The History of the Buck Knife

The Buck Knife originated in Kansas over onewas set in San Diego, after Hoyt and his wife
hundred years ago when a 10 year old blacksmithmoved there and asked his son Al to form a
apprentice named Hoyt Heath Buck quit schoolknife business company in 1947. They sold knives
and started making knives in 1902. When Hoytby direct mail order with a production of 25
was thirteen, he discovered a method toknives per week and although these knives were
heat-treat and temper steel in a way that toolsmore expensive than regular knives, their blades
would keep their edge for longer; he then appliedwere sharp and enduring. After Hoyts death, due
this knowledge to agricultural tools. In 1907 Hoytto cancer, in 1949, the company scaled up and in
left Kansas for Washington and became anthe 1950s they started mass-producing the Buck
insurance salesman, there he met and marriedknives and selling them through dealers. The buck
Daisy Louise Green on October 20, 1910, withknives are widely popular among the military for
whom he had six children. The oldest child, Alfredtheir design and endurance.
Charles Buck, enlisted in the Navy in 1927 whenIn 1961, Al Buck incorporated H.H. Buck &
he was very young, and was stationed at theSon and the company became Buck Knives Inc.
Naval Training Center in San Diego, after he wasThe Buck Folding Hunter Model 110, a folding
discharged, he joined the coast guard. Al had alock-blade knife and the most popular Buck Knife,
long military career and developed a passion forwas approved for development on April 18, 1963.
the armed forces.With wood handles and brass bolsters the blade
When the United States entered the Secondof this knife measures 4 inches and possess a
World War in 1941 after the attack of Pearlhigh-tension lock. This knife, which was introduced
Harbor, the government asked for knife donationsto the public in 1964, has become the most
to arm the troops since there were not enoughimitated model in the world.
for every soldier. At this time Hoyt was a pastorBuck knives are still arming the army, and in the
of the Assembly of God Church living in Mountainmid 80s two new models, the Buckmaster, a
Home Idaho, and when he learned about thesurvival knife with a hollow handle, and the M9
army's shortage, he began making knives toBayonet were manufactured. The Buckmaster,
support the war effort using some worn-outwith a 7.5 inch serrated blade, became popular
blades as raw material and setting up a blacksmithamongst Rambo movie fans. Another example is
shop in the basement of his church complete withthe Nighthawk, introduced in 1992 and used by
an anvil, a forge and a grinder. Hoyt's knivesthe Navy Seals, this knife has a fixed blade
earned a great reputation during this time andmeasuring 6.5 inches and an ergonomic black
many servicemen started asking for handcraftedhandle. In 2005, the family run and operated Buck
Buck knives.Knives Inc. moved to Post Falls, Idaho.
When the war was over, H.H. Buck & Son