Buck Knives Inc., a renowned maker of hunting and utility knives, is considering moving its corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant to Post Falls from Southern California, which would bring about 300 jobs here.


Buck Knives is looking at three cities for its new home: Spokane, Post Falls, and Bend, Ore., says Chuck Buck, chairman of the company.


Of the three, Its looking more like its going to end up in Post Falls or Bend, Buck says, adding that he expects to make a decision on a location by July.


In whatever location it decides on, Buck Knives will build an about 140,000-square-foot plant, which would take about a year to construct, he says. Buck says he expects the relocation to take place about a year and a half from now.


The privately held, family-owned company would move some employees here from its current headquarters in El Cajon, Calif., a suburb of San Diego, but most would be hired locally, he says. Basic assembly jobs in the manufacturing plant would pay about $12 to $13 an hour, he says.


Buck declines to say exactly what parcel of property the company is considering in Post Falls, but says its on Interstate 90, and that the facility would need about 10 acres. Jobs Plus Inc., the Coeur dAlene-based economic-development agency, has been helping Buck Knives with its search, he says.


Buck says hes leaning toward Post Falls as his companys new headquarters location.


Im feeling really strong about Post Falls and Im the major mover because I own most of the stock, he says. His son, C.J. Buck, is president and CEO of the company, which was founded in 1902 by C.J.s great-grandfather, Hoyt Buck.


Buck says Spokane isnt as strong a contender for the new plant as Post Falls because property is cheaper in the North Idaho town.


Also, Buck says, We really like the very conservative government, from the governor on down, in Idaho. Thats a big draw for us. Were very conservative.


Although Buck Knives has been located in El Cajon, near San Diego, for many years, Buck says the price of electricity in California has gotten too expensive for the company to remain competitive there, especially on top of that areas otherwise high cost of living.


Unfortunately, Gray Davis, our governor, has really made some major mistakes in trying to resolve the power issue, Buck says.


By moving to the Pacific Northwest, the company will be able to trim its expenses, he says. For example, in California, Buck Knives pays $17 an hour for the same labor it expects to pay $12 to $13 an hour for here, he says. However, for less money, people can live at an even higher standard than they do in the San Diego area, he says. The cost of living is 20, 25 percent less (in North Idaho), he says.


Buck Knives built the 200,000-square-foot plant it occupies in El Cajon in 1980, and the building now is for sale, Buck says.


He says he initially looked at the Inland Northwest because he used to have family in this areahis uncle, Walter Buck, was pastor at an Assembly of God church in Spokane for many years. In addition, Hoyt Buck made his first knives as a boy in Mountain Home, Idaho, located near Boise.


Thats one of our reasons (for moving), Buck says. Well be going back to our roots.


Personally, the 65-year-old Buck says, its going to be different for me to be in the Pacific Northwest, since he was born and raised in Southern California. Im not used to snow and stuff like that, but theres just too many benefits to not do it.