Josh Smith: Founder of Montana Knife Company, Master Blade-Smith, Stylish & Effective Knives Made in the USA

In this week’s Team Never Quit Podcast, Marcus & Melanie connect with Josh Smith, Master Bladesmith. His journey into the world of bladesmithing began at the young age of 11, under the mentorship of his baseball coach, Rick Dunkerley. Rick introduced Josh to the art of knife-making, guiding him through the process of removing stock blades.
Josh set up his own shop at home, thanks to his father, who provided him space in his equipment shop. By the age of 12, Josh had joined the American Bladesmith Society, marking the start of his formal journey into bladesmithing.
At 14, Josh attended the Eugene Oregon knife show, where he met other talented knife makers who generously shared their knowledge with him. This experience further fueled his passion and skill in the craft.
At just 15 years old, Josh passed the rigorous Journeyman bladesmith test at the Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia, becoming the youngest bladesmith to achieve this feat. The Journeyman test involves a performance test, where a forged and heat-treated blade must chop a 1” rope and two 2x4s in half and still be able to shave hair. The blade must also withstand a 90-degree bend in a vise without breaking. Following the performance test, the candidate presents five knives to a panel of Mastersmith Judges for evaluation of craftsmanship.
Josh didn't stop there. He continued to hone his craft and, at 19, became the youngest bladesmith to earn the prestigious Master Smith rating from the American Bladesmith Society.
Tune in to hear more about Josh's incredible journey and the dedication it takes to become a master of bladesmithing!

In This Episode You Will Hear:
• I passed the Mastersmith test when I was young, so technically, I’m a master bladesmith.
• That [Mastersmith] test and getting there was a lot of work over a lot of years, but really what is meant is you’re really now ready to start learning. You can actually absorb what you’re being taught.
• If you’re looking back at something you built 20 years ago, and you’re still thinking that’s the best thing you’ve ever done, you’ve really gotta be honest with yourself. You really haven’t come very far.
• There’s a picture of me in Blade Magazine when I’m about 12, standing on a milk crate grinding knives.
• I was pretty motivated. At 15 years old, I became the youngest journeyman knife-maker in the world, and then at 19 I became the youngest Mastersmith.
• I started getting publicity in magazines when I was really young. When I was 16 years old, I probably had 150 knife orders from all over the world.
• It’s amazing today, with what’s at your fingertips, you can learn how to do anything right from home.
• Nothing even today replaces being in the presence of that master and having them teach you.
• Style comes over time.
• One thing I’m proud of – I didn’t fall into making one style of a knife. I can do almost anything across the board. That is what a master is.
• I won the best Damascus knife award in the world at the Atlanta Blade Show when I was 20 years old.
• I’ve sharpened thousands of knives for people. It doesn’t matter who made it. What matters is who carried it.
• I don’t need 300million Americans to be my customer. I want the 20-30-40-50 million that are patriotic as hell and appreciate quality. They want that story behind the blade. We’re proving that American manufacturing is not just not dead, but it’s desired by Americans.
• Ten years ago, my house burned to the ground. I was completely broke as hell, living in a camper. And today, I’m shaking hands with President Trump, Junior’s coming over and I pig hunted with Rogan. I get to be friends with heroes-our veterans.
• People need to keep moving the ball forward and never give up.

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