Buck Knives

History of Buck Knives

The Buck legacy began in 1902 when Hoyt H. Buck, a 13-year-old Kansas blacksmith apprentice, developed a new method to heat-treat steel for increased edge retention. Buck began making his first knives later that same year in Mountain Home, Idaho, using old file blades as his raw material, and individually stamping the letters BUCK onto every blade.

His dedication to his country and knife-making was greatly appreciated during WWII, after hearing that the government was looking for public donations of fixed blades to arm the military. Hoyt took action, purchasing a forge, anvil, and grinder, and setting up a blacksmith shop in his church's basement to help contribute to the war effort.

The real turning point for Buck Knives came after WWII, when Hoyt relocated to San Diego, California to live closer to his son Al in 1945. Making 25 custom knives a week, Hoyt and Al would establish H.H. Buck and Son later that year.

Following his father's death in 1949, Al continued to run the custom knife business until bringing his son, Chuck, and wife Lori into the business, and incorporating Buck Knives in 1961.

-Buck Knives was started in 1902 by Hoyt H. Buck

-Buck blades were originally made of nail files

-Buck handmade knives during WWII out of a church basement

-Hoyt relocates to San Diego, establishing H.H. Buck and Son in 1945

-Al Buck (pictured above) incorporates Buck Knives in 1961

Buck Knives began by producing six models of fixed hunting knives, all utilizing a new, rust-resistant steel alloy, 440C. By using his father's method of tempering, Al Buck produced a knife harder and more durable than others. The use of this alloy and tempering made Buck Knives far more expensive though, averaging 6-10x the cost of competitors' knives, and causing sales to slump.

Undeterred, in 1962, Al and Ida Buck set out in a small VW bus, traveling from town to town for two months, searching for potential dealers. By the end of 1962, more than 400 retailers had begun to sell Buck Knives. Allowing Buck to begin work on new models, and begin offering Buck’s Lifetime Guarantee on knives.

In 1963, Buck began the development of the revolutionary Model 110 Folding Hunter, a new folding lock-back knife that could be used like a fixed blade. Releasing the knife the following year in 1964, the Model 110 would quickly go on to be the number one best-selling sports knife in the world.

-Buck releases the Model 110 Folding Hunter (pictured above) in 1963

With the success of the Model 110, Buck would enter into the traditional folding market with their first knife being the Model 301 stockman. Partnering with Camillus, Buck would go to produce several traditional folders. However due to Bucks's stringent quality control, many of these folders were rejected, prompting issues to arise between Camillus and Buck. To rectify these issues, Chuck Buck offered to buy all of the rejected knives from Camillus for $1, but unknowingly, over 60,000 knives were rejected. Unable to sell these knives, Buck began giving these knives to Christian missionaries, who were oftentimes in places where a knife wasn't even accessible.

Buck is still family-owned and operated today, the current CEO is C.J. Buck, the great-grandson of founder Hoyt Buck, who started work on the production line in 1978 and still interacts with customers every week.

From Hoyt's early blacksmith forge to C.J.'s leadership, the Buck family's passion for creating quality knives remains the backbone of the brand. Today, with innovations and a dedication to timeless quality, Buck Knives remains an American icon, passed down through generations and trusted in every corner of the globe.