The findsmen (with findsman being the singular form) were a mystical Force-sensitive tradition originating from the Gand species. Their history stretches back centuries before the Galactic Civil War on Gand, their fog-laden homeworld. These individuals were celebrated for their extraordinary tracking abilities. Findsmen utilized the Force as an enhanced sense to function as skilled trackers and hunters after successfully completing the Great Rite. Despite their reputation, the pirate Hondo Ohnaka expressed skepticism about their capabilities, noting that most findsmen chose to remain on Gand rather than explore the galaxy.
As the findsmen tradition began to wane on Gand, a Gand named Zuckuss distinguished himself as one of the first to leave their planet. He leveraged his unique talents to become a well-known and highly sought-after bounty hunter. The findsman Zuckuss even possessed the ability to foresee the destiny of Boba Fett.
During the era of the Iron Blockade, the findsman Vakk was active within the Anoat sector. Even among his fellow mystics, Vakk was considered unusual due to his strict adherence to non-violence. He exclusively used his skills for tracking and discovery, never engaging in capture or killing.
The findsmen, initially appearing without a specific designation in the 1980 film Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, were first formally identified in Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back. This 1989 Star Wars Legends sourcebook, penned by Michael Stern for Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, provided their name. The term was later integrated into canon through its inclusion in Ultimate Star Wars, a reference work collaboratively created by Patricia Barr, Adam Bray, Daniel Wallace, and Ryder Windham and published in 2015.