Pacific Cutlery "Laredo" Pre-Benchmade

[PCwizard]

I haven't posted in a while, I just picked up this great gentlemen's folder. It was made by Pacific Cutlery. Its NOS and in great shape, the box is a little rough.

For those who don't know Pacific Cutlery "Balisong USA started manufacturing butterfly knives in the late 1970s, then changed its name to Pacific Cutlery in the early 1980s, before finally becoming the Benchmade Company we know today"

Pacific Cutlery "Bali-Song" Pre-Benchmade
Laredo Series
Hunter Lock-Back Knife Model 100
Blade Steel 440c
Closed 3 1/4"

[deo-pa]

Very nice. I've seen the Laredo with the bolster engraved. Was that a Pacific option or done after the fact?

Dennis

[Paladin]

Very nice looking knife, outstanding even!

Ray

[orvet]

Very nice!
Those were some very nice knives and well made!

Like a lot of cutlery companies these days, Pacific Cutlery went bankrupt in the 1980s when the dollar tanked against the Japanese Yen. Les DeAsis, Jody Sampson and a couple other guys came up to Clackamas Oregon and began Benchmade. I was fortunate to be able to watch Benchmade begin and then see it really take off. It was pretty cool!

[terryl308]

I learn something every time I get on AAPK! Really a nice looking knife, didn't realize that Benchmade started as Pacific Cutlery co. I have a couple of newer Benchmades and they are excellent quality. It's nice to know we still have a few American made quality knife companies around. Now I'll be on the lookout for a Pacific Knife co knife. Nice you have the box also Terry

[knife7knut]

Nice looking knife! Reminds me a lot of the early Al Mar folders. Wonder if the same company in Japan made them?

[PCwizard]

Very nice. I've seen the Laredo with the bolster engraved. Was that a Pacific option or done after the fact?

Dennis

Dennis I'm not sure if that was a Pacific option or not. I would like to see one. Sound great.

[PCwizard]

What really surprised me was that the blade was 440C you don't see much of that in the early 80's.

[orvet]

Nice looking knife! Reminds me a lot of the early Al Mar folders. Wonder if the same company in Japan made them?

The second company Al Mar used was Huhey. I never saw the name spelled but Al pronounced it is we would if we said "Hugh hay," with the accent on the first syllable.

Les DeAsis & I were both friends of Al and we had on occasion discussed Al's knives, including his maker Huhey. It is my recollection, after all these years, that Les knew of Huhey but didn't know him personally. I think he would have said something Huhey had made knives for him when he owned Pacific Cutlery.

[knife7knut]

Nice looking knife! Reminds me a lot of the early Al Mar folders. Wonder if the same company in Japan made them?

The second company Al Mar used was Huhey. I never saw the name spelled but Al pronounced it is we would if we said "Hugh hay," with the accent on the first syllable.

Les DeAsis & I were both friends of Al and we had on occasion discussed Al's knives, including his maker Huhey. It is my recollection, after all these years, that Les knew of Huhey but didn't know him personally. I think he would have said something Huhey had made knives for him when he owned Pacific Cutlery.

Thanks for the info on that Dale. As I look at the pics again they also look a bit like the Gerber Silver Knights which I believe were of Japanese origin;or were they USA made? I have a few but can't easily get to them at the moment.

[orvet]

You are correct Ray, Gerber Silver Knights were made in Japan. I don’t know what company made them, I don’t think it was Kai Cutlery, which made Kershaw and then purchased Kershaw in the 1980s.

The first knives that Gerber brought in 1977 and 1978 were marked Silver Eagle. You will recall in that time the name Silver Eagle was used by Trailways bus company and they sued Gerber forcing them to rename the series Silver Knight.

It is interesting that Gerber repaired the Silver Knight series until about four or five years ago. I had taken several in and had the blades replaced, always free of charge and about 2011 or 2012 I took one in and the lady said I’m sorry, we don’t have parts for those knives anymore. The knives been imported by Gerber until 1994 when they were discontinued. I’m thinking they had one heck of a back stock of blades for repairs!

[PCwizard]

You are correct Ray, Gerber Silver Knights were made in Japan. I don’t know what company made them, I don’t think it was Kai Cutlery, which made Kershaw and then purchased Kershaw in the 1980s.

Dale

You are a wealth of information. Thank you, I learned a lot from you today.

[1967redrider]

Awesome knife and info, thanks for posting.

[orvet]

Dale

You are a wealth of information. Thank you, I learned a lot from you today.

Thanks. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when Benchmade was forming and everyone in Oregon in the 1980s who was into knives knew who Al Mar was. I was fortunate enough to run a cutlery store and a couple cigar stores. I got to know Al pretty well. It didn't hurt that Al and Les both liked good cigars.