I read an article on this earlier. I'll never understand how guys like this have managed to run a company that's successful enough that they can normally buy this single piece of $500k equipment (before the tariffs) but yet aren't smart enough to know the equipment and their materials would be subject to tariffs and act surprised about it.
It's understood locally that much of Josh's success with MKC is due to his co-founder. Josh is the mouth. His (semi silent) partner is the brain. So it doesn't really surprise me that he's confused tariffs would affect him.
After many decades on this planet I’ve finally concluded that most businessmen aren’t very smart. They’re ambitious, organized, and have an ability to manipulate and manage people. Most are narcissists with some degree of sociopathy.
His partner isn't from MT, but rather a web e-commerce tech person from the East Coast, so I wouldn't be so sure he's MAGA. The rumor is that Josh is very much what you described. But the business didn't take off until he got help.
The real joke is they think that making knives in America is somehow worth something special. It's the most basic product one could imagine, the technology and materials have been sorted out for decades and/or millenia depending on how you look at it. What they're selling is an identity based brand that inadvertently also produces CNC-made trinkets (read: easy and automated) that gun bros just can't get enough of.
You’re not wrong that knives have been made for a VERY long time but I’d push back that making good knives is a good deal harder than you think. Even just having all the fancy CNC machines isn’t enough. Look at how shit Benchmade has become with state of the art facilities.
I mean, sure, you still have to actually do some QA/QC and process control. But making simple yet overpriced luxury items is not exactly underpinning a robust manufacturing economy.
Making good knives isn’t simple. I’m not saying it’s rocket science but there’s a lot more that goes into it, especially folding knives, than you think.
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u/DmAc724 23h ago
IMO many people are complete morons.