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Western Hunter Featured Artist – Makers Edition - Josh Smith - Montana Knife Company
WHM: Please give a bit of info about you–where you grew up, where you live now, how you got started with your work.
Josh: I grew up in Lincoln, Montana, a small town on the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. As a fifth-generation Montanan, I spent my childhood hunting, fishing, playing sports, and living in a log house my parents built themselves. I began making knives at the age of 11, when my Little League coach, Rick Dunkerley, introduced me to bladesmithing, sparking a passion that would define my life.
I started working in his shop, learning to craft knives, and by age 12, I had my own setup in my dad’s equipment shop, even joining the American Bladesmith Society. I became the youngest Journeyman Smith at 15 and the youngest Master Bladesmith at age 19. Today, I live in Frenchtown, Montana, on 21 acres near the Clark Fork River with my wife, Jessica, and our four kids, where we raise cattle and stay active in sports.
WHM: How has hunting influenced your work?
Josh: Hunting has really defined the path to where we are today. I started hunting with my uncle at a young age. Over the years, the focus has shifted from hunting for myself to hunting with my children and finding more excitement with their success than my own. Through those experiences, I developed a real sense for what the hunter needed in a knife and the importance of passing that knife down. We pass down fewer and fewer things these days, as so many items are made to be thrown away. A knife and a gun, historically, have never been throwaway items.
WHM: What makes your knives unique?
Josh: The knives I personally make are unique in that they are completely handmade and come from my soul. I forge the blades, hand-file, hand-sand, and carve these knives into a work of art, and no two are ever the same. Our MKC knives are unique in that they are designed by me with the end user in mind. They come from a place of experience and passion for the outdoors. No other major knife companies are run by active knife makers who also hunt and use the knives as intended. The combination of that and my experience of being a Master Bladesmith truly sets us apart.
WHM: What is your favorite hunting memory?
Josh: All of my favorite memories involve my kids. Last year, I had an incredible hunt with my son, Hank, where we spent 10 days in northern British Columbia on horseback, far off the grid. My son ended up making an incredible shot on a huge bull moose. The time spent over 10 days in a tent with him will be some of my most cherished memories.
WHM: What is your personal favorite piece you've done?
Josh: There are a few pieces I've made that are favorites. It’s hard to choose. I’ve built some incredible daggers, bowies, and folders. One of my favorites would be a 10-foot-long spear with a triple head on it. Another would be a push dagger with a fossilized mammoth ivory handle and 18k gold pins. Another is a bowie with tons of engraved 18k gold and a beautiful Damascus blade.
WHM: Why is American manufacturing important to you?
Josh: At this exact moment, I can hear the voices of my employees showing up downstairs. It's 6:41 in the morning, and I can hear the excitement in their voices about our drop last night. I know that I am helping these people achieve their dreams. They are building careers, buying homes, having babies, and building their lives. THAT is what American manufacturing is all about. It’s providing opportunities through jobs and experiences that allow the citizens of our community and our country to build and achieve their dreams.
WHM: What’s next for Montana Knife Company?
Josh: Starting in January, the next phase of MKC takes off. We are moving into our new production facility, where we are installing an amazing amount of new equipment. This is going to allow us to finish developing our new folding knife, as well as become innovative in ways we haven’t been able to before. We’ll own every process of making a knife in-house, which we find very exciting. I hope one day people look to our company as the model of what is possible in American manufacturing and it proves that the American dream is alive and real.
