Josh Smith builds knives designed to last for generations. In an interview with Men’s Journal, the Montana Knife Company founder says he’s confronting a less comfortable question: whether his own habits will let him keep up.
A doctor’s visit and blood testing prompted the reassessment. Smith says the results raised concerns about his health, including low testosterone. After years of short sleep and neglected fitness, professional momentum had become a poor measure of how he was actually doing.
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When Success Makes Exhaustion Look Normal
Montana Knife Company launched from a two-car garage in 2020. In a May 2026 report, Fortune said the company generated $50 million in revenue just four years later.
For a pocket-sized introduction to Smith’s craftsmanship, The Montana pairs a MagnaCut steel blade with an American-made folding design, finished and sharpened by hand.
Smith says the company’s growth made his own needs easier to overlook.
“The pressure of MKC wasn’t something that hit in one moment. It crept up over a few years disguised as excitement and growth.”
“I’ve preached longevity in our products, hard work, durability, and resilience. But I’ve not lived it physically for the past few years.”
For Smith, the test results were a turning point that prompted him to make his health a priority.
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The Reset Starts Before the Workday
Smith typically gets up at 5:30 a.m. and now uses MKC’s gym for morning strength training. His wife, Jessica, teaches fitness classes to employees.
At home, meals include beef they raise and deer and elk they harvest. Sleep remains the less polished part of the routine.
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“I am not as disciplined as I should be around sleep. It’s been a focus for me lately to prioritize sleep.”
He says paying attention to his health has improved his energy and mood. This is a course correction still underway, rather than a completed transformation.
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A Future Worth Staying Fit For
The forge gives Smith absorbing, physical work. Hunting gives him mountain miles, fewer screens and time with family.
“I want to take my grandchildren on hunts of a lifetime,” he says.
That’s a useful ambition to schedule around. Protect the sleep, training and relationships that let you participate in the life you’re working to build.
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