[MatthewVanitas]

This is awesometastic:

http://www.palacio.ph/pandayan/4sale/mini_c.jpg

Pandayan builds some amazing stuff, gets great word-of-mouth over on Bladeforums. This man will eventually get a good chunk of money out of me, once I'm back working full-time.

http://www.palacio.ph/pandayan/index.html

Dang this sabbatical!

[W.E.G.]

Why does that cause me to get a mental image of a chinese mugger-midget jumping out from behind a fire hydrant, and brandishing the mini-bali with acrobatic flourishes?

[markk]

Two...one in each hand.

[hso]

Cool stuff!

[modifiedbrowning]

awesometastic What???
I think you mean splendiforous.
Cool knife, though I'm not much of a Balisong fan.

[hexidismal]

Thats really neat. I've been practicing balisong knife (and martial arts/various form of knife fighting that use it) for almost 20 years now. I've seen tiny novelty ones before, but certainly none that appeared to be anywhere close to that quality. Thanks for posting. I'm going to try to get one :)

[4v50 Gary]

I'd love to get some Filipino's opinion of it. Some of those guys (and their women) are awesome with those knives.

There was this old dude who was mugged by three ne'er-do-wells in Bayview-Hunter's Point area of San Francisco. The elderly gentleman produced two of those knives and between his three opponents, slashed them 200 times collectively. Well, needless to say, the effusion of blood was quite profuse and the responding police officers were aghast at the sight. Weapons drawn and pointed menacingly at him, they ordered him to drop the knives.

The elderly gentlemen submitted to arrest without incident and at trial, the District Attorney brought him up on charges of Attempted Murder. After all, there were 200 slashes on the three muggers and the volume of cuts were considered evidence of the defendant's bloodlust. Well, the Public Defender asked the court if a demonstration was allowed. The purpose was to show how much control the defendant had of his knives and that he had no intent to kill. The court consented. A chicken was placed on a stick and the defendant given his knives. He opened them with the quick wrist flicking manner for which Filipinos are famous and with lightning quick slashes and deft manuevering that seemed unbecoming for one so old, proceeded to fillet that chicken before the court. Everyone was convinced of the defendant's skill and that had the defendant wanted to kill his muggers, he could have. Case dismissed.

[hexidismal]

I'd love to get some Filipino's opinion of it. Some of those guys (and their women) are awesome with those knives.

4v50 Gary, well.. as mentioned above, Ive practiced extensively in knife fighting including significant traditional Kali and Arnis training from Filipino practitioners (Mostly in my teen years). And I've taught it over the years occasionally to people willing to learn. That being said, I don't think I could wield that little thing very effectively .. hehe
It's cool and fun looking, but I'm not sure that any traditional balisong techniques would really be applicable at all.

[hso]

I'd be willing to bet an FMA practioner would consider them novelties instead of practical knives in a fight. Keep in mind that a full grip on a knife in a fight is pretty important.;)

[MatthewVanitas]

I'd love to get some Filipino's opinion of it.

Ang Pandayan is, himself, Filipino.


I'd be willing to bet an FMA practioner would consider them novelties instead of practical knives in a fight.

Certainly! These appear to be Ang's equivalent of a "gentleman folder". Tiny little balis meant to fit in a watchpocket and open parcels, etc. He's explained online that such is the reason for the wharncliff/sailor (tipless) profile offered: that it looks extra non-menacing in a work environment. A tiny blade that can't poke = novel utility.


I'm no bali expert, but I did like the FMA wisdom that gets cited on BladeForums: "If a Filipino guy threatens you by whipping out his bali tricks, he's a poser. If he takes it out, carefully opens it with both hands, and snugly locks the latch in place, he's all business."

[hexidismal]

I'm no bali expert, but I did like the FMA wisdom that gets cited on BladeForums: "If a Filipino guy threatens you by whipping out his bali tricks, he's a poser. If he takes it out, carefully opens it with both hands, and snugly locks the latch in place, he's all business."

Well, I partly agree with you... I would, and I assure you all ego aside, consider myself at expert level of balisong training. Perhaps not master , but expert.. yes. And I have drawn the knife in certain PRE-self-defense situations in my lifetime with fancy flourishes. You might ask, Why ? Well, because in certain specific situations (mind you, I'm talking about when I was somewhat younger) I was well aware that a potential attacker was more words than action, but would not have otherwise backed down in front of others, and sometimes this potential threat had already drawn a knife. Mind you I'm talking about way back in my past, sometimes around some rough characters. The .., lets call it extreme trained flourish draw, say passing the handles and blade between the knuckles and such while maintaining a good distance from a threat, was at those times a huge deterrent to the potential threats by showing a very high level of obviously trained control over the knife. if I REALLY thought I was in danger , then of course I would never do it. BUT.. when I just wanted to make a statement of "Hands off, I'm not to be played with" (again keep in mind I was younger) to a large group of people, the fancy stuff did the job quite well. You have to keep in mind that the average 'thug' is not well read on bladeforums.com.. hehe

EDIT: By the way, the reason I repeatedly stressed being younger, was that I wanted to make it clear that nowadays not only would I never carry a balisong knife due to legal restrictions, but also that now if I didn't perceive a threat as immediate I would evacuate the area. Whereas in the past, I had a had a lot to prove to build a reputation as someone whose skills were not to be taken lightly. You can say that was wrong, but quite frankly it served me quite well at the time.

Oh, and BTW.. the best FMA trainer I ever worked with alot .. carried a .45 auto. :)

[Mandirigma]

I've been meaning to get myself a black pearl, as shown in Pandayans jewelery side, so naturally I asked about the offer of the free bali that comes with it. Was pondering because the offer was back in March.

Yes, I could still give you a free pandayan when you buy a round pearl.If you decided to purchase I could send you a link to view the mini pandayan balisongs that you could choose from.

Didn't really expect it, but figured it couldn't hurt to ask. So I went ahead and ordered one of the pearls and hopefully will get either this (http://www.palacio.ph/pandayan/4sale/PBS-56.jpg) or that (http://www.palacio.ph/pandayan/4sale/PBS-43.jpg)

I'm not sure exactly what the spec's on these will be, most likely larger than the Tarsier series. But with a blade of 1 1/2" I know that its enough blade to get a soft targets.

"If a Filipino guy threatens you by whipping out his bali tricks, he's a poser. If he takes it out, carefully opens it with both hands, and snugly locks the latch in place, he's all business."

Scarier is the bali you heard open but still have no idea which hand he's got it in. Granted, this isn't my skill level, but it was for those I trained under.

[mp510]

Not cheap either. Almost $200 and not importable into the US.

[Mandirigma]

and not importable into the US.

how come?

[mp510]

how come?

Balisongs are non-importable. Spyderco got in trouble for their Spyderfly and Szabofly.
http://www.spyderco.com/news/news.php

[horge]

I'm no bali expert, but I did like the FMA wisdom that gets cited on BladeForums: "If a Filipino guy threatens you by whipping out his bali tricks, he's a poser. If he takes it out, carefully opens it with both hands, and snugly locks the latch in place, he's all business."

Hey, I posted that bit of "wisdom" right here, back in 2004!:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=83954

And no, I wasn't quoting anyone else. :)
It's really just a general adage in the Southern Tagalog region.

As for the very pretty balisong in the OP...
Very nice! Stuff very much like that's been around (here)
for quite a number of years now.

There are even smaller ones available :)
About 2 1/2 inches long when deployed, blade very sharp and pointy.
Almost stilleto like, even. aluminum handles. They cost roughly 2 US dollars each,
and are really meant as a 'gag' gift, ("pang-kiliti lang 'yan"*, the vendors say)
but I know guys who play darts with them, for laughs, but very, very well.
:)

horge



*"Only good for tickling (an opponent)".

[MatthewVanitas]

There are even smaller ones available
About 2 1/2 inches long when deployed, blade very sharp and pointy.
Almost stilleto like, even. aluminum handles. They cost roughly 2 US dollars each,

Horge, do you have any pics of such knives? Those sound most cool.

I've seen (on display at SMKW) very similar little knives, German-made and sold to U.S. fishermen in the middle of the century. Really pretty little things!

There's a French cat on BladeForums named Cardoso, who builds some amazing mini-balis. I might ask him if I can post a few of his pics up here.

[CZ.22]

Tiniest and cutest Balisong (butterfly-knife) yet seen...

Buttefly knives are two knives housed in the same sheath to make it look like one knife.

[hexidismal]

MatthewVanitas, I think I have a novelty tiny balisong somewhere around here. Sounds like what horge is talking about. I'll see if I can find it and take a pic... could be anywhere though. It's not of any quality by any means, and meant more as a keychain trinket type item.

EDIT: No need to find mine, I found someone elses pic. Its exactly like this one.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j110/hexidismal29/MINI-BALISONG.jpg

[MatthewVanitas]

@hexidismal: got any good US source for those little beauties?

[hexidismal]

not exactly the same, but I did find these searching around just now.
Look at the very bottom of the page.
http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/new_knives/butterfly_knives/butterfly.htm

[horge]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j110/hexidismal29/MINI-BALISONG.jpg
Very handsome "bali-ticklers", hex! :)
Just need to go down in size a little bit more...


and the ones with cheap aluminum handles are better for "darts" :)
Light handles really keep center of gravity blade-side, so it stikks the dartboard, hehe..
(thrown like throwing knives, blade held twixt thumb and pointer.)
They are really just a novelty item, so they won't last long abused like that.

Just a silly game that pops up now and then, after several beers.

[CountGlockula]

That is cute, but I bet you can barely use any of the flinging techniques with them, compared to the regular full sized balisongs.

Man, I still have mine back in my parents' place in LA. Back in the 80's, I called my grandfather, who at the time was in the Motherland, to hook me up with one. When he came to visit me in CA, he brought it along with him...kept it in his pocket during the whole plane ride! Man, times have changed. I've learned a lot of techniques with it. But now it's in a sorry condition, since I didn't keep it well lubricated. I think I'm going to grab it and get it restored.

I'm also checking into some Filipino martial arts such as Sikaran Arnis in my area. Great topic to open more doors to the subject.