MOSES LAKE - Sometimes a day away from school provides an assortment of learning experiences in a true-life setting. Such was the case last Monday when Ted Mead, a 14-year-old attending Royal City Middle School, spent several hours in Post Falls, Idaho.

My wife, Garnet, and I made plans to meet Jerry Lester and his girlfriend, Jo McDonald at the Buck Knife factory before going to lunch with Chairman of the Board Chuck Buck.

"Would you mind if I brought Ted along?" Jo asked during a phone call the day before.

"Not at all," I told her, "but shouldn't he be in school?"

"He's nearly an "A" student, so I don't mind taking him out once in awhile," she said. "Besides his teachers consider some outside-the-school experiences to be beneficial and educational."

Both vehicles arrived at the factory within five minutes of the 11:30 meeting time. Chuck walked into the lobby as Jo and Jerry were coming in the door.

Greetings were exchanged and Jo introduced Ted to the group. Chuck then introduced Josh Buck, Chuck's grandson and the fifth-generation of the buck family to be involved in the knife-making business.

Next we were off to the Red Lion for lunch, where we caught up on the happenings in each other's lives. Chuck now lives in the hills surrounding Coeur d'Alene and has all kinds of critters visiting his property.

"Lots of deer," he said, "plus turkey, elk and moose."

I advised him to be aware of the possibility of cougar, bear and maybe wolves. He said he keeps an eye out for such wildlife.

Next we discussed Josh's employment with the company. He will be working on the company computers, fixing them when they cause problems.

This young man is not new to the company, having worked in different departments, assembly and shipping, etc., between school years. Josh has also designed his first Buck Knife, the Gen-5 Skinner.

The buckknives.com website describes the knife as:

"There's a little bit of Al Buck's streamlined thinking in the lean, simple lines that set the tone for the Gen-5 knife. Josh Buck took many of the same design elements that made his great grandfather's knife so popular and created the Gen-5. By taking out the bulk typically found in skinning knives, the Gen-5 functions impeccably without added weight."

The knife is made in the USA, naturally, right there in Post Falls. It has a 3-inch blade, which is made of 420HC stainless steel and has either a charcoal birchwood handle or one made with checkered rosewood and brass and weighs 4.2 ounces. Each version comes with a sheath.

The title comes from the fact Josh is the fifth generation Buck, coming from Hoyt, Al, Chuck, C.J. and then Josh.

Chuck carried on a constant conversation with Ted, quizzing him about school, football, his outdoor activities and asking if he owned a Buck Knife. Ted had three and they were all with him. Jerry gave him one a year ago Christmas, a Buck hatchet, one last Christmas, a fixed-blade woodsman, and a fillet knife.

After lunch we headed back to Chuck's office on the second floor of the factory building. There Chuck, Jerry and I exchanged late Christmas gifts, all Buck Knives of course. Chuck then presented Ted with a Buck Folding Hunter, Model 110.

Next Chuck began signing all of the knives, with the Folding Hunter inscribed, "To Ted, A gift from Chuck Buck, 2011."

Chuck had to go on the factory floor for some reason and he invited Ted to go with him. Josh and I tagged along also. The simple visit to the heart of the factory turned into a full fledged tour, with Chuck and Ted stopping at every station for Chuck to explain the function.

Listening to us talk with Chuck over lunch and in his office, was educational in itself, but the tour was icing on the cake. I watched as Ted was trying to take it all in, an impossible task on one visit.  

He was impressed with the chairman of the board knowing so many of the employees by first name and visiting with each a bit before moving to the next station.

It was obvious Chuck enjoyed taking Ted around the plant, a factory which makes outdoor tools capable of lasting for generations. Chuck enjoyed this tour so much, it made him late for an important meeting.

Then the tour was over and we said our goodbyes and headed out the door. The next day Jerry and I had lunch.

"Ted is still beaming about the tour and the knife Chuck gave him," he said.

Yes, it was an educational day for Ted. One he will remember for a lifetime, with knives he will be able to pass down to future generations.

NOTE: Buck Knives, Inc. offers factory tours year around, free of charge, Monday through Thursday at 10 a.m. noon and 2 p.m. The tours last about 25 minutes. Closed-toe shoes are required. Children 7-years-old and up are welcome. Reservations are recommended. Call 800-326-2825, ext. 172.