Montana Knife Company: The “Cutting Edge” of Success

While a lot of businesses still haven't recovered from the economic pandemonium of the pandemic, one Montana business is not only growing, but glowing.

And this weekend, area customers and residents will get a chance to see how Montana Knife Company has become one of the Treasure State's true success stories.

Turning company success into community pride

Saturday, Montana Knife Company is throwing open the doors to its new 50,000 square foot manufacturing facility at the Wye, west of Missoula, where the expanding team is geared up for a big Grand Opening.

       🔪 Founder and Master Bladesmith Josh Smith tells me it's a chance to share the company's accomplishments and dream for the future.

"This is a really cool community, and we're proud to be on this hill," Smith observes. "It's the first business you see when you come into the Missoula Valley. I hope, even if you're not a customer of ours, that you're at least proud of what we've built here in the fact that we do contribute to the community in so many different ways, plus the payroll and everything, the careers we're building."

A success story springing from Western Montana roots

Smith started making his own knives at the age of 11 in Lincoln, honing his skills and creations into a successful side hustle.

But when the pandemic struck in 2020, sending most people indoors, Smith was looking up, starting the company in his own garage.

"It was just my wife and kids and I in my garage, and, and, you know, it started to pick up a little steam. -Josh Smith, Montana Knife Company

"I quit my Northwestern Energy job January 1st of '21, hired our first couple of employees, and still, all those people reported to work at my house in Frenchtown down that dead-end road."

Along the way, Smith met fellow spark plug Brandon Horoho, who brought top-flight marketing skills and e-commerce know-how, and the fuse was lit.

"We just kind of kept growing and bootstrapping it. And, yeah, now we're 115 employees and probably 25 job openings."

A facility fit for success

It wasn't just the extra room for making the custom knives. The new facility also includes a new Black Rifle Coffee shop, where people can enjoy a snack or socialize to their heart's content with friends or community groups. You can also browse the knives and MKC-branded merchandise and collectibles.

     ☕️ The coffee shop will open at 6 am Saturday morning, with the official kick-off of the celebration scheduled for 10.