Going to SMKW, what am I missing?

Unless you already own one, add Opinel to your shopping list. SMKW has great prices on them.

I'm a sometimes-sucker for "warehouse finds" from SMKW. Parhaps they have things like that in the store that aren't in sufficient quantities to run in the catalog?

Have a safe trip.
-Bob
 
I work for a company that has a line of knives at SMKW and worked there for a Manufacturers Rep Weekend in 2002.

They have some of the nicest quality German and American slipjoint pocketknives that I have ever seen there. I purchased 5 top quality large 3-blade stockmen there over the course of the weekend. 2 Fighting Rooster Pearl, 1 Queen Cocobolo, A super Stag "Eye" Brand and a Stag "Cattle King" Bulldog Brand.

I am mostly a custom knife collector, btw, but the selection was just too good, and I had never seen some of these before in person.

The downstairs kitchen area is really top quality, as well. Great gadgets and specialty foods like pepper jam.

It is a great time if you do not expect too much. The salespeople do not get commission and some of them are not very well trained. The work is not that hard, and it is fun if you like knives.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
SMKW is not really that great. It is mostly an overblown cheap brand knife store. Do not expect to find much high-end stuff or autos. They have a really good selection of slipjoints and SAK's and that is probably their biggest strength. They have a vintage/custom knife area but it is small and most stuff found there is overpriced mint knives or older brand customs. They are generally overpriced as well.

Another knife store in the same general area is the Acorn in Gatlinburg, TN. High prices, but they do have some Randall fixed blades and a good to decent selection of regular knives.

Just down the road, going toward Sevierville from the I-40 and TN 66 junction and about a half mile past SMKW is a neat antique shop with a good selection of knives and some nice display-boxed sets. Make sure you check out the original Balineese balisongs in a display case in the knife area. This is also a neat antique store if you are into that. Just look for the large gray building on the right.

Also, check out the knife displays at SMKW upstairs and in the stairwells. They are impressive. It makes me kind of sad to look at them and realize I can't buy the great looking knives in them rather than the crap (mostly) found on the sales shelves. Good luck!
 
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