walden, New York, with the founding of the Schrade Cutlery Company by George Schrade. Schrade knives, known for their quality and craftsmanship quickly gained a loyal following.

In 1946, the Schrade company merged with the Imperial Knife Associated Companies, forming the now iconic Imperial Schrade Corp. This merger brought together three legacy brands, The Ulster Knife Company, Imperial Knife Company, and Schrade...

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Smoky Mountain Knife Works, located in Sevierville, Tennessee, is renowned as the world's largest knife store. It started in the early 1970s when our company’s founders, Kevin Pipes, and John Parker began to sell knives out of the back of their pickup trucks. Spending almost a decade building relationships with customers and vendors before establishing Smoky Mountain Knife Works in 1978. Smoky Mountain Knife Works rapidly outgrew its first two stores...

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In the small town of Peachtree City, Georgia, a unique blend of craftsmanship and passion gave birth to Southern Grind, a knife-making company founded by none other than musician and knife enthusiast Zac Brown. Brown's journey from a passionate hobbyist to the creator of one of the most respected boutique knife brands in the United States is not just a tale of entrepreneurship but also of American ingenuity and dedication.

Zac Brown's love for knives isn't just a passing interest; it's a lifelong passion that transitioned into knife-making in the early 2000s. This enthusiasm laid the foundation for Southern Grind...

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Sal Glesser and his wife Gail founded Spyderco in Golden, Colorado in 1976. Sal drew inspiration for the brand's name from high-performance sports cars that often featured “Spyder” in their names. This led to the creation of Spyderco, a name meant to symbolize the high-performance nature of their cutting tools. Syderco’s first product, introduced later the same year, was the Tri-Angle sharp maker, a versatile sharpening tool that could be mastered by anyone.

During the early days of Spyderco, Sal, and Gail converted an old bread delivery truck into a motorhome, traveling to shows to showcase their products...

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Renowned for their Swiss Army Knives, Victorinox has a storied history that spans over a century. The brand's commitment to quality, functionality, and innovation has solidified its place as a global icon in the knife industry. The story of Victorinox begins in 1884 when Karl Elsener I opened a cutlery workshop in Ibach, Switzerland. Elsener's vision was to create a versatile and reliable knife that could serve multiple purposes, embodying the essence of Swiss craftsmanship. In 1891 Elsener would establish the Association of Swiss Master Cutlers, a collection of many small workshops...

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