Designers

Joe Pardue

"With my Dad (Mel Pardue) being a Knifemaker, I had the opportunity to learn the 'Art of Knifemaking' at an early age. After years of apprenticing, dedication and developing the skills necessary to make and design knives, I find that well designed utility tactical, high quality knives are my passion. My knives are tools to be used, and are designed with that in mind." -Joe Pardue

Justin Gingrich

Ranger™ Knives was created and operated by blade smith Justin Gingrich. He served 10 years on active duty in such honored units as the 3rd Ranger Batalion (1992-1996), 20th Special Forces Group (1996-1998), and the Ranger Training Brigade (1998-2001). Justin is also a police academy graduate and served in Iraq with a civillian security firm in 2005. For two months, Justin worked in post-Katrina New Orleans providing much needed security for the private sector. He also instructs private security contractors, U.S. soldiers, State Department employees and civillians in the art of patrolling, demolitions, shooting and CQB techniques.

Justin designs all Ranger™ Knives branded products with the professional user in mind. His military background and hands on experience qualifies him to assess the needs of emergency services, law enforcemnet and military professionsals. This ensures the tool's ability to not only survive but excel where others fail.

If you would like to discuss his designs further, you can chat with Justin on one of our industry's most active forums - www.knifeforums.com.

Dan Maragni

"I have spent most of my life involved in the study and production of edged tools and weapons.  I have taken a well rounded approach to my studies combining my experiences as a custom knifemaker, a commercial knife overseer, a researcher of edged tools and weapons throughout time and around the world, experimenting with modern materials with commercial applications, teaching and lecturing on modern and historical bladesmithing and studying martial arts.

I was a custom knifemaker for nine years concentrating on high performance carbon steels and functional designs for a variety of hunting, outdoor and martial arts applications.

My commercial production experience was a direct result of my high quality custom work and led to my 25 year relationship with Cold Steel, Inc.  I began consulting on steels, heat treatments and edge geometries and then spearheaded their move to US production and the commercial use of high performance carbon steels.  My responsibilities included every aspect of production from rough drawing to finished knives and included training operators and quality control personnel, designing and making fixtures and gages and establishing manufacturing procedures.

My research in historical and ethnographic edged tools and weapons and my study of martial arts led me to major improvements in my functional design capabilities and in the selection of materials for maximum performance.  Over the last ten years of experimenting I have spent countless hours making blades and testing them and in that time I have spent over $6000.00 in metallurgical examinations and almost $18,000 in books and research materials.

My research also led me to develop a project which very accurately replicates a Norman sword from 1100-1150 AD using commercially produced blades which have been successfully tested by 15 different martial artists from a variety of styles.  The performance of these swords has confirmed my theories of design, materials and construction and deepened my respect for the ability of the ancient smiths.

I have also been actively lecturing and demonstrating at a variety of seminars which has exposed me to many excellent craftsmen, martial artists and edged weapon scholars.  Between the seminars and trips to museums and private collections from around the world I have examined and handled some of the finest examples of the bladesmith’s art ever produced." -Dan Maragni

 

 

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