Ranger knife or a story of a friendship.

The Story of the Ranger.

As a beginner knifemaker in 2007 I had the chance to create the first Bulgarian knifemakers forum Knivesbg.com. Years after in 2015 on one of our meetings in Veliko Tarnovo I had the chance to meet James Morgan Ayres.  He and his wife Mary Lou lived in Bulgaria at the time. They are an amazing couple and quite a team that travels all over the world. He writes books and articles, some specifically about knives, and Mary Lou is his photographer. They were looking to meet Bulgarian knife makers, and our meeting was just the right event to do that.

Мany friendships were born at this meeting. James continued his contacts with the Bulgarian knifemakers and visited many of us at our workshops. He is the author of several specialized books on knives, such as The Tactical Knife and Survival Knives and as a part of Bulgarian knifemaking society, we had the chance to be the subject of his article “Bulgarian Blade Renaissance” in the 39th annual edition of KNIVES of Blade magazine 2019.
In the following years, James and I began to share thoughts and discuss knives, both factory or hand-made, different designs and knife concepts. I gained a lot of knowledge from him that he had gathered over the years, most of it from his personal experience with knives. During this time he showed me a unique handmade knife made by one of the US best knife makers, Wayne Goddard, his close personal friend.

What I held in my hand was a simple but impressive knife. The design concept was born in collaboration between the two. James’s idea for a simple, but functional one tool option for the outdoors, and also a weapon. For the first time I encountered a delicate fusion between an outdoor-camping and a military-tactical knife, executed with classical blacksmithing techniques and materials. Strong 7 inch clip point blade with gentle curved edge, finely ground convex geometry with hidden tang, held in maple wood handle scales with Micarta liners. The grip was made with deep grooves by a round file and fine checkering for the fingers, that would make the handle very secure in every situation. The weight and the balance were perfect. James told me this knife was capable of slashing through two inch thick sapling as if it was cutting paper. At the same time light and fast, just what would you need in case of self defense. It also cut the falling silk scarf, a centuries old cutting ability test few knives can pass. During years of use, James and all the people who used it while taking camping and survival courses that James taught, called it the Magic Camp Knife, since it did everything needed easier and better than any of the other knives available.

By the time I met James, I had reached pretty decent skills as a knifemaker, and during the next few years I created two new models in collaboration with him that I still make. At that time Wayne Goddard was in failing health and it was difficult for him to work as a knifemaker. James told me of their intention to offer a prototype of the Magic Camp Knife to manufacturing companies for serial production, but due to Mr. Goddard’s condition this couldn’t happen.

 

I offered my help, and in the spring of 2018, I made the first prototype of my version of the knife, that according to James, met the parameters as the Мagic Camp Knife, but was easier to make, not forged, but ground from bar of steel, with handle of Micarta instead of wood, that was more convenient material for such knife, and better for serial production too. The prototype was sent to a famous knife manufacturing company for review.
Unfortunately on the same year, on 14.11.2018 Wayne Goddard passed away after a long fight with Parkinson’s, a great loss not only for his family and friends, but for the whole knife society in USA. His son Steve Goddard, also a renowned knifemaker, continues to follow his father steps. You can find his work on his website https://goddardknifeworks.com/

This year, 2024, I decided to make again my own version of that model. The knife with such history could not be left in the past, not to mention that it is also very versatile and functional tool. I made the blade a little wider, with more belly for better chopping and skinning hide, with a larger handle, for better comfort with different grips, for both precise cutting and chopping, and also to be used with gloves. Because the knife concept was James’s idea, I called it Ranger. Once a soldier, James served with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 7th Special Forces Group (Green Berets), and that name fit the knife perfectly. I will make it with leather sheath with attached accessories for outdoor activities, as well with Kydex sheath and darker colors, more suitable for service duties and for those who prefer more tactical appearance.

IN MEMORY OF WAYNE GODDARD

Wayne Goddard started making knives in the 1960’s. He was a full time knife maker by 1963. Wayne continued making knives and started writing and teaching others how to make knives. Wayne wrote the question and answer column for Blade Magazine for many years. He was a longtime member of The Knifemakers Guild, and an ABS Mastersmith. Inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall f Fame in 2013. In the 1990’s, Wayne worked on a collaboration with Spyderco, Inc to manufacture a line of knives. There were 17 variations of this classic line produced, in 3 different sizes. The last knife style was manufactured around 2013. He worked in his shop with his son Steve again for about 3 years from 2013 – 2016. Wayne passed away in 2018

 

Yasen Nikov and James Morgan Ayres, 2024