Digital Social Hour
Made in USA: How One Startup is Reshaping Manufacturing | Josh Smith DSH #1177
12 Feb 2025
Step inside the American manufacturing renaissance as we explore how Montana Knife Company is reshaping the industry through quality, craftsmanship, and dedication to Made in USA production. Join Josh Smith, founder and Master Smith, as he shares his remarkable journey from making knives in his garage to building an 80-employee company that's become a symbol of American manufacturing excellence. 🇺🇸 Discover how this innovative startup is bringing manufacturing jobs back to America while creating premium knives that last a lifetime. From custom Damascus steel blades to their popular production line, learn how Montana Knife Company maintains exceptional quality while scaling their business. Josh reveals fascinating insights about their manufacturing process, commitment to American-made materials, and how they've built a passionate community around their brand. Get an inside look at how this company grew from a two-car garage operation to a thriving business that's revitalizing American manufacturing. Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, American-made products, or quality craftsmanship, this conversation offers valuable insights into building a successful manufacturing business while staying true to your values. 🔪 #knifeaddict #forgedinfire #customhandmadeknives #montanaknifecompany #survivalknife CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - How Josh Became a Master Smith 04:58 - Today's Sponsor: Specialized Recruiting Group 08:19 - The Impact of American Manufacturing 11:17 - Growing Up in a Small Town 12:38 - Importance of Community 14:56 - Archery Rifle Challenge 17:51 - Trump's Cabinet Picks 20:58 - Hunting for Conservation 22:41 - Hunting as a Failure Sport 25:50 - Grizzly Bear Guarding Moose Carcass 31:00 - Most Challenging Animal to Hunt 32:30 - Masking Scent While Hunting 35:35 - What Goes into Hunting 37:27 - Best Meat to Eat 41:06 - Favorite Weapon to Use 42:55 - Suppressors in Hunting 47:39 - Where to Find Josh’s Knives 49:35 - The American Dream 49:58 - Thanks for Watching APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: [email protected] GUEST: Josh Smith https://www.instagram.com/joshsmithknives/ https://www.instagram.com/montanaknifecompany/ https://www.montanaknifecompany.com/ SPONSORS: Specialized Recruiting Group: https://www.srgpros.com/ LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 Sean Kelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmikekelly/
Full Episode
Completely worn down. The bear that my son shot had almost no teeth left. She was, she had zero fat on her and it was right before winter. She was absolutely going to starve to death. A hundred percent. She was, uh, yeah, it was game over for her. Um, and so when you think about it, generally in nature, an animal only dies from, you know, starvation.
All right, guys, Josh Smith from Montana Knife Co. Thanks for coming on today, man. Yeah, thanks for having me. Yeah, first Master Smith I've had on the show. Yeah, yeah, I appreciate it. No joke getting that title.
Yeah, no, that was a pretty cool thing to attain for sure. You got it at a young age. Yeah, especially at that age. Yeah, I became the youngest in the world when I was 19. I'm definitely not 19 anymore with all this gray hair, but yeah, it was quite the accomplishment for sure. What's the process for that for people that have no idea what that even is?
yeah i uh i started making knives when i was 11 and um you have to become an apprentice which basically you just join the american bladesmith society and so for a couple years you're just apprenticing and then you can test for first you have to test for your journeyman and that involves actually making a performance blade that you have to be able to chop a one inch rope in half
And then chop two 2x4s in half as many chops as you want to take, but then it still has to shave hair when you're done. And then you have to bend that blade 90 degrees in a vice without breaking it. Whoa. Yeah, it's legit. So that proves that you have a knowledge of heat treating steel and edge geometry and a lot of those things.
And then you take five knives and you present them to a panel of judges, Master Smith judges in Atlanta at the Blade Show. And they judge fit and finish and how good of a maker you are kind of across your five knives. And so I did that when I was 15 and was the youngest to do that. And then you have to be a journeyman two years and then you're allowed to test for your master.
And it's the same test, but it's with Damascus steel blades. So that's steel, that's layers of steel forged together. Most people kind of know that as like the way that like the samurais used to do it. it's quite a process but it's the same test but with that Damascus steel blade and I did that when I was 19 and there's about 120 or 30 in the world now.
So it's, it's pretty prestigious thing to do. It's like being a sommelier for, for drinking. Yeah. Yeah. There's not many of those guys. Right. Oh, crap. And you were doing it super young. So what compelled you at that age to get in a knife?
Yeah. My, my little league baseball coach, Rick Dunkerley, he started, um, he would bring his knives to practice and show the parents. He was kind of learning honestly at that point. And, uh, I think being an 11 year old little boy, I was just thought knives were cool. And, uh, uh, he invited me to a shop to make one. And I, I think I was a pretty responsible kid and he could tell.
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