Some people collect rare guns, coins, or antique cars, and then there are knife collectors. Knife collectors discover something that catches their eye—and then the enthusiasm and passion begins. For those who collect Buck knives, there is a club that meets approximately every five years. The meeting is held at the factory in Post Falls, Idaho and activities during the week range from factory tours, to panel discussions with company leaders, to seminars about determining counterfeit Buck knives. The event is also an opportunity to buy or swap unique and rare knives.

The Buck Collectors Club, Inc. was founded by Vern Taylor, Buck Knives’ long-time Northern California sales representative, back in 1988.  This year’s event celebrates 35 years of the club.  More than 300 collectors are in Post Falls showing the rare knives, hatchets, swords and tools bearing the iconic Buck Knives’ brand.

Personal tastes obviously come into collecting anything, but Buck knife collectors also seek the rarities, one-of-a-kinds, and many other points of interest. Some collectors, for example, have more than 300 or 400 of Buck Knives’ iconic 110 Folding Hunter. Brian Hugh, an avid knife collector from the Midwest, noted he had approximately 350 Model 110s, but then something about the tactical-style knives from Buck also caught his attention and he headed in a new direction with his collection and now collects other Buck knives. 

Brian Woods, another collector and club member, noted he has more than 400 Model 510 Buck knives, but he has other rarities, like the very rare Buck Nemo—a scuba-type knife with an impressive sheath for securing to the leg. Several collectors admiring the Nemo knife indicated they had never seen one or had only heard about this knife and a suggested auction price would begin at $2,000.The knife is more valuable because Woods has the original shipping box and certified paperwork from the factory.

Among the other rarities on display at this week’s Buck Collectors Club event included a one-of-a kind hatchet that was made as a sales sample. It was impressive to see, inspect and hold. Another rare knife was a miniature Buckmaster knife that the Buck company bought from another manufacturer and then resold in their own packaging. It’s a Buck knife that is smaller than a dollar bill, but unique. This was the only knife like it I saw at the event and the owner said it was priceless because he had the shipping box and the included papers.

Collectors also look for rarities from certain knife customizers, and those knives on display included numerous scenes of animals, hummingbirds, or bone handles or stars and other additions. One collection included a Buck knife with rare mastodon ivory handles that were scrimshawed with a tribute to the World Cup yacht races. Several customizers who take ordinary Buck knives and turn them into one-of-a-kind knives were present at the event.

One Buck knife collector noted he began collecting Buck knives because his dad gave him his grandfather’s knife, and the iconic design and wood handle caught his attention and admiration. That knife was an original Buck Knives Model 110 Folder, and a few years later the serious collecting began. Now Michael Lowe has a website about everything related to the iconic 110. See www.historyofthe110.com. 

One knife displayed at the event that caught my eye was a Buck 110 Folding Hunter with an old Westinghouse micarta handle. The yellow handle has gold rings and came from the Buck Knives’ Custom Shop in another era. A close look and you begin to understand knife collecting—and the bug. Ok, collectors also add to their collection with catalogs, newsletters, letters from members of the Buck family, shirts, pins boxes, papers and other oddities. In some cases, a box could be worth more than the knife it held. So goes collecting.

So where do knife collectors collect? Many of them attend numerous knife shows, go to estate sales, follow tips from friends and family, search e-Bay and attend the Buck Collectors Club events. Some members search daily for the next knife to add to their collection. More details about the club are at www.buckcollectorsclub.org.  The club also offers many services to aid collectors, including: a newsletter; discussion forums about knives; complete catalogs online dating from 1947 to today; knife evaluations; swap meets; eligibility to purchase club member-only special knives and much more. The club motto is: Two families joined together for the love of a knife. It is a special close relationship between the Buck family (many were at the event) and the collectors who came from all regions of America. The company factory was essentially turned over to the collectors this week.

“I know I speak for the entire family to say we are honored that people care so much about our products and the brand integrity behind those products,” said CJ Buck, CEO and 4th Generation member of the Buck family to run the business. “It is a confirmation that over generations we have held true to the quality legacy my grandfather instilled into this company.”

-- Michael D. Faw