Greetings C.J. and Joe;
Was recalling this event with a knife collector friend of mine and thought I'd share it with everybody....the year was 1981 and I was attending San Diego State University finishing up my studies for my Bachelors in Industrial Studies. I had taken an upper division class in Manufacturing Processes and Technologies (or something titled close to that) that called for a semester paper envolving some aspect of this topic. It was VERY important, as it accounted for some 75% of the total grade points for that class. Upon much deliberation I chose the topic for the paper to be Metal Finishing Processes. Now came the hard part, finding an actual local manufacturer utilizing an interesting and involved process at their facility.
After numerous phone calls to many local companys I contacted BUCK Knives right over the grade in El Cajon. I made a blind call to the receptionist who in turn transferred me to gentleman who set up an appointment with me after I spelled out what I was envolved with, in this, my senior year at SDSU. He was very supportive and interested over the phone and it sounded like I would be able to get a little help on this task.
Off I went a short time later the following week dressed in my best beach shorts and cleanest t-shirt (what can I say, I was 20 and this WAS San Diego County!!!). Boy what a shock when I arrived at the then new Weld Blvd. address and entered the gleaming new building. I approached the receptionist, feeling a little underdressed, and introduced myself and told of my appointment. She made a call and I hadn't even a chance to sit down before she led me into the office of the gentleman I had spoken to on the phone. Now I really felt underdressed as this was the President of BUCK Knives!!! I had no idea that this was who I was meeting (didn't ask on the phone!) He received me as I'm sure he would have an executive of any big company, didn't blink an eye at my meager attire, but sat me down and asked me again what I needed. He had allready assigned me what I beleive was one of his mfg. floor supervisors to show me the whole BUCK 110 process!!!! So off I went and spent a good hour with this gentleman (whom I'm sure had taken time out of a very busy day to do this) and returned to my starting point with my host. He asked me if I'd gotten the info I had required and if there was anything else he could help me with. I did actually need some technical literature (he had a great library in the office there) and he offered so.... he loaned me a couple of his personal books for me to use, no questions asked. After I had completed this monster paper I returned the books to him, thanked him, and he asked how I had done. I of course had gotten a near perfect score for the effort and told him that it would not have been possible without his help (hardly an overstatement!) He bid me farewell and I left. WHAT A GENTLEMAN!!!
Should my memory fail me I remember him as Chuck Buck, am I correct???? I will NEVER forget the support this man gave to me, his treatment and interest IN me, and his genuine friendliness!!!! Since that time I have become a budding knife collector and now realize what good fortune I had that day so many years ago. My thanks to the Buck family.
Sincerely
Tim Brewer
Class of 81' SDSU
[This message has been edited by GELADEN! (edited 07-25-2000).]
Was recalling this event with a knife collector friend of mine and thought I'd share it with everybody....the year was 1981 and I was attending San Diego State University finishing up my studies for my Bachelors in Industrial Studies. I had taken an upper division class in Manufacturing Processes and Technologies (or something titled close to that) that called for a semester paper envolving some aspect of this topic. It was VERY important, as it accounted for some 75% of the total grade points for that class. Upon much deliberation I chose the topic for the paper to be Metal Finishing Processes. Now came the hard part, finding an actual local manufacturer utilizing an interesting and involved process at their facility.
After numerous phone calls to many local companys I contacted BUCK Knives right over the grade in El Cajon. I made a blind call to the receptionist who in turn transferred me to gentleman who set up an appointment with me after I spelled out what I was envolved with, in this, my senior year at SDSU. He was very supportive and interested over the phone and it sounded like I would be able to get a little help on this task.
Off I went a short time later the following week dressed in my best beach shorts and cleanest t-shirt (what can I say, I was 20 and this WAS San Diego County!!!). Boy what a shock when I arrived at the then new Weld Blvd. address and entered the gleaming new building. I approached the receptionist, feeling a little underdressed, and introduced myself and told of my appointment. She made a call and I hadn't even a chance to sit down before she led me into the office of the gentleman I had spoken to on the phone. Now I really felt underdressed as this was the President of BUCK Knives!!! I had no idea that this was who I was meeting (didn't ask on the phone!) He received me as I'm sure he would have an executive of any big company, didn't blink an eye at my meager attire, but sat me down and asked me again what I needed. He had allready assigned me what I beleive was one of his mfg. floor supervisors to show me the whole BUCK 110 process!!!! So off I went and spent a good hour with this gentleman (whom I'm sure had taken time out of a very busy day to do this) and returned to my starting point with my host. He asked me if I'd gotten the info I had required and if there was anything else he could help me with. I did actually need some technical literature (he had a great library in the office there) and he offered so.... he loaned me a couple of his personal books for me to use, no questions asked. After I had completed this monster paper I returned the books to him, thanked him, and he asked how I had done. I of course had gotten a near perfect score for the effort and told him that it would not have been possible without his help (hardly an overstatement!) He bid me farewell and I left. WHAT A GENTLEMAN!!!
Should my memory fail me I remember him as Chuck Buck, am I correct???? I will NEVER forget the support this man gave to me, his treatment and interest IN me, and his genuine friendliness!!!! Since that time I have become a budding knife collector and now realize what good fortune I had that day so many years ago. My thanks to the Buck family.
Sincerely
Tim Brewer
Class of 81' SDSU
[This message has been edited by GELADEN! (edited 07-25-2000).]
