The Skilled Trades Crisis Nobody Talks About | Josh Smith #485 | The Way I Heard It

Josh Smith is one of the most talented bladesmiths in the world. He started the @MontanaKnifeCompany years ago, in his garage in Missoula. Last month, he moved his operation into a 51,000 square foot manufacturing facility.

Josh invited me to the grand opening of his new facility, but the schedules didn’t work out. But when I saw the video online, and observed hundreds of people standing in line for hours to take a tour of his new facility, I was intrigued. So, I invited Josh back onto the podcast talk about the remarkable growth of MKC.

It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. It’s really, really, really hard to run a successful business that makes a quality product in America. Regulations, taxes, HR challenges, and yes—tariffs—all pose enormous obstacles for entrepreneurs like Josh, and I thought it might be helpful to other aspiring entrepreneurs to learn what it takes to grow a one-man knife making operation into a manufacturing triumph. I also wanted to do my part to acknowledge this extraordinary accomplishment and celebrate the way one man’s vision can transform a modest knife-making operation into a multi-million-dollar business that employs over a hundred people and does great things for the local economy. Anyone espousing the benefits of reinvigorating the skilled trades and bringing manufacturing to America should be using MKC as an example of how to do it right.

I’m also grateful that Josh has chosen mikeroweWORKS as a cause for MKC to support. Thanks to sales of The Rocker—the perfect utility blade for the workingman—Josh has raised nearly $200,000 for our work ethic scholarship program. And now, he’s made some additional blades to benefit my foundation. I’ll have more details on that in a few weeks. As always, you guys will get the first look at whatever Josh has created. They always sell out in hours…

Support American manufacturing & get your own knife from @MontanaKnifeCompany:

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My foundation is awarding millions of dollars in work ethic scholarships to men and women willing to learn a skilled trade. Apply now at:

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