Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 38 minutes ago
This week’s guest on the Black Rifle Coffee Podcast is Josh Smith, Master Bladesmith and Founder of Montana Knife Company. From earning his Master Smith title at just 19 years old to building one of America’s fastest growing knife brands, Josh shares his journey of grit, craftsmanship, and relentless American ingenuity.
He and Logan Stark dive deep into the evolution of Montana Knife Company, why American manufacturing matters more than ever, and how passing down a knife is about much more than just steel, it's about legacy.
This is a conversation about building, grinding, and never settling. You don’t want to miss it.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Intro
03:20 – Becoming the youngest Master Bladesmith at 19 years old
06:31 – How growing up in Montana shaped his work ethic
10:00 – What separates a "good" knife from a great knife
13:18 – The lost art of American craftsmanship
16:32 – Building MKC to be a different kind of knife company
19:55 – Why MKC knives sell out in minutes—on purpose
23:28 – Creating knives that are tools, not trophies
26:52 – Marketing lessons from hunting and rodeo culture
30:09 – How social media helped MKC explode organically
33:34 – Protecting your brand without selling out
36:39 – The mindset shift from custom knives to production knives
40:18 – Designing knives to be used and passed down generations
43:40 – Balancing perfection with scaling a business
46:45 – Why Josh believes MKC customers are different
50:24 – Collaborations and keeping the MKC culture strong
53:53 – How veterans and first responders connect with MKC’s mission
57:00 – Staying rooted in Montana while growing globally
1:00:14 – Logan and Josh talk gear they won’t leave home without
1:04:01 – Advice for anyone building something from scratch
Find more about Logan Stark & Josh Smith on socials:
Logan Stark: @loganstark
Josh Smith | CEO/Founder Montana Knife Company: @joshsmithknives
Website: montanaknifecompany.com
Black Rifle’s Exclusive Coffee Subscription:
blackriflecoffee.com/products/exclusive-coffee-subscription?srsltid=AfmBOorf7N9yIdF
Ik4tcjVIx8v9Mw-dHVLP47HB2ExHmcf_AUOOfW7-y
🥇 Explore Black Rifle’s Award-Winning Coffee: blackriflecoffee.com
✅ Subscribe, like, and leave your comments below to join the conversation on everything from coffee roasting techniques to Evan's unfiltered thoughts on life, business, and creativity.
Find us on Instagram:
BRCC: @blackriflecoffee
BRCC Pod: @blackriflecoffeepodcast
Evan Hafer: @evanhafer
#podcast #blackriflecoffee
This week’s guest on the Black Rifle Coffee Podcast is Josh Smith, Master Bladesmith and Founder of Montana Knife Company. From earning his Master Smith title at just 19 years old to building one of America’s fastest growing knife brands, Josh shares his journey of grit, craftsmanship, and relentless American ingenuity.
He and Logan Stark dive deep into the evolution of Montana Knife Company, why American manufacturing matters more than ever, and how passing down a knife is about much more than just steel, it's about legacy.
This is a conversation about building, grinding, and never settling. You don’t want to miss it.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Intro
03:20 – Becoming the youngest Master Bladesmith at 19 years old
06:31 – How growing up in Montana shaped his work ethic
10:00 – What separates a "good" knife from a great knife
13:18 – The lost art of American craftsmanship
16:32 – Building MKC to be a different kind of knife company
19:55 – Why MKC knives sell out in minutes—on purpose
23:28 – Creating knives that are tools, not trophies
26:52 – Marketing lessons from hunting and rodeo culture
30:09 – How social media helped MKC explode organically
33:34 – Protecting your brand without selling out
36:39 – The mindset shift from custom knives to production knives
40:18 – Designing knives to be used and passed down generations
43:40 – Balancing perfection with scaling a business
46:45 – Why Josh believes MKC customers are different
50:24 – Collaborations and keeping the MKC culture strong
53:53 – How veterans and first responders connect with MKC’s mission
57:00 – Staying rooted in Montana while growing globally
1:00:14 – Logan and Josh talk gear they won’t leave home without
1:04:01 – Advice for anyone building something from scratch
Find more about Logan Stark & Josh Smith on socials:
Logan Stark: @loganstark
Josh Smith | CEO/Founder Montana Knife Company: @joshsmithknives
Website: montanaknifecompany.com
Black Rifle’s Exclusive Coffee Subscription:
blackriflecoffee.com/products/exclusive-coffee-subscription?srsltid=AfmBOorf7N9yIdF
Ik4tcjVIx8v9Mw-dHVLP47HB2ExHmcf_AUOOfW7-y
🥇 Explore Black Rifle’s Award-Winning Coffee: blackriflecoffee.com
✅ Subscribe, like, and leave your comments below to join the conversation on everything from coffee roasting techniques to Evan's unfiltered thoughts on life, business, and creativity.
Find us on Instagram:
BRCC: @blackriflecoffee
BRCC Pod: @blackriflecoffeepodcast
Evan Hafer: @evanhafer
#podcast #blackriflecoffee
