All these Bali threads!?!?

[CDR_Glock]

Mayhem prototype.

[CDR_Glock]

VG10 Szabofly
No. 71/200

[CDR_Glock]

Circa 2000 BM 42.

[CDR_Glock]

I have nothing against starter knives but the quality of cheaper balisongs is suspect at best.

http://www.888knivesrus.com/c=6EYiEB...-5-CLOSED.html

The knife listed above will not be conducive to learning, in my opinion. If you drop a lower quality knife, which you will, then after a few times of that, the knife will break. I have dropped my Benchmade 42 on more than one occassion on my ceramic tile, the hospital's linoleum and other places - It's as tight as it was when I first got it. When you buy a cheap knife for $20-$40 and it breaks, then you have to pony up $100-$130 for a good quality knife, then you have spent nearly $150 to $180. Which is a better value? I have 16 Bali's but will likely sell 5 of them.

There are a few options if you're looking and money is tight, or you just don't want to drop a few hundred dollars per knife, like CDR Glock does every other day (Thanks to some Damn Bird, LOL).

One option is to get a trainer to see if you have the knack for it. If you don't, then nothing is lost.

Bradley Kimura Balisongs are very good for the money. New ones are only costing about $90. Some people have gotten lucky finding used ones for $60 and below. However, don't hold your breath. If something says Balisong on the secondary market, they WILL almost always sell within minutes of posting (unless you don't take Paypal, like someone I know - LOL!).

An underrated website for Bali's is Pinoy Steel. They sell handmade Balisongs from the town where the knives originated. From the photographs, they are well made. Being a Bali-Snob, I wasn't a fan at first until I saw more and more people buying them. The knives run from $99 to $130 (one exception is a $300 Kriss blade). I bought two from the guy and I asked him to snag me two more when he goes to the Philippines in two weeks. He has a lifetime warranty on the knives but the turnaround time can be long since he personally brings the knives to the islands for repair.

Then again, you can always buy one of mine...but they are not cheap. LOL!

[CDR_Glock]

Originally Posted by CDR_Glock

A Bali takes longer to open than a lot of the spring assist and automatic knives on the market.

I bought a Benchmade 42, new, but I never even used it. I can open a SOG faster than any butterfly. They are fancy knives but I don't care for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How ironic...

Some darn Gunfighter planted a seed that changed my opinion.

[mustang_steve]

I learned fine on a few cheap balis. IMO the best cheap bali to learn from is a Jaguar. They're built like tanks, also heavy as tanks, so be certain to dull the ever living hell out of the blade first (I actually ground the edge off mine until I was good enogh to not "bite" myself with it, then bought one with the edge intact). the extra heavy handles they have make a bite incident go from painful to really stinkin bad (it basically hammers the blade to the bone, thus why edge removal is highly reccomended).

[CDR_Glock]

Two FHMs, a BM 48, and 2 other imports are pending. 2 were not included since they are the same as what is shown.





The Mayhem and Dalton are the toughest for me to do Y2Ks.

[Gunfighter123]

LOVE the Dalton --- the rest ain't so shabby either

[CDR_Glock]

I love the Dalton's Blade. She is a beast of a knife.

[CDR_Glock]

Here's what came in the mail today;





Anodized 42 with sharpened swedge:









CALDWELL Meets Benchmade 42:







Caldwell Bali:









My collection:





There's a few that are still coming: a WWII FHM, a 1960s FHM, another 1960s FHM, a Blue Mayhem, a BM 51 (in black), and a Pinoysteel FHM 29 cm Kamagong Spearpoint.

The FHM trainer for my daughter with a 24 cm total length, brass and kamagong is awesome. Great workmanship from Jay and his Pinoysteel Staff!

[Gunfighter123]

Looks like you may have spent a few dollars there

[hso]

Brother, but you got the bug baaaaad!

Nice collection!

[CDR_Glock]

Check out www.pinoysteel.com

He has nice knives. I am getting at least 3 knives if not 4.

Brass bali
Kriss
Gold plated

[CDR_Glock]

My mail today!

[CDR_Glock]

This one is coming from Sweden:







I can't wait to get it.

It has a Titanium handle and blade.

The Roton Double Edge is coming today. I cannot wait for it to sink into my fingers!!!

EDIT:

It is here. Roton double edge




Close up of the Cold Steel AA wide point





Blue Mayhem Serrated





FHM29 Spearpoint



Balisong USA 3" blade



Comparing Caldwell to a 29 FHM

[CDR_Glock]

Originally Posted by CDR_Glock

A Bali takes longer to open than a lot of the spring assist and automatic knives on the market.

I bought a Benchmade 42, new, but I never even used it. I can open a SOG faster than any butterfly. They are fancy knives but I don't care for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What I meant to say was that I don't care for them as EVery day carry.

Now, I carry at least one balisong! ha ha ha ha!

[CDR_Glock]

Originally Posted by proud2deviate

Go on and drool

No need to drool. I have one of those, now. LOL!

[CDR_Glock]

Originally Posted by Gunfighter123

I don't know why anyone would think that a Bali is not a strong lock up --- right around 1980 , I seen a vid of Jody Sampson , when he was doing blades for PCC/BM , take a bowie blade Bali and punch it thru a 55 gal drum. The 3 point lock DID NOT break and he then stabbed it thru the drum another 3 or 4 times with NO damage to the knife.

As far as Balis being "slower" to open --- just had to laught at that !!! I will bet $50 that I can "dagger drop" a Bali FROM A SNAPPED SHUT SHEATH as fast or faster then most can with almost any other knife FROM A CLOSED SHEATH.

Add the fact that a well made Bali can be used as a "flail/nunchuk" --- something almost NO OTHER knife can be used for. And there are AT LEAST 10-100 ways of opening it !!!

IMHO ---- YES , there is a STEEP learning curve with a good Bali ---- but once mastered , very few folding knifes can equal it.

ANYONE can open a assisted knife ----- it takes SKILL to learn to use a Bali. Just like with firearms , ANYONE can shoot a gun ---- the people that MASTER a firearm are in a different class.

After nearly 120 hours, 26 cuts and 30 balisong knives later, I see what you mean ! ROTFL!

Thanks for the addiction!

[CDR_Glock]

Originally Posted by Gunfighter123

Exactly ---- ------ if I had WANTED TO CUT the guy , that is how I'd have done it. The whole thing was to get him to back off without me cutting/stabbing him.



Apples to apples == I could attach a Bali to a chain and say it is as good or better then the SAK as a flail.



Nor does anyone use "aerials" , flip a bali over your shoulder , behind your back etc. etc. in a fight. These are "tricks" and used for amusment or to perfect skills in doing such. And the same can be said for ANY fixed blade --- I've seen some IMPRESSIVE twirling , juggling etc. with a fixed blade ----- NEVER seen one used like that in a fight.


My whole point still being ----- a Bali WITHOUT a chain etc. ---- CAN BE USED as I posted in my replies.


EDIT ----- the old FHM balis were a lot larger then those of today. The "29s" were 29 cent.met. long or about six inches closed. I also have a few FHM balis that are over one foot long closed. The longer ,heavier , bigger Balis will have much more "impact" then todays standard 4" Balis do.

I have a modern day FHM 29:



I don't like the 24 cm as much. They are too wimpy feeling. Not as effective in a knife fight. I prefer 5" knives at least. Hence my 6" Master Tanto:

[CDR_Glock]

Originally Posted by jahwarrior

BM did make a kriss bladed bali, years ago:

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchma...Titanium--4845
http://www.gettier.org/knifepics/bm_49-04.jpg
http://www.balisongcollector.com/for...G/saleG29L.jpg


good luck getting your hands on one, though.

I can get my hands on one but I don't know if I want to part with $1600. That's decent 1911 money.

[CDR_Glock]

I just bought the most expensive Balisong for my collection:



Les Voorhies Damascus with titanium liners, carbon fiber overlay.

It was a pretty stack of Benjamins!

[jahwarrior]

that knife deserves bigger pics!

[CDR_Glock]

You can see why I am so nervous to flip this. It is unforgiving. She is tall and heavy. Like XENA.

I never cut with it, or any Balis for that matter. I never sharpened her, either.

This is for Da Byrds.
ROTFL

[JFtheGR8]

I sold my Pacific cutlery PC10 a few months ago. I bought it in '84 for $70 and sold it for more than triple that. I probably could have gotten a little more if I would have waited until after Kick A$$ came out in the theaters. It was bittersweet in that it helped me buy my Springfield XD45 and some ammo for it. I will miss that knife.

[CDR_Glock]

Originally Posted by JFtheGR8

I sold my Pacific cutlery PC10 a few months ago. I bought it in '84 for $70 and sold it for more than triple that. I probably could have gotten a little more if I would have waited until after Kick A$$ came out in the theaters. It was bittersweet in that it helped me buy my Springfield XD45 and some ammo for it. I will miss that knife.

I just got the BM 30. My PC 10 is coming in the mail. These little balis are more fun than the newer ones out. The extra weight in a little Bali is easier to do rollovers.