The History of Buck Knives

110 Buck Folding Hunter Lockback
110 Buck Folding Hunter Lockback

Buck Knives go way back to 1902. The inventor, Hoyt Buck, from Kansas, started out as an apprentice blacksmith. He got obsessed with finding a way to temper steel so that it could be made into a better knife blade. A blade that would hold a sharp edge longer than previous blades. He started making custom Buck knives in 1902 out of old file blades. In 1945 he and his wife moved to San Diego. There, his son Al Buck started a partnership with him to produce Buck knives. The company was called H. H. Buck and Son.  After Hoyt died, Al  decided to incorporate, and started Buck Knives, Inc. in 1961. The most famous offspring of this important knife company was made in 1964–the Buck Folding Hunter model 110. We celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014. This wood handled lockback knife is the pocket knife that is synonymous with the Buck company. If someone says Buck Knife, this is the knife they are referring to. It is often imitated by other knife companies.

Today, in 2016, the 3rd and 4th generation of the Buck family are involved in the successful business. CJ Buck is the president and CEO today (and since 1999), and is the grandson of Al Buck. He took over in 1999 from his dad, Chuck Buck, who later died in 2015.

The secret to the sharpness of a Buck knife lies in the heat treating process that Paul Bos developed in 1956. It is a process of heating then freezing, then re-heating of the steel. Paul retired in 2010 from Buck, but the process is still used. Bos received the Blade Magazine Industry Achievement Award in 2007 for his involvement in heat treating technology.

Hoyt Buck about 1948.
Hoyt Buck about 1948.

Do You Have One of These 3 Best-Selling Buck Knives?

The 3 all-time best selling of the Buck Knives are right here….

  • Camo is more than a design; it’s a lifestyle. People in all walks of life like to own some items adorned in a camouflage design. Hat, flashlights, backpacks, and knives are the best examples. The Buck Bantam BBW Camo Lockback earned its position because of its pattern and its brand name “Buck Knives“.

    Buck Bantam BBW Camo Lockback 284CM
    Buck Bantam BBW Camo Lockback 284CM
  • Every man like an EDC (every day carry) knife that fits easily in his pocket, and lays flat. The Buck Nobleman has been a favorite in that category for a long time.
    buck nobleman knife Buck Nobleman Linerlock Knife 327

 

  • For over 50 years, the Buck 110 Folding Hunter Lockback Knife has been the idol of all knives. It features a large 4 7/8″ length when closed, a fine wooden handle with metal bolsters. Also a high grade 420HC steel blade. To top it off, it comes with a genuine leather sheath. What more could you ask for?110b.jpg Buck Folding Hunter Lockback Knife 110

No wonder Buck is the first and last name in American knives.

The Best Pocket Knives At The Ohio Classic Knife Show 2015

The best knife show in Ohio 2015 had the best pocket knives this year. The Ohio Classic Knife Show was put on by Battle Horse Knives. It was held at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center, 7033 Glenn Hwy, Cambridge, Ohio 43725. The best pocket knife that I saw was one of the Buck knives. Buck has always been one of my favorites, because of the durability and its reputation.

Ohio Classic Knife Show 2015
Ohio Classic Knife Show 2015

Here are some highlights of the show. Among the 90 tables were unique displays from “aroundthecabin.com/campfire“. These guys put on an entertaining live program 6 nights a week.

Kip from aroundthecabin.com
Kip from aroundthecabin.com

The “Best Display” award went to “Hair of the Bear” owner Moon Munjas from Marietta OH. Moon makes custom knives, sometimes 5 or 6 at a time. His display was colorful and attractive.

Moon Munjas of Hair of the Bear
Moon Munjas of Hair of the Bear
Hair of the Bear
Hair of the Bear

Yurco Handcrafted Knives owner Mickey Yurco, is from Canfield Ohio.

Mickey Yurco and wife
Mickey Yurco and wife

He makes custom designs, specializing in self defense knives. He is a member of The Knifemakers’ Guild. Mickey is accompanied by his wife in the picture.

Tim Roddy
Tim Roddy

Mickey’s buddy, Tim Roddy, from neighboring Youngstown, Ohio also had a nice display of

Tim and Mickey
Tim and Mickey

custom knives that he made from the finest stainless steel. He specializes in quality fixed blade knives.

Woodlab Outdoors, LLC
Woodlab Outdoors, LLC

Michael J. Balaskovitz, the director of the 2016 knife show, has “Woodlab Outdoors, LLC”, Premium Materials & Servicing. He sells various knife handle materials.

 

 

Greg Gottschalk
Greg Gottschalk

The award winner for “Best Value” in the show was Greg Gottschalk of Carnegie PA. Greg does a beautiful job making hand crafted knives, and is a member of The Knifemakers’ Guild and ABS Mastersmith. Of course, all the custom-made knives at the show are made in the USA.

 

 

 

 

Vallerie Hibbard
Vallerie Hibbard

Valerie Hibbard, of Plain And Practical LLC (Scales & Grip Blanks & More) had a huge display of various hardwoods that she sells to knife makers. She is from Hilliard Ohio, and travels around looking for unique specimens of hardwood which she can bring into her store.

Plain and Practical LLC
Plain and Practical LLC

 

 

 

 

Wayne G. Hensley, and his business, Custom MadeCutlery, had an interesting table. Wayne’s motto is: Materials by God, Crafted by Hensley. Wayne is a member of The Knifemakers’ Guild, Professional Knifemakers Association, and Georgia Custom Knifemakers’ Guild. He is also the vice president of The Knifemakers’ Guild. His picture is missing here.

My nephew, Tim Pike (a camo knife connoisseur) and I had a great day looking at some of the country’s best pocket knives.