Buck
Buck handle scales
Buck Knives, an iconic American knife brand, traces its roots to 1902 when young Kansas blacksmith apprentice Hoyt Buck pioneered a superior steel-tempering method for longer edge retention. Using worn-out files as raw material, he handcrafted his first Buck knife—marking the birth of a legacy focused on quality and durability
After World War II service making knives for servicemen, Hoyt relocated to San Diego in 1945, joining son Al Buck to establish H.H. Buck and Son in 1947. Hoyt produced ~25 handmade knives weekly until his death in 1949; Al continued the custom business amid challenges
The modern era began with incorporation as Buck Knives, Inc. in 1961. The game-changer arrived in 1964 with the Model 110 Folding Hunter—revolutionizing the industry by combining fixed-blade strength with a reliable lockback folder, popularizing the "Buck knife" term for folding hunting knives
Under Al, then son Chuck Buck (president 1979), and grandson CJ Buck (CEO since 1999), the family-owned company grew, relocating to Post Falls, Idaho. With five generations of innovation, Buck remains a leader in hunting knives, EDC folders, and Made in USA quality—trusted by outdoorsmen, military, and enthusiasts worldwide
