Leaving China?

Hoyt Buck produced the first Buck Knife in 1902. Hoyt and his son Al moved to San Diego and set up shop as H.H. Buck & Son in 1947. Al Buck revolutionized the knife industry in 1964 with the infamous Model 110 Folding Hunter. The company's innovative history and attention to quality have made for many great collectible knives.
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pinnah
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Leaving China?

Post by pinnah »

I've heard rumors in several forums that Buck is pulling their production back from China to the US.

I don't follow Buck super close so was hoping folks here might be able to point me to announcements or press releases or some other info source?

Thanks,
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TripleF
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by TripleF »

That would be good news!! ::tu::

Knot sure when this article is from but it says BUCK is starting to bring back some manufacturing:
http://www.allbusiness.com/company-acti ... 978-1.html
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by Knife Nut »

That would be great news IF it is true.

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orvet
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by orvet »

I would love to hear from Joe Houser on this. I think he would confirm it.
Joe told me a couple years ago at a show that Buck was moving in the direction of doing away with the knives from China.

Before I asked Joe about it, I had asked Chuck Buck how the Chinese knives were doing for them. Chuck turned his head to the side, mumbled something I couldn’t understand, then changed the subject. I got the impression that the topic of Chinese Buck knives was not a popular topic with Chuck. :lol: :lol:
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xstuntman
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by xstuntman »

I heard that the same day that I found out Case is going to start a line of chicom knives so go figure.
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by Old Hunter »

I've read that Buck is leaving China several times on hunting and shooting forums over the past year, but still see what looks like new Chinese made Buck stock being shelved in stores along side USA made (in hunting stores as well as mass merchandisers like WalMart). Buck has made it easy to tell which is which by printing an American flag or putting USA made or Chinese made on the boxes/packages. While I am no fan of Made in China, I am not going to boycott Buck or Case over the issue as long as they offer American made products too. I will also buy the products of those countries that support us (such as the Commonwealth countries, S. Korea, Japan, Formosa, Germany, Poland, etc.) It is damn hard sometimes not to find that something you need is only offered in Chinese made today - just gotta do the best you can.
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by jerryd6818 »

Old Hunter wrote: Formosa
:lol: You're showing your age.
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by Old Hunter »

That's not one of the optional names anymore for the free Chinese; Nationalist China, Formosa, Taiwan vs. Communist China or (my favorite) Red China? They have tried to confuse the issue with the "Made in China" label - cannot tell whether its the free one or the red one anymore. When I see "Made in China" I assume they mean Red China and pass it up.
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by jerryd6818 »

I went to Taiwan on R&R over Chinese New Year in '66. I let the guy who racked next to me talk me out of my billet to Bangkok. What a dumb ass I was. That's one of the handful of great regrets of my life.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
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"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
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Re: Leaving China?

Post by 300Bucks »

I don't have any personal hard facts to quote. But, to reduce wild speculation. CJ Buck has spoken at meetings I was in attendance at (BCCI) and said he hoped to bring more and more overseas work back to the home factory. It would be at a pace the factory and the business would allow. Recently at least two models began having American flags on there boxes and there may be more than that by now.

Its all about price points and contracts. There are some people that find they can use the less costly off-shore models because of tight budgets. Also some big suppliers require prices to be so low that the U.S.A. stamp requires a real effort to get the Idaho plant working to make the same product at the same price. I have heard several times CJ speak about keeping the imported versions at the hightest quality levels posssible but would like to have them all under one roof.

If and when you can and want them buy the American models and this will support the change effort by Buck.

300Bucks
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