Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach McKinley.
Hi Zach, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Zach McKinley, and Williamsburg has been home for my family and me for years. I am originally from Twin Falls, ID and after a 21 year career in the U.S. Navy, we decided Hampton Roads area is where we will plant our roots.
I’ve always believed in doing things right the first time and taking pride in craftsmanship. The Patriot Edge Services originally grew out of a simple, everyday frustration: how hard it was to find a reliable, local service to restore a favorite kitchen knife or personalize a meaningful gift without having to ship it off somewhere across the country.
What started as a passion project quickly turned into a full-fledged local business. Today, we specialize in high-quality knife sharpening for kitchen cutlery, pocket knives, and outdoor gear, along with custom laser engraving on everything from flashlights and knives to leather, wood, and custom gifts. Whether it’s bringing a set of kitchen knives back to life for a family dinner, or engraving a personalized flashlight for a retiree, I love being the local guy people can trust with their most valued tools.
Beyond the shop, you’ll usually find me spending time with my wife, Jennifer, and our two daughters, Sage and Piper—whether we’re out at local soccer matches, heading to swim meets, or smoking barbecue in the backyard with our two Bernese Mountain dogs.
For me, running this business isn’t about growing a massive commercial factory; it’s about serving our local Williamsburg community, building real relationships with our neighbors, and making sure that when you drop something off with us, you get it back done right, on time, every single time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Anyone who has started a business can tell you that.
Transitioning out of the military and into civilian life is already a big adjustment. You go from a structured environment where everything is laid out to suddenly having to figure out every single step on your own.
When I started out, time was—and still is—the biggest hurdle. Balancing a full-time career, family life, and running a business as a one-man show means most of my shop work happens on evenings and weekends. Finding that rhythm without burning out takes a lot of discipline.
There were plenty of late nights spent troubleshooting equipment, building my site, and figuring out what worked and what didn’t. But every hurdle taught me something. Today, being at a point where local neighbors and repeat clients actively recommend us makes every single one of those early struggles worth it.
We’ve been impressed with The Patriot Edge Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Patriot Edge Services is a small, specialized local business built around a few simple things done exceptionally well: precision knife sharpening, custom laser engraving, and quality gear sales.
The name “Patriot” is a nod to my military service as well as Williamsburg’s rich history. There’s something pretty cool about being a blade sharpener operating right here in a town where historic blacksmiths and sharpeners have worked for centuries. But unlike the old days—or even modern farmers’ markets—you don’t have to wait around for a specific Saturday morning just to get a dull knife fixed. We run flexible drop-off and pick-up options so local neighbors can get their gear taken care of on a schedule that actually fits their busy lives.
What sets us apart is staying small, niche, and highly focused. We don’t try to be a massive commercial factory or a big-box store. We specialize in restoring kitchen cutlery, pocket knives, and outdoor gear to razor-sharp, precision edges. People often forget that a dull knife is actually dangerous because it slips—a truly sharp knife is much safer to use in the kitchen because it cuts effortlessly with control. On the laser side, we take that same precision and customize everything from personalized family gifts and retirement items to branded gear for local businesses.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of isn’t a fancy award or a big sales milestone—it’s the personal connection to our community. Being able to sponsor my neighborhood Powhatan Secondary Sea Stars swim team, getting to meet neighbors face-to-face, and filling a genuine gap in Williamsburg for reliable, high-quality craft service is what makes this work worth doing.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Instead of asking someone directly, “Will you be my mentor?”—which adds a lot of weird pressure—I just reached out to folks who were already doing what I admired, asked smart, specific questions, and then actually listened to what they had to say. When someone experienced takes the time to give you advice, go apply it, show them the results, and thank them. People naturally want to help someone who is willing to put in the work.
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