Sharp and to the point
<p>Jim Wilson inspects a knife made by a customer Thursday at Mumbly-Peg, a Hayden store specializing in knives and swords that is operated by Wilson and his wife Sandi.</p>
<p>Mumbly-Peg has an assortment of knives and swords drawn from Jim Wilson's collection of about 10,000 items that he began collecting when he was six years old.</p>
HAYDEN - Mumbly-Peg is one of those games that while once popular, would not be frowned upon today.
It was primarily a boys' game played with pocket knives. The objective was to toss a knife at an opponent's foot so it stuck in the ground - without, of course, hitting the foot.
The game is mostly gone, but the name lives on in Hayden.
Jim and Sandi Wilson recently opened Mumbly-Peg at 1985 A W. Hayden Ave. The store has more than 6,000 knives and swords, both new and used, ranging in price from $3 to $30,000. Mumbly-Peg sells, buys and trades.
"We do buy lots of interesting knives that come in," Sandi Wilson said.
The wall display features a shiny slate of hunting knives, pocket knives, switch blades, black powder guns and collector swords from throughout the world, Sandi Wilson said.
They also offer jewelry.
Jim Wilson began collecting knives when he was 6 years old. As he grew, so did his collection. Today, he provides the expertise on anything with a blade, while Sandi greets customers and runs their shop.
"He's like a walking encyclopedia," she said.
There's a bit of history inside the walls of Mumbly-Peg. It has Civil War swords, Japanese Samurai swords and once sold a sword that was traced to the Crusades dating back nearly 1,000 years. It also carries exotic knives from different countries.
The Wilsons operated Ye Olde Snickersnee Shoppe in Winchester Bay, Ore., for 11 years before moving to North Idaho in October.
Snickersnee is an old English word for self-defense or engaging in a fight with a knife. The shop, like Mumbly-Peg, featured knives and swords.
Sandi Wilson said she enjoys meeting people, hearing their stories and helping them find what they want.
"It's a fun business. It's interesting," she said.
Mumbly-Peg is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Information: 772-6008