smoky mountain knife works museum

clutchcarter

clutchcarter

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Dec 11, 2011
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While driving along the highway on the way from Louisville to Myrtle Beach South Carolina my wife noticed a billboard for Smoky Mountain Knife Works. She said "hey we should stop there!" Well I wasn't too excited about looking through display cases at new knives, I'm way more interested in old ones with patina and custom made slip joints. I was pretty sure they wouldn't have any of these. So anyway, at the last second I decided why not stop and spend a few minutes there, can't cost too much time.
WOW!!!!!!! Am I glad we stopped!!!!!!! They have the most impressive collection of museum quality knives I've ever seen. They are displayed all over the gigantic store, mostly in display cases on the walls, some in store type cases on the floor......DANG, there everywhere!!!!!!!
They have what looks like complete collections of most brands in what looks like new condition, mounted in the original store cases, they have all sorts of old rusty knives of all types, even the old cowboy cartoon type stuff, Howdy Doody and all that.
Any way......if you can ever possibly stop by the store, I HIGHLY recommend it!

Bye for now....back to the beach!
 
Great store. They will buy complete collections, and they have quite an impressive selection of antique knives.
Did you stop by the real museum on the top floor?
 
I've spent many an hour in there, and your making me home sick! A few minutes want even give your brain time to catch a breath of what your eyes are taking in! The first time I went there 94(I think) we got there 45 minutes before closing and just the little bit I was able to take in drove me crazy knowing I would have to soon plan a return trip back from middle TN!
 
If we return home the same way we came here, I'll stop by again and allow much more time there. I promise to get some pictures to share.
I did go to the upstairs museum for a few minutes which was no where near enough time, I intend to spend much more time there next visit...........but for now, I'm off the eat dinner then fish off the pier in Myrtle Beach!
 
Thanks clutch...your a Legend, I for one am really looking forward to seeing those pics - thanks so very much for going to the trouble for us, for me here in New Zealand, it is but a dream to see the sights you guys get to see :(
 
I haven't fished off that pier in Myrtle Beach since 76; great place to get away and enjoy some fishing! Some where out there in the Atlantic Ocean is a Zebco spin cast that was probably attatched to a large fish skeleton; it must of went 30 yrds before hitting water!
 
OK....Here you go, some pictures taken on my second visit while returning home from the beach!
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More to come later!
 
that lat pic with the third open Remington lady's leg kills me- great vintage knife with a lot of history and depending on how long the thing sits there like that the spring might break when they move the blade.
 
The place is amazing. I have not been since the last time our family vacationed in Tennessee, which was probably a half dozen years ago (with families coming from Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina, we occasionally rent a house in the TN mountains for a week). I still have pretty clear images in my mind of the various sections inside the store.

Here's a funny story, but it needs some lead in. This past Thanksgiving we all rented a house on the Isle of Palms in South Carolina. My youngest sister drove down from Indiana with her three boys (ages 20, 13, 8). The oldest had fond memories of SMKW from when I took him, my son, and the other male cousin their age when we were all in Tennessee six or seven years ago. My sister dropped them off at SMKW and went to various other shops. When she came back nearly two hours later they couldn't believe she wanted to leave already!

Fast forward to this May, and my two sisters and I are doing our annual sibling weekend getaway, this year in Nashville. My youngest sister calls home and is talking to her youngest son, who is now 9. First thing he asks her: "Did you buy me anything?" His next question (knowing that his mom is in Tennessee), "Well can you stop by the huge knife store and get me something?" She explains that we are in a completely different city, three and a half hours west of there. His reply, "So, what kind of knife are you going to get me?"

Boys and knives.

Like peanut butter and jelly.
 
Clutch...those are great photo's...thank you so much, this is the first insite to SMKW and I just love the Winchester selection, and especially the John Primbles.
 
Last time I was there was in the Fall of 2009 with my wife & two boys. She dropped us off & went to go get groceries for the cabin we were renting. Traffic was bad & we were there a little over 2 hours, but barely noticed the time. Picked up a Mora 2000 & a Victorinox German Army OHT. Boys have been begging to go back and I think we will be able this Fall. Looking forward to it & might get one of these Peanuts I see so much talk about. :p
 
I moved last August and live about 20 miles from it. I went the first weekend I got here. It's definitely worth going at least once if you're a traditional knife nut. It's huge and packed with knives. As reported, there is a lot, and it takes awhile to get through. Maybe if you really rushed through you could get done in an hour.
 
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