Is there a reason Oregon has so many knife companies?

[CKF]

Thank you. That is what i searched for.

 

[Sonnydaze]

What else can you do in the rain? Folks have to stay inside all of the time, so this is a good hobby/vocation.
tongue in cheek...perhaps...

 

[K.O.D.]

Benchmade has a lobby with some of their knives on display for sale, but not a showroom really...and you would end up spending top dollar (retail price) on a knife at the factory...But if your close its worth looking at!

It's not easy finding a Benchmade anywhere that isn't full retail.

I wish I lived out there to go visit or whatever, but if I move, its south, not North or parallel.

Sent via pony express

 

[DeadboxHero]

They are all here because of Gerber


Crazy huh?

Look it up.

 

[James Y]

Benchmade started out in southern CA as Bali-Song and later Pacific Cutlery, but moved to Oregon in 1990, as I remember due to being less expensive and more business friendly.

Jim

 

[knifedepot]

These answers are spot on. Most of the companies grew out of Gerber (Kershaw, CRKT, Al Mar), which also lured other companies. Oregon (specificaly Portland) has a healthy manufacturing focus and that was another point in the region's favor. If you're interested, I recently wrote a highly relevant article on why Portland is the knife capital of the US: https://www.knife-depot.com/blog/portland-became-knife-capital-us/.

 

[ATJ999]

We love knives and guns here!! Great laws too! Maybe it is all the outdoors people here, and some decided to make knives, then it took off? Not sure. All I care about is it is a great place if your an outdoors person, also if you like knives and guns.

 

[CookieRawwr]

Well I can think of at least one knife company in Ohio....