Back in the USA

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wildbillw

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Jun 12, 2011
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I think I heard a while back that Buck was considering or working on a plan to "re-patriate" Buck knives to the USA from China. Has anyone else heard this?
This may not be the forum to bring it up, but I think that it's worthy of some discussion on this site. I think it would be fantastic if they could pull it off. (It might make some of my china knives collectors!:D



Wildbillw
Life Member #1341
 
wildbillw said:
I think I heard a while back that Buck was considering or working on a plan to "re-patriate" Buck knives to the USA from China. Has anyone else heard this?
This may not be the forum to bring it up, but I think that it's worthy of some discussion on this site. I think it would be fantastic if they could pull it off. (It might make some of my china knives collectors!:D



Wildbillw
Life Member #1341
Click to expand...

They have already started. They've brought back (or moved) production of the Bantam series to the US.
 
As I understand it Buck had, at one time, 50% of it's production overseas. From what I've read that number is now down to 25%. Most major kinfe makers have some segment of their production overseas be it China, Japan, etc. How much of their production is overseas and how Buck's production compares I can't say.
 
I don't believe that there were ever 50% of their models being produced offshore, maybe it was possibly 50% of the total number of knives produced? If you look at the catalogs you will see that the vast majority of their models were always made here in the US and nowhere else. I'd have to go back and count the knife models in their latest catalog and compare, but I think less than 25% of the models are made offshore.

Here's the catalog page from 2010 with the Bantams. There are words about the transition at bottom right in blue.

Bantam2010catalogpage.jpg
 
I going to start buying more Bucks,
Case takes a step backwards by making a line of off shores produced knives and Buck does the opposite.
WOOT WOOT go Buck!
 
:thumbup: Good to see more USA made knives. I would also like to see more carbon steel like the 5160 used in the Hoodlum and more flat-ground blades.
 
It's amazing how many people you run across that think Bucks are all made in China now. I was at a gun show recently and one seller had a brand new but older 119 in his case for sale. He had a sign that said, "One of the good ones, made back when they were made in the USA!" I told him that they had never been made anywhere else but the USA and damned if he didn't argue with me about it. He was convinced that like some other manufacturerers, they had moved to China. I just shrugged and walked away.
 
I completely aggree with plumberdv, I'm thinking its around 15% of the Buck line is manufactured over seas. The majority of Buck knives are and will always be manufactured in the UAS. I vaguely recall a BCCI news letter where Chuck/CJ ( one or the other) commenting on how the Buck Co. had plans in motion on bringing some of there lines back to the US and its always on there minds how and when they can make it happen... I don't fault the Buck Co. in doing whatever they have to to remain in business. If more of the knives went over seas it would begin to concern me but they are coming back and that makes me happy. The knives produced off shore are not sub-standard by any means. I have several of them and the fit/finish is better than some of the US made Bucks, at a cheaper price to boot... The warrenty is still forever!!!
 
It amazes me how many people think Buck is all overseas now. Not sure it they really think that, or are trying to sell stuff for more than it's worth.

Didn't know Case was making anything overseas. However, I don't watch their line much.

It is great that Buck is bringing more things back to the USA. Many other companies are also doing that for numerous reasons these days.
 
They also brought the production of the Metro to the US. It's not what I really consider a serious knife, but it's one of their products. Actually, if you check out the entire Buck line, you'll see that they never actually "moved" the production of any models overseas. All the China made knives originated there and were never produced in the US prior to their introduction the best I can tell.

The closest ones I see are the 300 slippy series wood handled (among other materials) ones. They are pretty much the same as the 300 slippies series made here, except for different handle material, but the point is, Buck continued with that series here and didn't "move" them to China. All they did was to add products to their existing line up and had them produced offshore and they are now starting to move some of those to the US.
 
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TheSharpStuff said:
I going to start buying more Bucks,
Case takes a step backwards by making a line of off shores produced knives and Buck does the opposite.
WOOT WOOT go Buck!
Click to expand...

I can't think of a better reason to show our support, than to keep buying Buck knives! Their committment to us keeps us committed to Buck.

Jeff
 
Yes, I get that all the time at shows. Some are just not informed. Others won't change their sign even after proof is given. So, some are in effect pushing this misinformation for profit. DM
 
One knife I woud like to see back in the US is the Buck fishing/filet knives. I have several of the Mate line knives but the newer filet knives are off shore productions. I did buy the Cabelas, AG, S30v, rose wood handled filet knife at a wooping $100, but it was well worth it. Something about a filet knife just screams USA.
 
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I'm excited about this news, and only carry USA knives myself, mainly because if I died somewhere randomly, I'd like the coroner examining my body to pull out a knife that had my own country stamped on the blade. It's good to hear this, and Buck Knives will continue to receive my business. I would also be very interested in a USA fillet knife, great idea, mbjannusch.
 
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