Casual Benchmade adherents may know that the brand was founded by Les de Asis, an unemployed California craftsman, in 1979. But perhaps only superfans know that the brand’s original name was, believe ...

Benchmade Bali-song background. As a brand that has been around for almost half a century, Benchmade has quite a history. But what’s most interesting with regard to the Laro is the company’s roots.

The Beginning of the Benchmade Knife Co. The Benchmade story started in the late 1970’s, when company founder Les de Asis developed a new version of a Bali-Song knife in a machine shop.