Famous for Holding an Edge!

Great knives since the tum ef the century!

VOL. XII MAY 1999 NO. 2

Chuck 's Corner

Charles T. Buck Chaim1a11JC!::O Buck Knives. Inc.

Mr. Buck,

Buck Knife Owners Tell Their Tales

Man, have l been busy! The Board voted CJ, my son, in as President effective January 1. 1999 and l remain as Chairman and CEO.

With CJ responsible for the operation, I am spending more time on rhe road signing books and knh·es. promoting Buck where\·er I go.

l recei\·ed a couple of great letters recently and I wanted to share them with you

March 8, 1999

!just wanll'd co write and commend you 011 the outstanding cutlery being produced by Buck Knives. I have been us1i1g Buck knivesJor sc1·cral ycarsJor camping. hunting. poliff work. and general ei·e1yday use. I own several and no Buck knjfe has ever let me down. I thouglu you might eJyoy heani1g about how a Buck Crosslock Solitaire helped resolve a tactical nightmare and prevent a tragedy.

I am a police qfficer and S WA. T team member with rhe Salisbury. N.C. Police Department. Aw/rile back myse!f and another S WA. T qfficer were scouting a house where a me11tal61 disturbed Vietnam vet had bamcaded himse!finside along with sn-era! guns. He was threat ening co kill his neighbors. police qfficers. and lumsejf. I used n!}' Buck Solitaire to bore a hole tlm;ugh a door 11l111e the suspecr was being distracted by a phone callftom his estranged wjfe. I was able to i·1ew the suspectftom this peep hole a11d when he pur his weapons down to light a cigareue we farced ent1y and subdued rhe man with no one being iryi1red. J know my knjfe was not designed to be used as a boring tool bur it srood up co this abusejustjine. it didn't even need rcsha1peni11g.

I recencly purchased a Buck Intrepid with the Tanto po1i1tJor S. lf'.A.T use. 1Jfy knjfe is rhe shorter version. This is by Jar the besr raccica//S. WA. T knjfe that I have ever encountered. The Kydcx sheath is peifca a11d the pnce was definitely a bargain I would like to make one su .. s:gestion regarding rile Buck lmreptd. Thar would be to q/fer a drop poi11t version in addition ro the Tanto and Chisel poi11t models.

Another suggestion would be to 9.lfer a slightly scaled down version ef the Crosslock with an ambidextrous thumb srud and a blackened packer dip. I think this would be a perfect knife far q/f duty and dress occasions.

Tha11ksJor making such great knil'es. Stei'e Canzona

April 18, 1999 Dear Al,

Enclosed, please accept my check Jar $35. 00. If this is not s11ftcient please let me know.

(Please wm ro page 4)

C.J. Buck Named President As Buck Knives Heads Into Exciting New Era

Leadership of Buck Knives Inc. has mo\·ed to the fourth generation with the announcement that Charles B. (CJ) Buck has been named presi­dent of the famous family-run business. His father, Charles T. (Chuck) Buck. continues an acti\·e role as chaimrnn of the board and CEO of the 97-year-old knifcmaking compan) .

"Our goals are simple -- to be a friendly, easy-to-\\'ork-wirh company. to produce inno\·ative new products. and constantly improve our time-tested core products," the new president said.

Both Bucks will step up their tra\·el schedules under the nc\\' plan, with Chuck vbiLing dealers for one-on·one contacr with consumers. His feedback \\ill be used to generate new products. as well as initiate quality improvements.

CJ will participarc in sales calls to maj0r retailers across the country. He also will manage operarions to maximize rhe coordination of all departments \\'ithin the organization. Other key executi\·es:

:\l Ka\'alauskas, newly-named \'ice president of sales and marketing. will work to strengthen customer bonds and to make Buck even easier to work with.

Dick Konopasek. new CFO/\·ice president of finance. has responsi­bility for building a capital foundation for growth. ensuring rh1s family run company is \·iable for future generations.

NEW EXECUTIVE LINEUP - Seated(/. tor.) Chuck and CJ Buck: standing (I. tor. 1 Al Kavalauskas and Dick Konopasek.

PAGE2 BUCK COLLECTORS CLUB MAY 1999

foe Houser Club Admi11is(lato11 Financial Qfficer

From the Club Administrator's Office The Blade show is coming' just in case any of you are still thinking about attending this years Blade show in Atlanta, please stop thinking and give me a call ! The advisory board members and myself have been working diligently to make this show a lot of fun for our members and we would sure like to see you there. So far we have filled our allotted table space but we are committed to making room

for all attendees. I asked the folks at Blade if it would be possible to secure more tables and they told me Buck has half of them already! It is exciting to me to see how fast the club is growing.

I guess you have to be a little crazy to do this job. How else can 1 explain why I get so excited about these six model l 12's in front of me right now? Late last year, we refurbished the front of the Buck plant. Most of the wood was getting rather tattered and had to be replaced. Almost all of the old wood was hauled off to the dump but as I sat at my desk, looking out the window at the ever shrinking pile of debris I got an idea. "Wouldn't it be cool to have a Buck knife with a handle made from wood from the Buck building?!" 1 shared the idea with several co-workers and their only responses were unintelligible murmuring about me needing more time with my shrink. But I had a vision! So I armed myself with a 2"x6" and with the help of our custom knife maker. Wilde Bill Codey, I had 6 model 112 Rangers made with handles of "Buck building wood". They came out really nice with mirror polished blades and a satin finish on the bolsters. They will have standard packaging and sheath. Each one is engraved and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Chuck. I will keep one for the Company museum and one will be raffled off at the Blade show. The remaining four will be sold Yia the drawing process we set up in the last newsletter. 1 will accep[ orders for the knives up until June twenty-fifth. At that time I will hold a drawing and pull four lucky names out of the hat. The cost of the knives is only $32.00!

Special Projects GAYLANS MODEL 105HB HOYT BUCK REPLICA - This model 105 will be a replica of Hoyt Buck's Lucite knives made in the 40's. The knife, similar to our club's ten year anniversary knife will have a red and black Lucite-like handle. The standard l 05 black sheath will be used. Quantity is 50 and the ship date is 4/30/99.

DRUMMOND 525 AMERICAN OAK - This model 525 will have American oak overlavs and a standard blade. No serialization or etch. Quantity is 250 and the first ship date is 4/25/99.

DRUMMOND 525 INDIGO BLUE - This model 525 will have Indigo blue overlays and a standard blade. No serialization or etch. Quantity is 250 and the first ship date is 4/25/99.

BASS PRO 191 - This staa handled Zipper will have the Redhead Hunting team's logo surface etched on the blade. Brass pommel and guard, with a brown leather sheath. There will be 15 made and the ship date is 5/13/99.

Edge2000: Major Change in Buck Edging Process

In a significant move, Buck Knives has announced [he development of a new edging process that adds greatly to the edge-retention quality of their blades.

Called "Edge2000," the new process creates a thinner edge, which holds an edge twice as long, is sharper out of the box and is easier to re-sharpen when needed.

All of this is accomplished while maintaining the same ideal Rockwell hardness of 58 on the C scale.

Chuck Buck said that Edge2000 is "the culmination of a long search to make our knives even better, although we have always enjoyed a reputarion for blades that hold an edge ...

He explained that the "thinner" edge is achieved by going to an included angle (the total of the angles on both sides of the blade) of 26° to 32°, compared with the old range, from 35° to 50°.

"The majority of our models will fall between 26° and 32°. Function and blade size will dictate whether it's at the higher or lower edge." he said. "The main thing is to match angle to function."

Proof of the advanced edge retention came from tests on the C.A.T.R.:\. machine. with Edge2000 blades matched against blades made by the old methods.

Chuck said the transition [O the new process will be a "rolling change, not an all-at-once thing." Some models already are being shipped with the new edge, and by Fall 1999 every knife Buck makes will have an Edge2000 blade.

"We've introduced some exciting new products for '99," he said. "But, in effect, fill Buck knives will be new."

RAZOR SHARP - Final edging is now done on an ir!flexible leather stropping wheel producing a keener edge.

NEWS TO NOTE --James Grimes. Buck CoUector Club member 11467, has informed us that he and about 24 other collectors (most of them also BCC members) have f'ormed the Western Indiana Knife Collectors Club and want to inform all BCC members in

that area of the state that they meet the last Thursday of the month at the Libraiy in Greencastle. Also. he says that they are discussing attending and possibly displaying at the Blade Show in Atlanta.

Don't Forget the Blade Show June 11th Through June 13th! Call foe Houser for more details, at: (619) 449-1100, ext. 233

MAY 1999 BUCK COLLECTORS CLUB PAGE3

Chuck Buck Signature Knife, A True Collectible Treasure The new Chuck Buck Signature Knife is truly a collector's treasure.

This elegant limited edition fixed-blade was designed and signed by Chuck himself (as shown in photo, right) . and is constructed of the tlnest materials available.

"I designed this knife to be one that any collector would be proud to display, as well as a solid working knife," Chuck said. "This knife has a great blade, perfect for field use."

The Chuck Buck Signature Knife measures Sil" overall and comes with a custom top-grain leather sheath. The dramatically shaped 41"2" blade is made of superior BG-42 steel, tempered to 60-61 Re. Handle slabs are genuine Sambar stag. anchored with stainless pins. The curved guard is nickel-silver.

Only 500 of this collectible will be made, each individually se1ial­ized (e.g., 025/500) and stamped "Buck Custom." A glass-top wood

~Tidbits~ Here are a couple of interesting traditions regarding the giving and

receiving of kni\'es. These were submitted by Mickey Watts. member #30.

The Legend of the Penny and the Knife In ancient times it was the cust.om. when gi\·ing the GIFT OF A

KNIFE, to accompany it with a "Coin of the realm," usually a PENNY. This was to denote a gift of peace and was alleged to prevent the "cutting" of FRIENDSHIP. It is in this spirit that we look forward to a friendly and mutually successful association with you.

Folding Knives Another belief is that if you arc examining someone's folding knife and

the knife is gh·en to you with the blade open, you must return it t.o the owner the same way you received it. If the kni fe is given t.o you closed, the knife must be returned closed. The belief is that if you return the knife different from the way you received it, the knife will be lost by the owner.

About 500 of the Model 403 Big Sky kniws were produced without a model number or date code on the stamp. !he first run of blades went through the shop before the correct stamp was ordered so a generic "Buck USA" stamping was used. Some of our members have already found one of these for their collection.

ln l 999 we made the switch from plastic flick-its to metal in most models. The fiick-it is the thumb stud used to open the knife with one hand.

Clarification: In May's newsletter I talked about an individual who had purchased a Dave Yellowhorse knife for $1200 and it was worth no more than $500. I did not intend to imply that no Dave Yellowhorse knife is worth $1200. In fact many of hls knives have sold for much more than that. ln this particular instance the knife in question could be found for less than $500 and l had seen them sell for that price. I hope this did not cause any confusion.

I

presenation case is provided, along with a Certificate of Authenticity and a letter from Chuck.

Feedback Column By W Murray Andrews

We are starting a new feedback column and will need your help for infonnation. What do you know about the above knife? Is it an authentic BUCK or is it a good copy? lt looks to be a miniature copy of the BUCK 184. But, is it? Write me, W. Murray Andrews at P.O. Box 3, Enon, OH 45323 or fax at (937) 767-1773 or e-mail at WMA@mics.net, and let me know what you know about this knife. We think we know where there are two others like this one. We will print your ans1-vers in the next issue of the newsletter.

Also, again I'm going to need your help. lf you have a rare BUCK knife that you need more information about please send a printable photograph and what you know about lt, to the above address, and we will use it in futu re articles. I know where there is a BCCK 11 O Folding Hunter with red and green etching on it and we will be using it in the August issue. This can turn out to be a very interesting column, only with your help.

PAGE4 BUCK COLLECTORS CLUB MAY 1999

Buck Knife Owners Tell Their Tales (Continued.from.front page)

You have opened my eyes somewhat. You see, I am a Chriscian and like most people, I like something.free.

About eight years ago I had my Buck knj/e out sharpening it, when a co-worker said to me, UBreak the blade and send it back. They wz1! sendyou a new knj/e. "I must tell you now that I had used this knifeJor years and had used up most ef the blade sharp ening it. Ar any rate, I put rhe blade in a vise, pulled on the handle until the blade broke.

I boxed up the knife and sent it to you and promptly received a brand new knife in replacement ef the old one. What I did not expecr was the conviction I got when I read the note "From the Chairman ef the Board•.

Needless to say. I have not been able to use this knj/e. It's still new in the box, in· my desk drawer. rliis has been some eight years and every time I see the box I keep saying, "I've got to make things nght" because I'm nor a thief. but I've stolen rhis knife as sure as j/ I had taken it <2fl the she!f ef a store.

Please.forgive me and accept my apology. T11anksJoryour wimess which has opened my eyes and maybe many others.

I hope I can use this knife now that l'vefinal/y gotten the nerve to begJorgiveness.from God and you.

I'm 61 years old and this is one ef my ma11v szizs I want to make nght.

Your Brother in Christ

A Letter From John Foresman The upcoming Blade Show will mark my third year displaying my collec­

tion of Buck Custom knives. In addition to the Blade Show, I ha\'e also displayed in several regional shows. I have come to realize in these three years that there are many ad\'antages to displaying my collection. While considerable time. effort and money are involved in creating an appealing display, the benefits are many.

Club members who display their collection at shows act as ambassadors for the Club and Buck Knives, Inc. as well. \1any people state that they were unaware that Buck made so many different types of kniws. We help to educate rhe public about Buck Knives. and that in tum enthuses them I belie\·e some \'isitors, ha\'ing seen our displays. may themsel\'es become collectors of Buck Kni\'es and hopefully new club members. Our club needs new members to continue to grow and progress.

When the number of Buck knife collectors grow, so does the value of our own collections. There becomes a greater demand and therefore a greater \'alue. This may make some knives a little harder to find. but increased \·alue of our collection makes this wonhwhile.

\\y collection has close to doubled in size since I first displayed. This is a direct result of displa) ing. It helps tremendously when others can see first hand what type of knife you collect. After seeing your collection. dealers. pwYeyors and other collecrors will understand that you are a serious collector. I ha\'e had many phone calls in the past three years from people that have seen my display and thought they had a knife that I might be interested in. This has aided me a great deal in adding some wonderful kni\·es to my collection.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to displaying is making new friends and sharing in the camaraderie with the other exhibitors. I highly. recommend that you consider organizing y0ur collection into a display. I tee! certain that you \rill be glad you did. The satisfaction you will feel \\·hen someone admires your display is rery gratifying. And do1fc forget there is always the possibility of winning an award. I hope to see your display soon.

***CLASSIFIEDS*** Model 355 BuckLite Tool - Ha,·e you e\'er seen cne of these that had only centimeters scales on che handles or only inches? They are supposed le' ha\e both. centimeters on on~ side and inlh1.'S on the other side. Our handle supplier wasn't paying attention the day he made a batch of these and we \\'eren ·c either \\·hen ll'C ins~cted them and before ll'e knell' it. alxmr 1000 cools had been made. both handles haring the same unit of measure. All the fearure icons are correct. I 1\'as able to smire I 0 of each tool to offer to our members. The co~L will be $22.50 per tool or $45.00 for the set. \\'ith only 10 sets mailable I will be taking orders up until June 251h. On thm day I will hold a drawing to see who gets them. Good luck' More Knives Lisr - It you would like a more (.:>mplete list of knives offered for sale by

VJ '093.IO ~vs 688 I # .l.IWlEld

Buck and others. call (o l 9) 449-1100. ext. 233 for )Ge Houser 0r ext. 2o I for lane Da\ cy. We will bl! happy to send you the list i'n:c.': of charge. :\re you missing any cf your club kni\·es? It' you jcined rhe dub late or just for~ot to order your club knife for a particular year, gi\'e us a call. \\'e ha\·e many ot m~ pasr years dub kniws. from 1991 ro present. and would be happy w help you fill in the holes. They arc ready to ha\·c.': your membership number engra,·cd on lhem. Call and we will give you pri..:cs and availability. For Sale: This is an old Buck 102. The blade is marked dotBCCKdot on one side and I 02 on the other. The handle is \\'OOd. The sheath is marked BUCK. Threaded pommel. Call Glen at (4351 586-0715

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