Folts Alan

Alan Folts is an American knifemaker, creator of custom folders and fixed knives, knife designer for brands with significant serial production.

Alan Folts grew up in a family of workers. As a child he often visited the farm of his grandfather who was a carpenter and also knew how to work with different metals.

At the age of 8 young Alan started helping his grandfather around the farm, including assistance in the studio where grandfather was particularly good at work. Besides repairs, older Folts crafted his own tools and useful things. Alan was especially enjoying assisting his grandparent with making knives. Those knives had little to do with high-knifemaking but were very functional. Alan’s grandfather mostly produced kitchen knives and machete-like farm-fixed knives.

Having gained decent experience on the farm, 11-years-old Alan was admitted to his father’s garage (under “studio’s boss” supervision though). Here the boy could continue his training in taming metals. Having mastered the major part of locksmith’s skills, Alan Folts became eager to realize his artistic potential. He switched to accessory making when he was 16. Dexterously working with a propane burner Alan was melting metal and making bronze and copper accessories.

Even at school, Folts understood that his great practical experience lacked knowledge. Having graduated high school he went to the Eastern Florida State College to dive deeper into the theory of craft. The young man tried many types of art but was particularly drawn by sculpture. While creating 3D objects Alan used both modeling and casting. During his college years, Folts got back to his childhood love – knifemaking. The knife he made in college was the best at the college exhibition and was awarded.

In 1995 Alan Folts moved from Melbourne to North Carolina. This land has many names including “tobacco state”, “turpentine state”, “tar state”. Since a long time ago North Carolina has been known as a patrimony of hard workers who had to earn money with their own hands. Knifemaking was among a long list of common crafts in this area. Shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Alan has professionally “flourished” on this fertile soil. First Alan joined the Custom Knifemakers Guild, then he left all other jobs to concentrate on knife crafting.  

Funny thing, sculpture and art admirers became famous for a fixed knife with minimalistic design. The author called that model Minimalist. Minimalist is a small neck knife with a very particular shape: the “belly” of its handle is mainly presented by a three fingers groove. The idea of a simple but memorable design made this model a timeless hit on the American market. Having sold the rights for serial production of Minimalist to Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) the author got decent financial stability.

After he had lived in other states, Alan Folts came back to his home state Florida and settled down on the Atlantic coast in Palm Bay. Master is actively blogging. He joyfully shares secrets of knifemaking with novice knifemakers. Many knives of the American authors were inspired by Alan’s works. 

The knifemaker recently has been more interested in crafting custom folders which he decorates with the author’s engraving. The artistic nature of the master is clearly manifested in a bronze Hieroglyph flipper handle of which is decorated with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. It would be an honor for any collection to have this custom in it.

If you are interested in Alan Folts’ work – please contact us. We will do our best to satisfy your demands.