founded in California in 1988). The initial knives primarily consisted of the Bali-Song knives, using a combination of outside vendors and inside processing to build finished products. And like most companies, starting out meant scarce money and big plans, using second hand equipment and limited resources.

Soon, a natural born fortitude and an undying passion to make it right and make it Benchmade, prospered into significant growth. As the product line grew so did the in-house capabilities. We began to acquire new machines and technologies including the first of several lasers, making Benchmade the first knife manufacturer to have such equipment in-house. Open minds and positive attitudes would lead to several more industry firsts over the course of the next several years.

This was only the beginning of Benchmade's breaking of new ground in the manufactured knife markets by using non-traditional materials and modern manufacturing methods in not only building knives better but, inevitably building better knives. The Designer Series was first introduced in 1991 with several custom designs being manufactured. By tapping into the custom knife makers' knowledge and combining it with our manufacturing expertise we were more readily able to offer more contemporary knife designs and innovations to the knife users.

Consecutive years of aggressive growth led to the next logical step in 1996 when Benchmade moved into its own 35,000 sq. ft. facility. A contemporary styled building complete with all of the modern equipment and amenities necessary to manufacture what has become recognized as a higher standard of specialty cutlery.

Today, Benchmade Knife Company, Inc. manufactures knives for a loyal and ever growing following of knife users. As we move into the 21st century we are poised for even more exciting opportunities, innovations and ongoing total world-class quality. Here at Benchmade we employ a simple philosophy -- "Make it cool, make it solid, make it happen and definitely make it Benchmade."

Benchmade Knives Oregon , US1990年，蝴蝶刀具公司在俄勒冈州克拉克马斯建立（1988年始建于加利福尼亚州），最初的产品是Bali-Song系列刀具，是进口外部供应商的原型自己加工成品。蝴蝶刀具和其他大多数公司一样，蝴蝶公司起步之初面临过缺乏资金和大型计划的状况，使用二手的设备和有限的资源维持生产。

不久，凭借创业者天生的坚韧与不灭的激情，蝴蝶刀具逐渐走向成熟，初显繁荣。当产品线达到可以自行设计生产的水平时，公司开始引进了新的设备和技术，包括第一批激光设备，这使得蝴蝶刀具成为了国内第一家拥有这些设备的刀具厂商。开放的观念和务实的态度，引领公司在以后数年的数个行业内成为首创。

蝴蝶公司突破性的将非传统材料和现代制造方法引入到刀具行业，开创了一个新的领域，不仅把刀做得更好，而且不可避免的做出更高层次的刀具来。这仅仅是一个开始。1991年，Designer Series（“设计师”）系列问世，它综合了多位手工设计师的设计制造。蝴蝶公司善于将手工制刀匠的经验和自己丰富的制造经验相融合，使其能更容易的提供更现代的设计到产品的创新和量产领域。

1996年，经过连续多年的努力拼搏，公司的发展步入了新阶段。蝴蝶刀具搬迁到了三万五千平方英尺的新厂房，一座极具现代风格气息的建筑，以及生产所必需的现代化设备和设施，它们被看作是专业刀具制造的更高标准的体现。

今天，蝴蝶刀具公司为日益增长的热爱刀的用户生产刀具。进入21世纪，蝴蝶将为更加令人兴奋的机遇、创新和保持产品世界一流品质做好准备。蝴蝶刀具信奉一个简单的哲学－－“Make it cool, make it solid, make it happen and definitely make it Benchmade”(做到最好，让不可能成为可能，创造绝对的Benchmade品牌）。蝴蝶刀有着很多含义。完全闭合时，象征着“3in1forpeace（和平）”。半开时，它表示祖先的三个地理区域。完全打开时，意味着“3in1forcombat（战斗）”。

著名的“Veintinueve”（29），传说中长度被夸大成足以一下刺穿29个人。很巧的是，世界上最强的手枪也叫做“29”，那就是史密斯威森29，克林特伊斯特伍德在他的电影“DirtyHarry”中曾使用过。

早期的蝴蝶刀是以一些随手可得的材料制成的，与日本刀比起来显得非常粗糙。而蝴蝶刀也并不需要像日本刀那样刺穿厚厚的甲胄。处在热带气候之中，蝴蝶刀的目标通常是近乎赤裸的人体。以此为目的，这样已经足够了。

刀身的横截面和外形多种多样，因此严格说来刀身的选择是由个人自己决定的。我建议你的第一把蝴蝶刀选择平脊的。这样的话，只要你先把刀刃用胶带粘起来，就可以让你在操练的时候心里充满安全感。

一旦熟知了蝴蝶刀的运转方式，你就可以进一步，改用改良的剑形刃或鹰嘴刃。生存主义者及使用刀具防卫的格斗者更喜欢这种刃型，原因是两面都可以用来切割。买这种双刃的蝴蝶刀时一定要注意，要想安全的使用它，你必须拥有炉火纯青的技巧。

刀柄的好坏是由它是否切合你的手型决定的。切合度越好，越容易使用及操练。嵌入材料也是一个决定因素，虽然收藏者认为象牙嵌入只是提高了它的价值。现在最流行的是轻型镂空手柄。LesdeAsis是最先将轻型手柄用于蝴蝶刀的。这种手柄不仅更轻，也提供了更好的握持，就像轮胎上的防滑纹一样。至于轻型手柄的外观保养，只需用擦光轮去除掉划痕和缺口即可。实心一体手柄或无嵌入件手柄在防卫中也比较实用，你不必去担心嵌入件会突出或破裂。