Visiting Oregon City

jazub

jazub

Joined
Feb 6, 2010
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My buddy and his wife have a farm in Oregon City where they host an annual end of summer camp out party for about 60-70 people. There will be music, big cookout, and he works for a brewery so there will be plenty of suds. This is the first time I can make it and I'm incorporating a night in Ashland and a night in Portland as well. Stoked; Oregon [and Oregon beer] is rad. Anyway, it occurred to me that I can finally visit the grounds/showroom of my favorite folding knife company! But then it also occurred to me that it is Labor Day weekend... just spoke with a very friendly young lady at Benchmade and they are indeed Mon-Fri and closed on Labor Day. I'm glad they get regular workweeks and holidays. Still sort of bummed to miss the showroom when I'm right there.

Anybody been to the factory? Maybe distributors are the best way to go price-wise anyway? Either way, I'm going to drive over and at least take a picture with whatever knife I decide to travel with this weekend. Knife pilgrimage! :eek::D
 
Hey, if you are coming to Portland, you should come out and see our store. We have as many Benchmades as Benchmade!

Open Saturday 10-1 and Monday 10-6
 
okbohn said:
Hey, if you are coming to Portland, you should come out and see our store. We have as many Benchmades as Benchmade!

Open Saturday 10-1 and Monday 10-6
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Sweet! I hadn't put it together that you are up there, too. Staying at a McMenamin's in Portland on Sunday so I'll be there. Looking forward to checking out the storefront. :thumbup:
 
Cool. it has just moved. Google has us in the wrong location. We are here

2110 NE Cornell Rd STE F
Hillsboro OR 97124

We are behind the Kaady Car Wash.

We don't have signs up yet, but we are the only one that looks like a store and it has bars on the windows. :)
 
KnivesShipFree - I'm glad I saw this post, didn't know you moved.

The Benchmade factory is awesome. They're working on an observation deck you can access from the store, however, it isn't open yet. From there though, you can see the factory floor. It's pretty neat. The store is awesome since you can pretty much handle everything they make, and they usually have a few things on sale. If you're LE/EMS/FIRE you can get your discount direct from them, which is real nice. They also do the free sharpening while you wait, and if you need a clip, etc, it's the best time.
Don't worry though. You might try to visit Kershaw/ZT in Tualatin (maybe 30 mins from BM), but they're probably closed too, and they don't have a store or anything - a little boring.
 
Ride from one side of Oregon City to the other:

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Just up the road:

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Brought the Ares along this weekend:

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Knife nerd in empty parking lot, photographing closed knife factory :D:

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Very cool to see where my favorite folders come from. Oregon City is a lush spot. Hopefully catch the showroom open next time.

Good news is there is a KnivesShipFree store visit still to look forward to. :thumbup:
 
Wow, you lucky guy. If I can ever make it to Oregon, I will stop and peruse the Butterfly shop. Your get together sounds like something that is really fun as well. Congrats on a fantastic knife score and thanks for sharing.
 
Thanks, RD. That whole region of Oregon is just beautiful and the Benchmade factory was a hearteningly nice complex. Got a late start back to Cali yesterday but had time to stop in to KSF and meet Derrick briefly. What a nice shop he has. Shimmering new knife goodness everywhere! Great to see that there is such a professional, stocked up shop associated with his great online store. :thumbup:
 
It does look very modern from the outside. I saw a picture of the inside they have fantastic "Walls of Sharpness".
I'd have asked if I could take that door mat. A KSF visit would be a nice afternoon, of going broke. :D
 
It's pretty sweet here in general.

Totally unsponsored plug for knives ship free / north woods knives. Fantastic selection. Overwhelming really. Especially when you get used to seeing the same rotation of cheapo knives at every hardware store. Fishermans marine has a pretty impressive selection of Benchmades as well, but a pittance compared to knives ship free. Awesome staff members there as well. Really encourage you to play with the knives a bit and figure out what you want.

Now I am getting worked up to head in to their new location and check it out. Have not been since they moved.
 
jazub said:
Just up the road:

14912234297_1520607010_z.jpg




Good news is there is a KnivesShipFree store visit still to look forward to. :thumbup:
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Funny-- I drive through this intersection practically every day and I've never visited the factory.
 
Great pictures Jaz. I've lived all of my life in Oregon, but have yet to visit any of the knife companies in the Portland area. :D Kinda weird because I go there 5-6 days a week... Although, a 75 foot long vehicle hauling almost 12,000 gallons of gas isn't the best travel vehicle :D

I grew up in the valley about 120 miles south of Portland and there are WAY to many trees for me lol




RevDevil said:
Wow, you lucky guy. If I can ever make it to Oregon, I will stop and peruse the Butterfly shop. Your get together sounds like something that is really fun as well. Congrats on a fantastic knife score and thanks for sharing.
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If you ever make it up here Charlie, make sure you come to the good side of the State ( Sorry Mack ) :D and stop in for a visit... I'm only about 160 miles from Benchmade
 
Well, I know what one of my weekend trips is going to be when I'm TDY in Seattle next summer!
 
I made the trip there a few weeks ago while I was in Portland for a wedding. They have a great little retail store. I didn't buy any knives while I was there but did get a coffee mug, a lanyard with a butterfly bead, and some 810 deep carry pocket clips.
 
Thx, 338. Well I admit I'm kind of envious of you all who got to actually go inside... but, hey, next time. Portland and the surrounding area is sweet and there is definitely a return trip in the future. :thumbup:
 
338375 said:
Great pictures Jaz. I've lived all of my life in Oregon, but have yet to visit any of the knife companies in the Portland area. :D Kinda weird because I go there 5-6 days a week... Although, a 75 foot long vehicle hauling almost 12,000 gallons of gas isn't the best travel vehicle :D

I grew up in the valley about 120 miles south of Portland and there are WAY to many trees for me lol






If you ever make it up here Charlie, make sure you come to the good side of the State ( Sorry Mack ) :D and stop in for a visit... I'm only about 160 miles from Benchmade
Click to expand...
Will do Mike. :thumbup:
 
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