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Buck Knives Builds Tribute to Longtime Employees

May 15, 2018

Buck Knives is releasing the 640 XL, a Legacy Collection fixed blade that pays tribute to six longtime employees at the company. The 640 XL takes Buck’s legendary Frontiersman model and makes adjustments to both design and materials.

The 640 XL’s design team worked with the six employees being honored. Each boasts 40 or more years working at Buck and occupy a variety of senior positions today. “Buck Knives is a family business that has built a foundation of trust with its employees,” explains the company’s Rachel Rogers. “The qualities of our knives are also a reflection of our people.”

These employees worked with Buck to draw up a knife as useful as it is beautiful. Obviously, the limited edition 640 XL will function as a collectible for most every purchaser. “This knife is definitely intended to be a collectible heirloom,” Rogers acknowledges. But it was designed and produced with outdoors cutting tasks in mind, and made to usable specs should anybody want to put it on their belt.

The fixed blade is slightly larger than a Frontiersman, with an edge length over 6.5 inches and a weight of 18.3 oz. For materials, Buck chose elk scales and 440C blade steel – the latter a throwback to the early days of Buck, when this steel was among the first implemented on the company’s knives. “The knife will likely be sought after by longtime collector’s that are passionate about rare and modern materials, as well as an interest into the history of Buck Knives,” Rogers notes.

As with all Legacy Collection models, the 640 XL receives a lot of personalized handwork relative to standard production items, almost like a mid-tech knife. “The knife features custom file work, natural materials, genuine elk handle with buffalo spacers and many hours of handcraftsmanship,” Rogers says. “It also comes with a distressed leather sheath and a pine box to keep the knife safe and secure for display.”

It won’t have the smallest run among the 2018 Legacy Collection knives, the 640 XL will still be scarce at just 249 pieces. The number was chosen to reflect the combined years of experience at Buck among the six employees: Ron Dupree, Rick Rehberger, John Renzi, Billy Bates, Dan Peretti, and Steve Raley. The release pays tribute to their work before their retirement, which comes as early as next year for some. “The Buck family truly cares for each employee and cultivates a family atmosphere,” Rogers tells us. “We have expert hunters, fishermen, climbers, hikers, and campers on staff who are great assets when it comes to research into creating tools that are reliable.”

Knife featured in image: Buck Knives 640 XL

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