POST FALLS, ID — Buck Knives Inc., a leading manufacturer of cutlery and tools for chefs, hunters, EDC, anglers, and adventure seekers, recently recognized a milestone of the company’s relocation from San Diego, California, to Post Falls, Idaho two decades ago. That move occurred in 2005 and resulted in the company opening a 128,000-sq-ft state-of-the-art facility where it manufactures more than 200 knife models, has a museum and operates a flagship store.
This past week, Buck hosted several events at the Post Falls headquarters and factory, starting with an all-employee lunch where employees who made the move 20 years ago were awarded a commemorative knife. Buck also hosted a private 20-years-in-Idaho celebration event with business and civic leaders who helped make the relocation successful. Over the weekend, the Buck Factory Store celebrated with the local community, raffling off prizes, selling commemorative knives, and hosting local food and drink vendors.
“Idaho’s connection to common sense rural values is a great fit for long-term business values,” stated CJ Buck, CEO of Buck Knives. Buck held a reenactment ribbon cutting at the celebration event and noted many successes that have followed the two decades in the new factory.
What was involved in relocating an entire manufacturing operation, 60-plus employees, and their families 20 years ago?
First, the planning required three years of detailed work and calculations. Numerous trips to several states and locations, along with many more meetings, resulted in the necessary plans and details to move machines, offices, materials, knives, people, and much more. Then, it was time to load the trucks and secure the cargo for the more than 1,400-mile trip north to Post Falls, Idaho. Machines loaded for the move ranged from CNC machines to ceramic tumblers to grinders, along with a machine shop needed to service and repair those machines. The move occurred in two waves of 50-plus trucks each time, with manufacturing equipment making the first cargo loads.
As anyone who has ever made a move knows, always expect the unexpected. In the first tractor-trailer truckloads of equipment driving north, a father-son driving team got into an argument. That argument reached the boiling point and the duo pulled over, abandoned the truck and that load of Buck Knives’ equipment, and disappeared. When the truck and load did not arrive at the factory, a search began, and the missing truck was finally located. Another driver was sent to secure the truck and cargo and drive it to the new factory.
An opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting event were held at the new Idaho factory on May 21, 2005. Just last year, the company also re-opened an upgraded on-site 1,600 sq-ft store to serve customers better. It is fully stocked with Buck’s current core products, plus more collectible knives, tin tacker signs, hats, T-shirts, and more. There’s also a timeline that takes up an entire wall with information about the company’s history. The company continues to offer free factory tours every Monday-Thursday.
Buck Knives has been building quality knives since 1902. For more information about the company and its full product lineup, visit www.buckknives.com.
ABOUT BUCK KNIVES: For nearly 125 years, Buck Knives has been handcrafting the finest quality knives and tools using the highest-quality materials and state-of-the-art processes, like the exclusive BOS heat treatment for blades. With more than 200 knife models available, Buck Knives are built to perform at the highest level and last for generations. Located in Post Falls, Idaho, and employing more than 320 people, Buck Knives is proud to make knives in America and stand behind those with the company’s exclusive Forever Warranty. Visit www.buckknives.com or call 800-735-2825 for additional details.
It is purely a coincidence that there are back to back Buck posts. This press release came in as I was working on the prior post.
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