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.
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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.
Rules:
Offer void where prohibited. Donations to Knife Rights, Inc. are not tax deductible charitable contributions. No more than one (1) prize 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, shipping address and phone number (cell phone strongly recommended) to be valid. Email is not required, but strongly recommended. 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 limitation(s) that is/are included in prize description and by selection of such a prize the winner automatically accepts and is bound by the stated limitation(s) and rules regarding selection and delivery as if the limitation(s) was/were included herein. Claim to prizes is not transferable 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 15, 2022, for the Main Drawing. Early Bird winners will be drawn on or after June 15, 2022. If held, Tail End Drawing winners will be drawn on or after August 15, 2022, immediately prior to the Main Drawing. The closing date of the Main and Tail End Drawings may be extended due to exigencies resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic as necessary. Winners drawn 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”). 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. Winners of firearms are responsible for shipping charges ($40 Pistol Caliber Pistols / $70 Rifle Caliber Pistols and Long Guns), transfer fees to FFLs and any other applicable fees and may be required to prepay such expenses by valid credit card or other method to be determined in KR’s sole discretion. NFA prizes will be transferred via the “Powered By Silencer Shop” dealer network. Winner will not incur any additional charges unless exceptions are made. Exceptions include but are not limited to: changing SOT dealers after paperwork is filed, changing registration type, facilitating a dealer outside of the “Powered By Silencer Shop” dealer network. In most cases, Silencer Shop will handle the transfer from start to user receipt and will require contact with the winner to insure registration information is valid and complete. If communication cannot be facilitated between Silencer Shop and the winner, NFA Prizes will be held for 30 days before return transfer to the manufacturer is initiated.
All prizes other than firearms will be shipped at KR’s expense via a shipping method of KR’s choice, signature required at KR’s option, to the addresses provided by winners, insured. If winner declines KR’s signature required delivery, they accept all risk for non-delivery regardless of cause. If delivery is not completed on original shipment, regardless of fault, winner is responsible for any redelivery charges. Winners are hereby warned not to sign for delivery without the package in hand and undamaged. Winners who do not respond to a delivery notice, regardless of reason, are responsible for any redelivery charges. Winners of prizes after the Winner’s Choice prizes are selected will be sent their prizes without prior notification to the address provided. It is donor’s responsibility to notify KR of any change in address.
KR is not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen or undelivered prizes, regardless of cause, and winners agree to look solely to insurance carried by KR or included by shipper with regard to same. KR is not responsible for reimbursement of any insurance deductible, which may be in an amount of up to $500. Risk of loss or damage is solely with winners.
KR will attempt to notify all Winner’s Choice winners using the contact information supplied. It is donor’s responsibility to notify KR of any change in contact information. Any prize not claimed by a Winner’s Choice winner within 48 hours from KR’s first attempt to notify the winner will be forfeited and all other winners drawn will move up one place in priority. If a Winner’s Choice winner that does not respond within the 48 hours later contacts KR, they will be offered the choice of prizes then currently available if within the Winner’s Choice draws, if any, after the current notified winner selects a prize. Otherwise, prize will be forfeit. All entries and donations are non-refundable and will become the sole property of KR once submitted. Acceptance of a prize constitutes winners’ permission for KR to use winner’s name and likeness for KR promotional purposes without additional consideration.
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 $50.00 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. 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. Only those named as the entrant on a valid winning entry form are eligible to claim a prize, and such persons may be required to provide proof of identification acceptable to KR in KR’s sole discretion. KR shall not be liable for failure of notification arising from incorrect or illegible contact information supplied, or email or voice mail induced failures, or failure of entrants to respond to communications (or failure of KR to actually receive such responses regardless of cause) within 48 hours of KR’s first attempt to notify the winners. KR’s obligation is limited to making good faith efforts to notify winners. Once all winners are drawn and notified, names of winners (given name and surname initial.) will be posted at the Knife Rights Ultimate Steel web site: www.KnifeRights.org/UltimateSteel.
All prize winners are subject to applicable drawing procedures, restrictions, rules, directives, applicable laws and regulations, and are solely responsible for all applicable taxes, fees, assessments and charges relating to the prizes. Your participation in this fundraiser (including without limitation the act of submitting a donation and/or winning a prize) signifies and is conditioned upon your acknowledgement, agreement, covenant, representation and warranty to KR, based on good and valuable consideration, receipt of which you acknowledge, that (i) KR, its officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel, representatives and members, together with Silencer Shop and its officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel and representatives together with prize donors and their officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel and representatives (collectively, “KR Affiliates”) shall have no liability whatsoever in connection with this fundraiser, the prizes (or their acceptance, possession, use, or misuse), or anything arising out of or relating thereto; (ii) you waive and release any and all claims you may now or ever have against KR Affiliates; and (iii) you will not make any claims against KR affiliates and shall be estopped from so doing.
KR makes no claim regarding the actual value of any prize and is not responsible for the accuracy of any value estimate provided by prize donors or anyone else listed as “Retail Value” and a prize may not realize the Retail Value listed if sold by winner. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price are listed for production items which may be purchasable for a lower price. KR does not guarantee the accuracy of the prize descriptions published. Prizes are in as-is condition. KR makes no warranty as to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, suitability or condition of the prizes. Prizes donated by individuals may have been previously used. Prize may have been exhibited and may have been cosmetically damaged as a result. Firearm prizes may have been converted to non-firing condition for exhibition and back to firing condition and Winner should have a competent gunsmith inspect firearm to ensure it is safe for use upon receipt. Any repair required is the responsibility of the Winner. Firearms prize package accessories may have been mounted for display and then dismounted from the firearm and may have been cosmetically damaged as a result. Notice is hereby given that prizes incorporating Mammoth, Mastodon, or Fossil Walrus ivory, tooth or tusk (and/or other materials that may become prohibited or regulated) are prohibited by state law from being claimed by residents of some states, including but not limited to California, Hawaii, Illinois, New York and New Jersey.
Prizes subject to change without notice. Production prizes may be substituted with prizes of equal or greater value prior to prize selection. Some prizes were not received by KR prior to the start of the fundraiser and KR is not responsible for the failure of any prize donor to fulfill the obligation to deliver the prize by the drawing date.
A donation is not required to be entered in the drawing. To enter without making a financial donation, send a postcard with your name, phone number, email and shipping address to: Knife Rights 2022 Ultimate Steel, PO Box 657, Gilbert, AZ 85299. Your postcard must be received no later than June 15, 2022, for the Early Bird Drawing and August 15, 2022, for the Tail End Drawing, if held, and Main Drawing to be considered a valid entry. Only one postcard per person is allowed. KR is not responsible for undelivered or illegible postcards.
Knife Rights, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) exempt organization. Donations to Knife Rights, Inc. are not tax deductible charitable contributions. Check with your tax professional for additional information.
