new customs allowed?

[110 Dave]

Howdy Joe Houser,
Hay how about Buck, inc looking into granting a "authorized" custom stasis? This would be something different then a "official custom" like the custom shop or Pete’s custom shop puts out or like the “yellowhorse” knives .... which are a partnership venture?
As I understand, David Yellowhorse was a working on the 110 on his own and he could have fallen into this kind of custom class until buck, inc picked him up to be officially associated with him.
There are a number of knife makers who have a really nice mod to a buck knife that is their custom plan. I have see some very nice work out there !! Now remember Dave Yellowhorse was a non-factory associated knife worker at one time also!!

What about the rest of you guys? Yes or no way?

Also on the subject of types of collecting have you ever seen buck collecting categories broke down like this? J

Humm…as I see it there are several classes of Buck knives you can find and collect...

1) The knives that came from out of the shop that one of the Buck family members did that were one off. {BTW: do any of the family members still try to make knives? How about CJ?? Have you?}
2) Knives that came out of the production shop that employees did something different to them for their selves or some one else or was accidentally different thing.
3) Knives that Buck inc. makes in the production shop of a different type limited edition or on order for someone that is different then normal production
5) The knives that are made for the collectors club only.
6) The ones from Pete’s custom shop ordered by customers directly.
7) Knives that are a partnership like the mayo and yellowhorse.
8) Those Buck knives made in the USA and those buck nots made overseas.
9) Those from out of the plant custom shop and who knows what all they have made!!!
10) And in a class of their own= the knives from the rework department: which consists of one man, Efren Reyes. There is no way to repair one with leaving your impression and soul on it as it was broken and now is not, it is not the same as new. Effen has been doing this for 30 years now.
11) The Bucks that are modified by another person other then those buck has said OK to.
well have to drop bombs and go
dave, usn, ret

 

[Joe Houser]

Dave,
This sounds like a questions for the folks up in marketing, its way over my head.
I do know that we have been doing collaborations more and more these past few years and that seems to be working pretty well. Some very nice knives being generated with that.
The Buck Collectors club has come up with a list of categories that pretty much includes all of the knives you mentioned in your list. Of course, the categories are mostly used for display judging at shows. A person can collect whatever he/she wants and those knives may or may not fit nicely into a specific category. The first time i planned on showing my knives at a knife show, I was going to make up a category called, "knives I like". It was all over the board. Sonce then i have concentrated on the pre-1961 handmade knives.
I have a knife made by Hoyt, Al, Chuck, Frank and CJ although none of them makes knives anymore.

 

[110 Dave]

howdy Joe,
yep i like the category of "knives i like"!!! best one of all!!!
mostly the list i made was a kind of jest my wild blue thoughts on how to class a collection at a show maby..
yep i hope if any one had some of the pre 61's it would be you!!! have you tryed your hand at a hand made knife like the 'old guard' made? now that would be a item to put up for biding! at least i would like to see a picture of it!!!! as i be tothers would also!!!

the marketing thing... a collaboration is what buck has with mayo and yellowhorse and a few others now, that is with established knifemakers or customizers and are made at the buck plant or at another plant.

it would still be a "custom" if i got a knife personaly made by mayo or yellowhorse, tho i dought if the busness arangement allowes that to happen still.

but a first step to a full collaboration could be were Buck gives its blessing and "autherizes" a person to do custom work. this would allow that the "custom" knife would be allowed to be returned to the factory for work such as blade replacement and that the 'custom ' work did not void any warenty. of course the maker would have to pay for buck to inspect the work for quality and to allow charges for the use of the "autheriszed by Buck" lable.

a example that would not happen- currently buck does NOT arutherize the mod of converting to a auto...but if buck were going to.... i could do a few and send them to buck for inspection and if buck aproved i would enter into agreement for lisenceing of the "Autherised Buck Custom" lable. this fee could be on per knife basis and of course as an autherised custom it would still cary buck's warenty on the non-custom parts/work only.

the custom could even be sold in a store along side & in the same display case as the factory bucks..

but the whole thing is jest a thought- no diffrent then saying hay look down that path... hummm ...
not that one has to realy go there.... tho i wander...

well have you made a knife and are you going to show us a picture of it ?
as ever most respectfully yours,
dave,USN,Ret.,SS425