We don't just produce knives — we help create memories.
In 1899, when a ten-yr old blacksmith apprentice from Kansas began experimenting with the metal filings leftover from horseshoes, wagon wheels, and plows to find a better way to temper steel, he surely never imagined a company 118 years later, bearing his name and making over a million knives a year.
Hoyt Buck's ingenuity created a blade that could hold a sharp edge longer, and he produced the first Buck Knife in 1902. Making knives was a casual pastime until World War II when he learned that there were not enough knives for soldiers. Hoyt bought an anvil, forge, and grinder and set up a blacksmith shop in the basement of his church.
After the war, Hoyt joined his eldest son in San Diego and together they made knives in a wooden lean-to as "H.H. Buck & Son".
The business grew into a California institution with $33 million in annual sales. One knife, the Folding Hunter, introduced in 1964, quickly became the top-selling outdoor knife in America.
The 1964 Buck 110 Folding Hunter became an instant best seller and continues to be the top selling Buck Knife.
The company continued to thrive in California until 2000, when soaring business costs threatened their very existence. A riveting read on how those calamitous times played out is showcased in Inc. Magazine's The Buck Stops Here.
As Buck Knives, Inc., the company moved to their current location in Post Falls in 2005. Chuck and CJ, Hoyt's grandson and great-grandson, were persuaded by the friendly manufacturing climate of Idaho, the near proximity to the I-90 corridor, the plentiful skilled work force of eastern Washington and north Idaho, and the exceptional rural quality of life that the region can offer.
When Buck Knives relocated to Post Falls, they brought 60 employees and their families with them. Today Buck Knives has over 300 employees and continues to value the healthy business allies they have in Idaho.
"It's refreshing to be part of a state that values a healthy business climate. We are proud to be part of the manufacturing migration to Idaho."
— CJ Buck, Chairman & CEO, and the 4th generation family member to run Buck Knives
To learn more about the array of Buck knives available, or to schedule a tour:
call 800-326-2825
go online