Stopped by Smoky Mtn Knife Works today and..

[Dan Amos]

SMKW & BM went through this little song-and-dance several years ago. They didn't carry any BM products for years. I think its only been the last 3 or 4 years they got any back. Last time I was there (about 2 months ago) I had a feeling BM would soon be gone. They only had maybe 2 in the showcase.
Skinny has it that SMKW expects a deeper discount because of the quanity they (can) carry. I was told BM didn't see it that way.
<<<YMMV>>>
Their auto policy is amusing, however. They wont even let you Hold an auto unless you produce ID - that they PHOTOCOPY before they let you touch an auto knife. I've never understood that particular piece of weirdness. Gun shops don't require that kind of security to show you a gun.

 

[Planterz]

Switchblades are more illegal than guns in many cases.

 

[eisman]

apparently smkw was getting their benchie's from a wholesaler below cost, BM got upset... etc

It's not what they were paying for the product that got them in trouble, it's when they break the manufacturers price policy and sell below the price point.

 

[Dan Amos]

It's not what they were paying for the product that got them in trouble, it's when they break the manufacturers price policy and sell below the price point.

Hahahahahah! SMKW sell BELOW MSRP?!?!?!? THAT is truly hysterical!!!
The Only thing you EVER find below MSRP there are a few discontinued items. Seems more Kershaw & Spyderco than anything.

And please don't think I'm bashing SMKW. I'm not. I go in a dozen times a year. And once in a great while you will get a heck of a deal. Ive spent a lot of $$ in there. But like I said, its for the unusual Spyderco or Kershaw...maybe a CRKT.

Knoxville has a very well-equipped military store/cop shop that you can fondle the BM's. They have about 40 BM's in there. They too, however, are a bit high as well.

 

[bld522]

Hahahahahah! SMKW sell BELOW MSRP?!?!?!? THAT is truly hysterical!!!
The Only thing you EVER find below MSRP there are a few discontinued items.

That hasn't been my experience . . . at least not on Knives Live. I've bought A.G. Russell's, Kershaws, Ontario RATs and Canal Street knives from them all at SUBSTANTIAL discounts. But admittedly the bargains are few and far between. And frankly, I've stopped watching Knives Live because the vast majority of what they sell isn't interesting to me and I no longer have the patience to wait out the bargains. YMMV.

 

[EricV]

It's not what they were paying for the product that got them in trouble, it's when they break the manufacturers price policy and sell below the price point.

If I remember the newer policy correctly dealers have to buy directly from BM, and meet the advertised price point, but the policy does allow for discount codes as long as the end sale price is not advertised only the discount until checkout. It was a fairly in depth policy change, not just a MAP.

 

[Adam Buttry]

The Only thing you EVER find below MSRP there are a few discontinued items.

Agreed. I'm in there at least twice a month, most months more than that. I generally head straight to my favorite manufacturers that they carry- Kershaw, Spyderco, Victorinox, Cold Steel. You rarely see any deals on those brands. As you mentioned, mainly on discontinued items. I wanted to try out an ESEE knife after reading all the praise on this forum. Went down, handled them all and settled on the ESEE 6. Looked at the price tag and knew I'd better poke around on the net to see if I could find it cheaper. Sure enough, called up Roger at Knifeworks and was able to get the knife shipped to my door for about $35 cheaper than the walk out price at SMKW. As I mentioned before though, I do love going there to get a hands-on feel for any knives I'm interested in. Matter of fact, never thought twice about Condor till I went and handled their products in person.

As far as Benchmade goes, their knives have never tickled my fancy so I never even bothered to look for them. Although SMKW do have a nice selection of manufacturers they deal with, they still don't carry 2 of my favorites- Fallkniven and Bark River. I've suggested these brands to them many times but have yet to see them. Maybe one day.

 

[Dan Amos]

That hasn't been my experience . . . at least not on Knives Live. I've bought A.G. Russell's, Kershaws, Ontario RATs and Canal Street knives from them all at SUBSTANTIAL discounts. But admittedly the bargains are few and far between. And frankly, I've stopped watching Knives Live because the vast majority of what they sell isn't interesting to me and I no longer have the patience to wait out the bargains. YMMV.

I've never watched their TV channel/show whatever it is. I always assumed it would be much like HSN-type knife sales. Whole lotta Paki-Blades....very little interest to me. After hearing what they do offer at times, I wish I got the channel to check it out.

 

[TheGame]

Hahahahahah! SMKW sell BELOW MSRP?!?!?!? THAT is truly hysterical!!!

\

Not true from my experiences either. Each of the times I have went there I got a much better deal there then anywhere else I have seen. Last time the only thing I bought was a Condor Golok, but got it for $20. The times before that were each cheaper than online as well, but I can't remember all of what I got. I know, as I looked when I got back home to see if I could find it cheaper.

Guess we like much different kinds of knives.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't shop SMKW for bargains. Their prices are generally fair. I shop for selection and an opportunity to look at new product and manufacturers offerings. You can't look at everything everytime you visit and I visit every couple of months. I spent a fair amount of time looking at Kabar and Condor products just Wednesday there. (Same day as the OP) They weren't real busy due to potential snow that day. I had never really looked at the BK9 before. The previous visit, I hit the Mora and Case areas. I bought a few things as I almost always do and departed. If nothing else, SMKW keeps my kitchen well supplied in knives.

 

[cramsey3006]

I guess its hit or miss. I bought a Kabar FIN there two years ago for $68. When I got home and looked online, that's what several vendors were selling it for as well. That's the last time I bought something there.

 

[HAKnPocket]

Price comparison between B&M stores and online are apples and oranges. The overhead for the building alone surpasses anything for an online only store. The only one I have seen different is New Graham and Mikes prices are great if you ask me. Oh yeah where else can you spend hours actually getting to feel a knife besides SMKW?

 

[bld522]

I guess its hit or miss. I bought a Kabar FIN there two years ago for $68. When I got home and looked online, that's what several vendors were selling it for as well. That's the last time I bought something there.

On average, I've picked up about 2 bargains a year from Knives Live. Here's what I've gotten over the past few years::

A.G. Russell Folding Hunter, 154CM: $40.00
Kershaw Outcast, D2: $40.00
Canal Street D'Holder Integral Hunter, 19C27: $129.00
Ontario TAK-1, D2: $40.00
Ontario RTAK-II, 1095: $60.00

Considering the value of the hours I spent sorting through vast quantities of knives I have no interest in, I probably lost money overall. But I enjoyed looking for needles in the haystack for awhile.

 

[Adam Buttry]

Knives Live is not really a good representation of SMKW. I was told that Knives Live was started specifically to move overstock that did not sell well in the store. This is why the prices are more on par with what you'll find on the net. They've been discounted to move. Yes, they do showcase "collector" pieces aswell. Mainly spipjoints from Case. But for the most part they are knives that don't move well in the store. I love all things knives but I can't hardly stand to watch Knives Live myself. The hosts drive me freakin nuts listening to them, and I was born and raised here.

 

[RandomAyes]

xxxxxxx

 

[GWashington1732]

I think she was slinging a pretty good sales pitch, or it would have been if she hadn't been talking to a knife nut

Not necessarily. Remember, just because someone has a job at a store doesn't mean they have a clue about what they're selling. Unless she was getting paid for how many knives she sells, then it might have been a pitch.

 

[bld522]

. . . I can't hardly stand to watch Knives Live myself. The hosts drive me freakin nuts listening to them, and I was born and raised here.

You and me both. The only host of a knife show that drives me crazier than they do is Tom O'Dell. That guy is about as pleasant to listen to as fingernails on a chalkboard. :barf:

 

[sykes3170]

Sounds like BM or SMKW let their vanity get the best of them. Too bad. It will hurt them both. Bad business.