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Montana Made: Montana Silversmiths

Posted at 10:39 AM, Dec 07, 2016
and last updated 2018-08-07 15:44:43-04

Montana is synonymous with cowboys, ranchers, and the open spaces they call home, so it’s no surprise that one of the world’s best buckle crafters is right here in Big Sky Country.

The company was founded by Kent Williams in 1973, and in 1980, Montana Silversmiths moved to a new location in Columbus.

Steve Muellener, the CEO, said, "We’ve tried real hard to keep the culture exactly what it was when Kent was here."

He explained, "We are not a mass market company. We make product that commemorates those special moments in life. Like any product being built, there are shortcuts that can be taken, and it might be a very miniscule change to the product that saved a company some money or some time – in our case, we don’t look for those kinds of shortcuts."

Some of the most intricate and famous pieces made by Montana Silversmiths are those that money can’t buy.

Muellener noted, "When we give someone a world championship buckle, it may be the only time he has ever won something quite like that and may never win it again. It has to be special."

Click here to visit the company’s website.