About Brian Fellhoelter
I am a folder maker. While there will always be the occasional fixed blade, folders are my passion. The steels I enjoy working with include CPM154, ATS-34, 440C, S30V, and Stainless Damascus from Devin Thomas. All of the metal parts on my knives that can be Titanium are Titanium including frames, liners, thumbstuds, bolsters, clips and spacers. Pretty much everything except for the blade. I often anodize a substantial portion of my titanium, and can get a deep green that few makers succeed at. As far as handle materials go, I mostly use Carbon fiber, G10, or Micarta. I use large bronze pivot bushings in all of my folders, and either Nylatron or Bronze washers. All of my parts are made in-house except the screws. I have an old Bridgeport Mill, an older Logan Lathe (1943), a Hardcore grinder, and various other tools, lots of them made by myself. I also do all of my own Heat treating in an EvenHeat Oven.
I’ve wanted to make knives since I was a kid, and have been collecting materials for knifemaking for a long time now. I’ve had a knife in my pocket pretty much every day since I was 10 and I got a Swiss Army Knife for Christmas. When I was 13 I received a Buck 110 for my birthday and it was that day that I knew I would one day make a knife. I’ve always wanted to make the knife I carry, so that’s what motivated me to start up.
For my birthday in August of ’05, I received Bob Terzuolas book. That was it; I got to planning my 1st knife. I built that knife the week of Christmas of ’05 while the machine shop I worked in was shut down for maintenance. It is a Titanium Bolstered, Titanium Liner Locking folder. Then, right after New Year ’06, I was laid off. I ended up at a meeting of the Southern California Blades knife collecting club and decided to ask some knife nuts what they thought of my 1st knife. There was so much interest in it, I decided to make some more. At this point, I figured I needed some motivation, so I bought myself a table at their Pasadena Show in February, just 2 months after finishing my 1st knife.
Under the unreasonable pressure I had put on myself, I managed to make a few more folders in time for the show, and sold them there. Within 2 months of making my 1st knife, I was selling them! What a thrill that was. A couple of months later, I was offered a table at the Blade Show in Atlanta, and to my surprise, I sold knives there too. Then, just 9 months after making my 1st knife, I set up at the BAKCA show in Palo Alto, California where I won Best New Maker. (My 1st Award!) I also unveiled my 1st Automatic Knife there. All in all, Palo Alto was a very good show for me.
I made 13 folding knives before I ever made a fixed blade, and to this date, I’ve made far more folders than fixed blades. Since I carry folders far more often than fixed blades, that is where my passion is. I do have some fixed blade designs such as my Chatham fighter that I am making for some of our fine Soldiers stationed in Iraq. And because I spent 5 years as a Professional Whitewater Rafting Guide on the Kern River here in California, I am in the process of making a better Guide Knife. There just isn’t anything out there that most guides like. I think I may be able to fix that.
I apprenticed as a Toolmaker, and have spent the majority of the last 20 years doing that. Minus the 5 Springs, and Summers I spent guiding of course.
One of the things I enjoy most about making knives is creating something with my hands that will end up being used in your hands. I derive great pleasure from creating tools for others (and myself) to use. Also, the camaraderie of the knifemaking community is just a wonderful thing. I know of no other industry where competitors will so willingly share knowledge and information with each other.
Eligibility Prize winners must be U.S. residents at least 18 years of age who have made one or more qualifying contribution of at least $20 each to Knife Rights, Inc. (“KR”) during the eligibility period or who have submitted an entry in accordance with the published rules. Winners of firearms, suppressors or knives must not be prohibited from owning or possessing them under applicable laws. 
Return to Donation Form Rules Offer void where prohibited. No more than two (2) prizes will be awarded to any one person in each of the Early Bird Bonus Drawing and Main Drawing. No more than one (1) prize will be awarded to any one person in the Tail End Drawing, if held. A Tail End Drawing is not guaranteed to be held. You can donate as often as you like, but each donation is separate and independent from previous donations and will only entitle you to the number of entries specified at the donation level you have selected at the time of each donation. Each donation must include full name, donation amount, address and phone number to be valid. Winners need not be physically present at the drawing to win. Firearms and suppressors will not be shipped directly to winners, but rather to Federal Firearms Licensees (“FFLs”) specified by winners (or selected by KR or Hill Country Class 3 LLC d.b.a. Silencer Shop (Silencer Shop), in KR’s and Silencer Shop’s sole discretion). Winners can only take possession of firearms and suppressors from the FFLs. Optional suppressor included with some firearms prizes can be excluded if the winner is ineligible for any reason or prefers not to become subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act (NFA). Current wait times for NFA transfers conducted by the BATFE are nine to twelve months and could be longer. KR is not responsible for tracking such wait times. Winner is responsible for compliance with the NFA and all state and local laws governing the possession of NFA items in the winner’s jurisdiction. Neither KR, nor KR Affiliates (as defined below), nor their successors or assigns, nor the supplier of the suppressor prize, are responsible for failure to complete delivery of such prize for any reason, including without limitation the prize winner’s failure to comply with any legal requirements. Declining to accept a suppressor prize, or failure to satisfy the legal requirements for a firearms or suppressor prize selected, forfeits any claim to that firearm or suppressor prize and no replacement, alternative prize, or cash equivalent will be provided. Automatic knives will not be shipped directly to winners unless a legal recipient under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1241-1245 and 18 U.S.C. § 1716(g), but rather to an authorized dealer in eligible winner’s state from which winner can claim prize. Some prizes are subject to additional limitations that are included in prize description. Claim to prizes is not transferrable with the exception that delivery of a suppressor prize can be received by a trust of which the winner is a responsible person qualified to receive an NFA item. The odds of winning vary based on the number of donations and amounts donated. Winners will be drawn on or after August 1, 2018, for the Main Drawing. Early Bird winners will be drawn on or after May 15, 2018. If held, Tail End Drawing winners will be drawn on or after August 1, 2018, immediately prior to the Main Drawing. A minimum of the first 75 winners drawn in both the Early Bird and Main Drawings, and the first 5 winners in the Tail End Drawing, if held, will have first choice of prizes available after any prior winner(s) have selected, in the order in which such winners were drawn (“Winner’s Choice”). At KR’s option, additional Winner’s Choice prizes may be awarded. Accordingly, the final posting of winners may take up to 180 days post drawing. Winners must comply with all applicable legal requirements prior to taking possession of firearms, suppressors or knives. Winners are solely responsible for determination of legality. If for any reason winners cannot comply, prizes will be held for 30 days and then will be forfeited and returned to KR. 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If payment of any donation is rejected, denied, returned for insufficient funds, refunded for any reason or otherwise not made, and the responsible party does not subsequently make full payment plus processing fees of $25.00 that clears no later than 7 (seven) days prior to drawing, the entries related to that donation will be removed from the drawing. Winners of “Early Bird” prizes are eligible for (and their winning entry will be automatically entered in) the Main Drawing. If held, winners of “Tail End” prizes are eligible for (and their winning entry will be automatically entered in) the Main Drawing. Once an individual winner has been selected as a prize winner in the Main Drawing, that winning entry is removed from subsequent drawings. There is no cash substitution for any prizes. Winners Choice winners will be notified using the contact information supplied and informed how to claim prizes. 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Check with your tax professional for additional information.
