as serious limited edition collectibles. We have the best value on the Web! Smoky Mountain Knife Works was founded in the early 1970s, when Kevin Pipes and John Parker started selling pocketknives at flea markets. Through the mid 1970's, they worked hard to build strong relationships with their vendors and customers, and the business grew quickly. In 1978, SMKW opened its first Retail Showroom. Over the years, SMKW has grown by leaps and bounds, outgrowing two facilities before building its current retail location in Sevierville, Tennessee.