When I went to the Outdoor Writers Association of America conference in mid-June, I got to meet C.J. Buck, who I believe is the grandson of Hoyt Buck. Hoyt Buck was the guy who created Buck Knives, and he founded the company way back in 1902.
You might expect the grandson of such a famous and successful person to be somewhat high-falutin’, but that’s not at all the case with C.J. Buck. He’s a great guy, and I really enjoyed chewin’ the fat with him. Naturally, most of the conversation centered around knives, since that’s his business. C.J. is heavily involved with the company his granddad started, and he travels all over to trade shows and conventions to get the word out on Buck knives.
We were standing over a table festooned with some of the newest, hottest models Buck has come out with, so it should come as absolutely no surprise that while we were trading yarns, I cut myself. I was fiddling with the Folding Omni Hunter, which, by the way, is an incredible knife, when I pressed the lock release and shut it. Unfortunately, I still had my index finger in the way of the blade.
I’ve owned a few Buck knives in my time, and I can tell you their claim to fame is absolutely true. They do hold an edge better than any other brand I’ve ever used. After this experience, I can also tell you they sharpen them at the factory better than any other company does.
The cut wasn’t too deep – luckily the bone stopped it. It bled like a sonofagun, though. It was a very clean cut. Nobody sharpens a knife like Buck, that’s for sure.
I felt kind of bad that I’d bled on C.J.’s demo models, but he was cool about it. He even offered to find me a Band-Aid. Now that’s a good guy.
I’m thinking it’s time to upgrade my own pocket knife, and I’m thinking of ordering one from C.J. I might get some Kevlar gloves first, though.
