Some collectors can trace their favorite hobby back to one object. For Eknives founder Clayton Ensminger, it was a survival knife his father picked up at a flea market after they watched Rambo: First Blood together. The gift stuck, even after life moved on, with bills and day jobs taking over as they tend to do.
Decades later, that memory helped shape EKnives: the Chattanooga business he runs with his wife, CoCo, and their French bulldogs, Knox, Benny and Louis. What started as a simple website has evolved into a family-owned hub for individuals who already care about high-quality blades.
For anyone searching for everyday pocket knives, Microtech gear, or OTF knives, EKnives may feel closer to a favorite local shop than a faceless online cart.
Starting a new path at forty
Ensminger didn’t grow up in the knife industry. At 40, after several business attempts and a job that left him restless, he decided to start over. He bought a domain, opened a blank storefront, and began teaching himself how to run an online business. Ensminger admits that he knew “absolutely nothing about knives, websites, or the internet.”
What he did have was the stubborn thought, “If they could do it, why couldn’t I do it?” That question pushed him through late nights of research and trial and error. Over time, EKnives found its footing with customers who recognized that the person behind the site loved building something real.
Service built around real customers
Knife collectors remember those who answered questions promptly, who went out of their way to find a specific model, and who shipped an order the same day it was received. Ensminger and his family built EKnives around those details, promising same-day shipping on orders placed before 3 p.m. EST.
That focus on speed and communication suits hunters stocking up before a trip and enthusiasts waiting on a long-sought design. When EKnives doesn’t have a knife in stock, the family will often help point people toward a shop that does. For a community that values relationships as much as steel and edge geometry, gestures like that are what people remember.
Testing knives as everyday art
To Ensminger, knives are more than tools, even when they spend most of their time operating boxes or riding in a pocket. He sees each piece as a small work of art, built by people who care about grind lines, handle materials, and the way a blade moves when it’s opened and closed. That respect guides which brands and makers show up on the site.
The team focuses on quality craftsmanship and the kind of pieces that authentic collectors enjoy examining closely. Some customers seek hard-use folders, while others gravitate toward out-the-front mechanisms or limited finishes; however, they share a common appreciation for thoughtful design. For those buyers, a well-chosen pocket knife can say as much about their taste as a favorite watch or jacket.
A family business that keeps learning
Running EKnives has become an ongoing educational experience. As one of Microtech’s largest dealers, Clayton and CoCo continue to listen to the community and learn from long-time collectors and newcomers alike, who already view knives as part of their daily routine. Collectors can tell the difference right away.
For people who still remember their own first movie-inspired knife, EKnives offers a place where that feeling is taken seriously. It’s a family business built on the belief that knives are an art, loved by authentic collectors who appreciate their quality. That care shows up in every order that leaves the Chattanooga shop.
