Serving Customers for 135 Years
From our humble beginnings as a small Arkansas stone company to our current position as the market leader in the knife and scissor sharpening category, Smith's has become the fastest growing, full line supplier of great sharpening products. Our simple goal is to provide consumers with the best edge for whatever task they are performing, while also providing outrageously good customer service.
JAMES ARCHER SMITH
Our story began in 1886 when James Archer Smith started mining and selling Arkansas Novaculite (Latin novacula meaning "razor" stone) from bedrock sources to meet customers' needs focusing on unmatched quality, value, and serv ice. These would become the pillars of the Smith's legacy.
By the twentieth century, natural whetstones and other abrasives were still in demand, leading to expert quality cutting and finishing of Novaculite stone starting in 1962.
Throughout the late 90s to mid-2000s, we incorporated many different abrasive materials, including diamond, carbide, ceramic, bonded synthetic abrasives, and, of course, natural Arkansas stones with the same outstanding service from the start. Today Smith's Consumer Products continues Smith's legacy with nearly 100 patents, leading the edge in our market through value creation and exceeding consumers' needs with exceptional products in over 40 countries.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF SMITH'S
1886
James Archer Smith starts Arkansas stone business mining and selling raw stone
1962
Grandson Hiram Smith (3rd gen.) stops the mining of stone, starts cutting & finishing the stone under the name Hiram A. Smith Whetstone Company
1972 - 1975
Develops a set of crossed ceramic sharpening sticks and the first non-stone sharpener New leadership: Richard, Jim & Mike Smith (4th gen.)
1984 - 1986
Richard Smith takes over operations as company president
Develops the JIFF: carbide sharpeners to simultaneously sharpen both sides of a knife
2001 - 2008
Expands into diamond sharpeners & develops interrupted surface
Develops electric sharpener & housewares sharpener line
2011
First kitchen tool and KitchenIQ brand launches
PRESENT
Product line expands through additions of Tactical & Every Day Carry (EDC)
