The Smokey Mountain Knife Works is the world’s largest knife store and museum. It is located in Sevierville, Tennessee, amidst the Great Smokey Mountains mountain range. The showroom measures over 100,000 square feet which houses around 1.5 million knives—both for sale and for show. If you love knives—whether a collector, a hobbyist, a cook, or just someone with a sense of history, the Smokey Mountain Knife Works museum is a definite must-visit.
Smokey Mountain Knife Works, Inc.
2320 Winfield Dunn Parkway
P.O. Box 4430
Sevierville, Tennessee 37864
Our guest writer recently had the chance to spend a day in the breathtaking place. Below is a short but comprehensive summary of his experience.
Smokey Mountain Knife Works—A Day Is Not Enough
The knife works museum is located in Sevierville—a city in Sevier County, Tennessee. It is in the southeastern part of the United States. The company was obviously named after the Smokies or the Great Smokey Mountains. The mountain range is part of the Appalachian Mountains, encompassing Tennessee and North Carolina. The Smokies is also known for the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, which in itself, is the most visited national park in the United States.
First and foremost, admission is free to all visitors. I think this was setup in such a way to encourage shopping or to at least pick an authentic souvenir. The place combines for sale items and display items. Do not be fooled though, this is no ordinary knife shop. It is, in more ways than one, a family place. In fact, most of the tourists there came with their families—complete with children. As we go further, you will find out why such is a good idea.
Inside there are multiple floors; there are literally millions of knives scattered in the floor area—it also does not house knives exclusively as there are also outdoor tools and gardening supplies. There are also places to eat and unwind, and even a play area for the kids.
The knife museum part is not done in typical, boring museum-like fashion. Outdoor scenes are set in themes, complete with lifelike stuffed animals like bears, mountain lions and even zebras. There are also real-life camping setups, much like a preemptive look into what you can experience in the national park. However, the highlight of this all is the indoor waterfall strategically placed as a center of attaction.
There are also knives housed in glass cages, much like regular museums. The collection ranges from historic and history-significant knives, and outdoor artifacts. There are also some genuine Native American artifacts, fossils, nostalgic tin signs, a knife cave, and last but not the least, the infamous 30-foot sword.
The items for sale are vastly overwhelming. Cutlery of all kinds and brands can be found, as well as other kitchen products and supplies. Of course, knives such as hunting knives, pocket knives, constant-companion, and the like are all carried. Brands such as Boker and Wile Boar are stocked in-house. There are also selections of tools, lighters, flashlights, and weapons such as swords.
As mentioned earlier, children will not get bored with this place. Aside from the enjoyable outdoor scenes, they also have an exclusive play area located in the back of the basement. Among the highlights of the area are a mechanical bear and a singing raccoon.
Food is also not a problem. They have an in-house food court which you can spend some time on after a tiring day. Tables are ample, and there are also outside benches which can be used for eating located in the front of the building.
Apart from the main complex, there is also a separate wooden building set in the parking lot. The small facility is a separate knife shop and is also the location of knife makers whom you can view while they hand-create custom knives. The facility poses an interesting and unique learning opportunity.
The Smokey Mountain Knife Works is definitely a worthwhile travel stop for those visiting Tennessee. The place’s highlights such as the indoor waterfall, the outdoor scenes, and the 30-foot sword can already make for a worthwhile trip, let alone the millions of knives and retail products. To add to that, admission is entirely free, although I doubt that you will leave the place empty-handed.
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