When I was a kid (aka the dreams of a boy) ....

JV Knives · Apr 4, 2023

This whole knife life thing must have been somehow born in to my body. My dad wasn't a big knife guy (he made 1) and neither was anyone else in my family. Never the less, from the time I began to understand what money and work was, I had my eye on a blade. The one that I think was the most influential, and totally blew me away as a boy, was the Smoky Mountain Toothpick. I saw it first hand in the Smokie's at what is now the modern SMKW facility. Nothing prepared me for the overwhelming experience of all of those great pieces in once place...and my grail!

It screamed protection and honor. How could they grind those lines to be so even and symmetrical? The thoughtfulness of the sweeping handle and bad ass looking black sheath insured the world knew you meant business. I left that place with what would be a timeless treasure. As time moved on, I lost track of her in moving around the country. I entertained getting another. It wasn't the same.

Fast forward....I'm 51 and have seen my fair share of blades. NONE of them have ever given me that feeling again. Maybe we can't recreate that as an adult? Maybe it's what we are all really trying to do (recreate childhood memories) when we labor over our pieces with love and sweat.

In the spirit of reaching my inner kid's delight, I made a tribute piece. It's not perfect (symmetry by hand never is)...doesn't need to be. It reminds me of the old girl above every time I see it. When no one is looking, I smile alot

Reach for your inner kid, ladies and gentlemen. They are still in there!

Have a great one!
John (JV Knives)

Drew Riley · Apr 4, 2023

I remember eagerly awaiting the SMKW catalogs as a kid, and begging my mom to mail in the order form for some of their "poor man" knives, Frost Cutlery or Master Cutlery folders, or whatever other cheap "imported" knife caught my eye. This was back before web pages and fast shipping was a thing... felt like it took years for the knives to show up. haha

While driving from Indiana to North Caroline a few months ago, I almost missed a big billboard for none other than Smoky Mountain Knife Works. My wife said "hey, don't you get catalogs from there?" It hadn't even crossed my mind that we'd be driving right by Sevierville, Tennessee. Needless to say, we made an unscheduled stop.

Life long dream achieved (hundreds of dollars later....)

Pinoy Knife · Apr 4, 2023

i have the Gerber (Original) of that style Mark 1
and a Parker or something version of the same thing ..
yes it brings a smirk out everytime....

JV Knives · Apr 5, 2023

Pinoy Knife said:
i have the Gerber (Original) of that style Mark 1
and a Parker or something version of the same thing ..
yes it brings a smirk out everytime....

I also have the Gerber Mark 1. A knife before it’s time that is still a classic

JV Knives · Apr 5, 2023

Drew Riley said:
I remember eagerly awaiting the SMKW catalogs as a kid, and begging my mom to mail in the order form for some of their "poor man" knives, Frost Cutlery or Master Cutlery folders, or whatever other cheap "imported" knife caught my eye. This was back before web pages and fast shipping was a thing... felt like it took years for the knives to show up. haha

While driving from Indiana to North Caroline a few months ago, I almost missed a big billboard for none other than Smoky Mountain Knife Works. My wife said "hey, don't you get catalogs from there?" It hadn't even crossed my mind that we'd be driving right by Sevierville, Tennessee. Needless to say, we made an unscheduled stop. Life long dream achieved (hundreds of dollars later....)

My how things have changed , right?

what a great place to spend an afternoon, even with the internet age.