#107 - From Garage to Glory: The Rise of Montana Knife Company w/Josh Smith

About this episode

Josh Smith shares his journey of building Montana Knife Company and the realities of entrepreneurship.

People see success and say “must be nice.” They don’t see the years it took. Or the cost of building something real. This week looks a little different as Episode 107 of The Wild Chaos Podcast features Josh Smith, founder of @MontanaKnifeCompany and the youngest Master Bladesmith in the world in his own studio. We had the opportunity to visit for the first time and it didn't disappoint. What looks like overnight success is anything but. We break down the real journey behind building a Made in USA company — from a small logging town in Montana to scaling a business that now employs over 100 people. Josh shares the moments that shaped him, from mentorship as a kid to the grind of earning bladesmith credentials and surviving the 2008 financial crash. This conversation dives into: • Entrepreneurship and scaling a business • American manufacturing and supply chains • Skilled trades and craftsmanship • Leadership, hiring, and building culture • The reality behind “overnight success” • Risk, failure, and rebuilding If you’re building something, leading a team, or trying to create a life through hard work and discipline, this episode is for you. 👉 Share this with someone who’s building…

People in this episode

Host: Bam - The Wild Chaos

Guest: Josh Smith

Topics covered

• entrepreneurship
• American manufacturing
• skilled trades
• leadership
• business scaling
• overnight success
• risk and failure

Keywords

• Montana Knife Company
• Josh Smith
• entrepreneurship
• American manufacturing
• bladesmith
• business scaling
• leadership
• skilled trades
• 2008 financial crash

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Montana Knife Company

Places: Montana

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