Friday, October 25, 2024

The Sharp Thoughts Behind the World’s Hottest Knife: Josh Smith of MKC

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If you happen to’ve ever tried to purchase a knife from Montana Knife Firm, the model is sizzling. Product drops promote out in minutes. Consumers gloat about their new cutlery and share pictures of it in motion.

Why? Properly, should you’ve ever held an MKC knife, you possibly can really feel the murals. And the artistry goes proper to the highest with its founder, Josh Smith.

Smith isn’t some man making an attempt to make a fast buck on an inexpensive knife. He’s an artist who spent a lifetime, starting in childhood, honing his craft. The hype behind Montana Knife Firm ought to solely cement that reality.

Early Years: A Minimize Above the Relaxation

Young Josh honing his skills at an early age; (photo/MKC)
Younger Josh honing his expertise at an early age; (photograph/MKC)

Josh Smith’s fascination with knives began at a younger age.

On his eleventh Christmas, Josh’s mother and father gave him a knife from Rick Dunkerley. If that title doesn’t ring a bell, that’s as a result of he was extra of a neighborhood hero, who was not simply Josh’s little league baseball coach but additionally a fairly superior bladesmith. Smith’s fascination with knives continued to develop, and Dunkerley finally took him underneath his wing.

Smith began hustling, saving cash from garden mowing gigs, and serving to his people out within the hopes of getting instruments of his personal so he might proceed chasing this ardour on his personal. Finally, he had sufficient money to snag his very personal knife grinder. He caught it in a nook of his dad’s workshop, and voilà, he was in enterprise, making knives all on his personal.

On the age of solely 12, Josh joined the American Bladesmith Society, and after simply 3 years of honing his expertise, he grew to become the youngest Journeyman Knifemaker on the planet. On the age of 19, Josh determined to check his expertise by making an attempt to go the Grasp Abilities take a look at, and also you guessed it, he then grew to become the youngest Grasp Bladesmith on the planet.

Josh Smith Knives

Josh Smith Knives
Damascus Folder – Stainless Carved Bolsters – Raised Rope Filework; (photograph/Coop)

Josh went on to reside a reasonably regular life in his small Montana city, working building, getting married, and beginning a household. Within the background, he continued making knives that grew to become increasingly more wanted. His high-end knives had been extra artwork than device and upped his ardour for the craft. Proudly owning a Josh Smith Knife grew to become a little bit of a standing image within the blade world.

For years, Josh continued to make a number of the most lovely knives ever made, although he by no means felt he might stop his day job and switch it right into a profession. A bumpy highway crammed with uncertainty, private struggles, and challenges put Josh on the trail to an occasion that will change every little thing.

The Start of Montana Knife Firm

Josh Smith & Brandon Horoho
Josh Smith & Brandon Horoho; (photograph/MKC)

Smith needed to upscale his knife-making capabilities and convey high-quality knives to extra individuals. He had a imaginative and prescient to see his knife in additional arms than his customized, one-knife-at-a-time enterprise might deal with.

It was when he met Brandon Horoho at an occasion known as WinterStrong that the wheels of MKC started to show. Horoho would go on to be the co-founder of the corporate in 2020.

Although, we have to again up and provides credit score to Josh’s mother. She had such sturdy perception in her son that she registered the title Montana Knife Firm with the state again when he was simply getting began.

In just some years, Smith and Horoho constructed what has turn out to be one of the vital recognizable and sought-after knife manufacturers within the looking house, all-American-made, and small-town proud.

The Knives

Montana Knife Company Stonewall Skinner
Montana Knife Firm Stonewall Skinner; (photograph/Rachelle Schrute)

The knives rolling out of the Montana Knife Firm store are primarily focused on the hunt crowd. I’ve had the chance to make use of virtually each mannequin of MKC knife up to now. I can attest that the hype is well-earned. The Stonewall Skinner is my favourite knife. I’ve three of them if that claims something.

The corporate is increasing its choices, stretching to new markets, providing blades equivalent to hatchets and an unbelievable set of culinary knives wrapped in bison leather-based.

The recognition has grown a lot that these knives promote out inside minutes of changing into obtainable on-line. It has genuinely prompted a shopping for frenzy.

Fortunately, Josh continues to develop his crew. A number of knife fashions are formally labeled as “In Inventory,” which is a delight for many who’ve been ready in useless. At present, the Stonewall Skinner, the Blackfoot, and the Speedgoat are all obtainable on-line with no wait time.

Demand-Pushed Hype?

There actually have been those that have speculated in regards to the pleasure of MKC knives being tied to the restricted provide. Will the MKC Fever begin to cool as manufacturing begins to maintain up with demand? It’s exhausting to say.

As somebody within the lucky place of getting these knives at my doorstep with out the wait, I do know that as I write this, the one three knives on my butcher block proper now are from Montana Knife Firm. I’ve numerous manufacturers in my knife drawers, however these are the knives I attain for within the area and within the kitchen. That claims one thing.

The Seemingly Limitless Rivals

Each clown and his uncle make knives. You should purchase a fancy-looking knife at any fuel station within the nation. Nevertheless, there are some critically huge names making high-quality knives. Take a look at Benchmade, SOG, CRKT, and numerous others. What’s it that’s setting Smith’s knives aside from these long-standing knife gamers? Is it the non-public connection, the small-town really feel, the hand crafted nature?

It’s exhausting to say. With a model this new, it could possibly go numerous methods. Will MKC rise to be the go-to knife sometime, with a reputation that’s as synonymous with knives as Gerber or Buck?

The Rising Legacy of Josh Smith and MKC

Montana Knife Company, MKC Hatchet

Right this moment, Montana Knife Firm already stands as a testomony to Smith’s unwavering dedication to his craft. What started as a private ardour has advanced right into a thriving enterprise that provides a number of the most interesting knives on the planet. However for Smith, it’s not simply in regards to the knives. It’s in regards to the connection between craftsmanship and nature, between kind and performance.

If you happen to get the possibility to carry a Montana Knife Firm blade in your hand, do not forget that it’s not just a few knife — it’s a chunk of Josh Smith’s ardour and dedication, honed to perfection.

It will likely be fascinating to see the place he takes the model and if MKC can proceed to maintain the hype sizzling as soon as the knives are plentiful.



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