Many balisong/butterfly fans on THR?
- Thread starter MatthewVanitas
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Chipperman
Member
I have several. They are fun to play with, but for me they are toys. IMO folders are more practical for EDC.
JohnBT
Member
My father has a very well made handmade/homemade one he brought back from the Philippines at the end of WWII. The local he bought it from claimed the blade was made from a spring out of a Mercedes.
A gunsmith he knows collects them and has been trying to get it away from him for years.
I came close to losing a couple of fingers when I was a little kid.
John
A gunsmith he knows collects them and has been trying to get it away from him for years.
I came close to losing a couple of fingers when I was a little kid.
John
old balisong (or butterfly knife)
Many moons ago when I was a teenager, I found and bought a "butterfly" knife in a Dayton, OH pawn shop. According to the owner it was hand-made in the Phillipines during WW II from a truck axle and whatever animal horn and pearl-like material was at hand. It's definitely nothing like a modern bench-made, but was the pride and joy of my little blade collection, still is a nice piece of work. Has a nice piece of steel that can be sharpened easily. I also know of a good book on balisongs, "The Balisong Manual" by Jeff Imada, 1984 vintage. (ISBN 0-86568-102-3). Found the book at a local gun and knife show. Covers history and use of the knife. Imada claims they originated around 800 AD in the Tang dynasty then spread all over the world due to their unique looks and design... could be, I don't know I only read his book. Anyway here's a pic of my baby...
Many moons ago when I was a teenager, I found and bought a "butterfly" knife in a Dayton, OH pawn shop. According to the owner it was hand-made in the Phillipines during WW II from a truck axle and whatever animal horn and pearl-like material was at hand. It's definitely nothing like a modern bench-made, but was the pride and joy of my little blade collection, still is a nice piece of work. Has a nice piece of steel that can be sharpened easily. I also know of a good book on balisongs, "The Balisong Manual" by Jeff Imada, 1984 vintage. (ISBN 0-86568-102-3). Found the book at a local gun and knife show. Covers history and use of the knife. Imada claims they originated around 800 AD in the Tang dynasty then spread all over the world due to their unique looks and design... could be, I don't know I only read his book. Anyway here's a pic of my baby...
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horge
Member
'Warrior',
The pied-du-roi (king's-legs) knife was popular with French sailors at a
time when Spain was practically an annex of France: both countries were
ruled by the House of Bourbon (or Borbón), and Spain, as you no doubt know,
ruled much of the Philippines, including Guam and Palau.
However, the pied-du-roi uses a single pivot in its design, and doesn't
look like it could really flip very quickly --indeed the design seems to have
been chiefly applied to small manicuring knives. The balisong (bali-sung
or broken horn) is built for quick deployment.
I'd suspect Filipinos of the late 18th century began building adaptations of
the pied du roi, but geared towards use as a PDW, rather than a utility
blade. It's certainly much easier to build than a spring-loaded switchblade.
Some of the oldest folders preserved in Barrio Balisong reliably date back only
to the late 1800's.
Hey, better late than never.
horge
Mandirigma
Member
Salamat, Horge.
Thanks Horge!
Eleven Mike
Member
I had read somewhere they were patented in America but became very popular in the Philipines due to their simplicity and low production cost.
But I cannot cite the source.
But I cannot cite the source.
I like the Benchmades a lot. The customs from 29 Knives, & Dobruski are cool too, but the waiting to buy one is too long. They're not too hard to make. I've made a couple of them while in high school industrial atrs classes. All you need is a couple of old files for the blade, a belt sander, a drill press, & what ever scrap metal or wood for the handles. It is a fun project. There is something cool about making your own knife. I am thinking about revisiting that little hobby. Making knives for friends was fun.
I used to be a Corrections Officer & often found shanks. (Inmate-manufactured-weapons) I was often amazed at the craftsmanship that went into some of those weapons. Some were constructed in the confines of their cells honned on the concrete floors. Some were razor-sharp! I even encountered a inmate made balisong. Go figure...
I used to be a Corrections Officer & often found shanks. (Inmate-manufactured-weapons) I was often amazed at the craftsmanship that went into some of those weapons. Some were constructed in the confines of their cells honned on the concrete floors. Some were razor-sharp! I even encountered a inmate made balisong. Go figure...
Skofnung
Member
I always thought they looked cool (child of the 80's that I am) but I've never found one that felt right in my hand
pinhead56, that is a very neat looking piece you have there!
pinhead56, that is a very neat looking piece you have there!
OP
OP
MatthewVanitas
Member
Just bought a Benchmade Trainer, so I can actually take it and fiddle with it outside of my own house. Eagerly awaiting the package in the mail.
Been pondering whether one can get some neat custom pieces made by a decent knifesmith overseas next time I wander somewhere.
Oi, JShirley, do you think that any of those Khyber Pass boys could be convinced to make some decent-quality and innovative balis for some greenbacks? Take 'em a few photos of odd custom pieces, a bunch of phospor-bronze washers and torx-screws, see what they can do perhaps...
-MV
Been pondering whether one can get some neat custom pieces made by a decent knifesmith overseas next time I wander somewhere.
Oi, JShirley, do you think that any of those Khyber Pass boys could be convinced to make some decent-quality and innovative balis for some greenbacks? Take 'em a few photos of odd custom pieces, a bunch of phospor-bronze washers and torx-screws, see what they can do perhaps...
-MV
steeltiger
Member
I know its not realy related but cs has the tripple action, there not as durable due to the use of aluminum handles, but there legal most places, just as flashey, and much easier to operate. Dont start flicking it about first off though you will have to memerize the knife's timing odd as it sounds. Oh and they come EXTREMELY sharp 
OP
OP
MatthewVanitas
Member
The Cold Steel Triple Action (around $70 online) is pretty cool, what they call a "Jacob's Ladder" knife.
You can do some tricks on them, which they show on the video on the CS website.
Kid at the UT Austin range has one, and likes it a lot for carry. Does tend to work itself loose though, so I'm bringing him my Torx set to tighten it up. The aluminum handles are a little cheesy too, but it's a pretty neat design overall.
http://www.coldsteel.com/tripleactions.html
-MV
You can do some tricks on them, which they show on the video on the CS website.
Kid at the UT Austin range has one, and likes it a lot for carry. Does tend to work itself loose though, so I'm bringing him my Torx set to tighten it up. The aluminum handles are a little cheesy too, but it's a pretty neat design overall.
http://www.coldsteel.com/tripleactions.html
-MV
horge
Member
Hi
Most 'inventions' are really adaptations, and even 'original' works do get
replicated independently in different locales. That said, it seems that the
balisong can be considered Filipino.
I'm not interested in who started something, as much as in who's trying
to finish it (an endless labor in vain, of course). The folks in Lemery have
been trying some pretty interesting things with magnets and snaplocks in
the handle ends, in recent years.
POINT OF INTEREST:
I've said it before, but most real knife fighters in the Batangas/Laguna area may tell you,
an opponent who does the flippy-whirly draw ...is still open to discussion.
However, when someone pulls out a balisong, and instead deploys it with both hands,
taking the time to firmly engage the handle-lock without ever taking eyes off you...
It's for keeps, and probably time to haul butt.
horge
Member
Hehehe...
That's why I said it was them "pro" knife-fighters that tell it.
As for gun-loving unfortunates like meself...
If I can bail, I will. If not, then I'm skinning my shooting iron,
and sending out my plumb regards.
That's why I said it was them "pro" knife-fighters that tell it.
As for gun-loving unfortunates like meself...
If I can bail, I will. If not, then I'm skinning my shooting iron,
and sending out my plumb regards.
OP
OP
MatthewVanitas
Member
Been messing around with the trainer version for a bit, since I can take it places where the sharp version might be unpopular. This critter is a ton of fun!
Just learning some basic tricks, but it's really soothing to play around with. You can only fondle a fixed-blade knife for so long without being creepy, but you can juggle a balisong for an hour *grin*
Still muddling out whether I'll get re-activated, or whether to volunteer to go to Afghanistan if I certain more boring options don't pan out. If I do, I'm thinking a balisong would be great fun for juggling when idle, conversation piece while working as an indigenous police trainer (my goal), or for dealing with those hardcore military tasks (HINT: when I look at blade profiles for military carry, my first question is: how well does it open MRE boxes?)
Again, not saying that a balisong is an immediately practical choice, but it is by far the funnest type of knife I've ever fiddled with. I have one balisong on passaround here on THR (if a certain other member stops bogarting it *grin*), might dig around for one or two other cheap-but-solid balis to let loose on the public.
-MV
Just learning some basic tricks, but it's really soothing to play around with. You can only fondle a fixed-blade knife for so long without being creepy, but you can juggle a balisong for an hour *grin*
Still muddling out whether I'll get re-activated, or whether to volunteer to go to Afghanistan if I certain more boring options don't pan out. If I do, I'm thinking a balisong would be great fun for juggling when idle, conversation piece while working as an indigenous police trainer (my goal), or for dealing with those hardcore military tasks (HINT: when I look at blade profiles for military carry, my first question is: how well does it open MRE boxes?)
Again, not saying that a balisong is an immediately practical choice, but it is by far the funnest type of knife I've ever fiddled with. I have one balisong on passaround here on THR (if a certain other member stops bogarting it *grin*), might dig around for one or two other cheap-but-solid balis to let loose on the public.
-MV
dimasalang
Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
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- 6
Please, lets not debate about balisongs and single folders. Anyone will tell you the single folder is better for carrying and self defense. But the Balisong is way more fun to play with and IMO is just way cooler then any single folder.
Balis I bought from Taal, Batangas. FYI guys, you can only bring back 5 Balisongs from the Philippines. LOL Airport security saw all of mine, but I got lucky.
Balis I bought from Taal, Batangas. FYI guys, you can only bring back 5 Balisongs from the Philippines. LOL Airport security saw all of mine, but I got lucky.
dimasalang,
I'm glad you put that out there. I've been wondering if it was ok to bring them into the U.S. Seems like you scored. I've been wanting a batangas knife. I'll be traveling there shortly. I want a custom built bali to my specs. Can you recomend any good shops?
I'm glad you put that out there. I've been wondering if it was ok to bring them into the U.S. Seems like you scored. I've been wanting a batangas knife. I'll be traveling there shortly. I want a custom built bali to my specs. Can you recomend any good shops?
waytoofunky
Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2006
- Messages
- 28
Baryo Balisong
Baryo Balisong in Batangas has lots of roadside guys... there's a particular fellow on the right side of the road (from Manila) across a seamstress' shop (probably 1/2 mile from the church) that you can get you to customize knives. He made me a flipper from my specs from ball bearings about 2 years ago... I paid about $40... best money I ever spent!
P.S., I, too, slipped in through the inspections with about half a dozen cheapy balisongs with no questions through the SF airport. They are legal to own, just not legal to carry.
Baryo Balisong in Batangas has lots of roadside guys... there's a particular fellow on the right side of the road (from Manila) across a seamstress' shop (probably 1/2 mile from the church) that you can get you to customize knives. He made me a flipper from my specs from ball bearings about 2 years ago... I paid about $40... best money I ever spent!
P.S., I, too, slipped in through the inspections with about half a dozen cheapy balisongs with no questions through the SF airport. They are legal to own, just not legal to carry.
I like them. I have two Benchmades, one a large tanto from the "old days" and one a small titanium-handled one with a pocket clip that I bought from them at SHOT 3 or 4 years ago. I keep meaning to sell the larger one. I'll try to post pics of them later today.
ETA pic
ETA pic
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Sniper X
Member
I think they look nice.
"The balisong flippy dance thing always seemed pretty cheesy and ridiculous to me, probably with the association with crappy 80s action movies. I never saw the attraction to a knife that needed so much choreography to open with one hand. "
Me too though. Saw Big Trouble in Little China again a couple nights ago and when one of the "Kung Fu" guys was in about the 8th second of his little butterfly thing I thought to myself, I could have stabbed him in every one of his vitals by the time he gets this thing open!
"The balisong flippy dance thing always seemed pretty cheesy and ridiculous to me, probably with the association with crappy 80s action movies. I never saw the attraction to a knife that needed so much choreography to open with one hand. "
Me too though. Saw Big Trouble in Little China again a couple nights ago and when one of the "Kung Fu" guys was in about the 8th second of his little butterfly thing I thought to myself, I could have stabbed him in every one of his vitals by the time he gets this thing open!
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