Buck Knives FAQ'S from Buck Knives
About Our Company
Is Buck Knives a family owned business?
Yes. Buck Knives is owned and operated by the Buck family-Chuck Buck, Chairman, and CJ Buck, President & CEO. The knife making business was started by Hoyt Buck and developed by Al Buck. The Bucks are actively involved in the business and, through four generations, have provided great leadership combined with a hands-on, personal touch, and respect for nature and their fellow man. For more information, please refer to "Company History."
Does Buck offer factory tours?
Yes. Our tour is a great opportunity to see how Buck knives are made. Tours are offered year-round, except during holidays and when the factory is closed for vacation or maintenance (please call ahead to check our schedule and make reservations). Tours are free of charge and are given Monday through Thursday at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm Pacific Time. Tours last about 25 minutes. Closed-toe shoes are required (no exceptions). Children must be at least 7 years of age. Tour hot line is (800) 326-2825 x 270. For address/directions, please click on Plant Tour. There, you will have the opportunity to take a virtual tour on your computer.
Where are Buck knives sold?
Buck knives are sold through retail stores, catalogs and other resellers domestically and inter-nationally. If your local dealer does not carry Buck knives, we encourage you to ask them to carry Buck knives. If you cannot find a Buck Knives dealer or the knife model you want in your area, you may purchase it online.
Where can I get information on becoming a dealer?
Please refer to our Reseller section.
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About Our Knife-Making Process
Why are Buck Knives better?
We have over 100 years of experience with making knives. We have developed many unique processes, and we know what works. We are dedicated to our craftsmanship, quality, integrity and customer satisfaction. We do not cut corners in materials, processes or workmanship; and we back it up with our famous 4-Ever Warranty. For more information, please refer to Why Buck? or Knife Know-How, where you may print a copy of our booklet, "Choosing the Right Knife."
Why does Buck use stainless steel?
We use materials that have optimum properties for the intended purpose. Since we make knives for different purposes, we use different steels--all of them stainless. Like other steels, stainless is an alloy-one that has been developed to resist corrosion. We know that many of our knives are going to be exposed to harsh environments-water, snow, salt air, chemicals, etc. Other knives may rarely leave a person's pocket or desk. Either way, we have no way of knowing under what conditions our knives will be used. In keeping with our mission for top quality products, we use stainless steel for the blades in every model of knife we make. Though we use different types for different knife models, in general, the stainless steels we use have a good blend of hardness, strength, toughness, ductility, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, edge retention and sharpenability. For more information, please refer to either Steel Specifics or Knife Terminology.
How does the Rockwell Hardness Scale work?
One of our proprietary processes is heat-treating the blade to achieve an appropriate hardness. If the blade is too soft, it will not hold an edge. If it is too brittle, it will not withstand pressure, impact and torque and is harder to resharpen. The Rockwell tester presses a diamond tip into the steel to determine its hardness, which it indicates on a numeric scale. We have worked diligently at testing to achieve what we feel is the best degree of hardness for each type of knife, depending on its intended purpose. In general, the standard hardness range we use for our blade steels is 58-61. For more information, please refer to our Heat-Treating section.
Why are Buck knives famous for holding their edge?
First, we use a specific steel for each type of knife. Second, we heat-treat our blades to match the end use of the knife. Third, our proprietary, computerized Edge2x™ Technology was developed to edge our blades to be sharper out of the box, hold the edge longer and make sharpening easier. Our automated technology, combined with hand edging and sharpening, results in a consistent, thinner and sharper edge that lasts longer.
How are new products developed?
Design concepts are developed in many ways-input from dealers, engineers, design collaborators, professionals who use knives, product surveys and field testing. After the components are designed by CAD (Computer Aided Design), prototypes are produced for testing and evaluation. When we are satisfied that the finished product meets our requirements, we begin production. It is the policy of Buck Knives not to accept unsolicited submissions of designs or ideas from outside parties.
For more information about our knife-making process, our Knife Know-How section provides a wealth of information about knifes and their components.
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About Our Products
How do I select the best knife for my needs?
Locate a local dealer or knife merchant that sells Buck knives. They will be able to discuss your needs, show you the models they carry and provide you with relevant information. As an alternative, you may refer to "Knife Basics" in our Products section. There, we provide a variety of information and alternative ways to search for knives. If you need more assistance, try our Gift Selector. There, we walk you steps of selecting a knife.
How can I get a replacement sheath?
Typically, a sheath wears out long before the knife does. Because most resellers carry different brands of knives, it is difficult for them to stock replacement sheaths. You may purchase replacement sheaths from your local retailer or from us-either online in Accessories or by calling (800) 326-2825 x 270.
How do I sharpen and care for my Buck knife?
Please refer to our Knife Know-How section for knife care and sharpening information. In our Products section, we offer a variety of sharpeners to keep your knives and other tools sharp. Or, you may send your knife to us for sharpening at a charge of $6.95 per knife. For packing and shipping instructions, please refer to the Knife Sharpening section.
How do I get my knife repaired, and what is covered by Buck's 4-Ever Warranty?
Buck Knives warrants that it will repair, adjust or replace its knives if they are found to contain any defects in materials or workmanship. For more information, please visit our Warranty section.
Can I get parts for repairing my knife?
Self-repair of a Buck knife will void your warranty. For this reason, we do not sell replacement parts. You may send your Buck knife in to us for repairs (see Knife Care & Repair).
Will my Buck knife and sheath survive in extremely cold climates?
We have tested our products in -48º C (-55º F) temperatures without significant embrittlement of the blade, handle, or sheath materials. If you experience temperatures in the minus range, try to keep your knife dry and free of ice, and be sure to keep the blade lubed.
Why are certain knives no longer available?
Various factors go into the making and marketing of our products. Ultimately, a product has to achieve sufficient sales to be profitable for us and our resellers, and affordable for you, the consumer. In some cases, new product development overshadows an older product, which then becomes less desirable. When a product can resist these influences and remain in steady demand, it is a mainstay of our product line, such as our legendary 110 Folding Hunter® and 119 Special®. All of our currently available products are listed here on our web site. If you do not see a product on our web site, most likely it is a discontinued model.
Do you make custom knives?
Yes. Please go to Buck Custom Knife Shoppe. There, you may select from a variety of components and see what your knife will look like before it is built. The view window lets you see every step of the way. You can even personalize it with engraving. We also offer some Limited Edition custom knives.
Got a question we didn't think of?
Most likely, it is answered within other sections of the web site. If you don't see it there, try entering a key word or phrase in the Search feature on the home page. If you can't find the answer to your question, please go to Contact Us.
