At that time, I had no experience with the twin-handle whirling dervish blade.
I should have also invested in the butterfly knife trainer sitting next to Benchmade I bought.
The hubris of youth.
The balisong, or butterfly knife, is a common but often misunderstood tool. The author explains what the knife is and some of the benefits of the design. Photo: Michael Janich
Over the years, my attraction and appreciation of butterfly knives has grown.
I also wised up and bought a Boker Trainer.
But why the continued seduction by balisongs/butterfly knives?
Unlike other folding knife designs, the balisong does not require any springs or lock mechanism. When closed, the blade is concealed within grooves in the handles.
Arent they hard to use?
Arent they easy to cut yourself with?
What Is a Balisong?
This is a Boker training balisong owned by the author. He added it to his collection once he wised up with age.
The origin of the balisong-pop in knives is debated.
Balisong literally means broken horn, because the traditional handles were made from animal horn.
The European claim is backed up by actual drawings, and inclusion in cutlery catalogs from the period.
The butterfly that started it all for the author — the Benchmade Balisong Model #259.
Regardless of origin, the balisong/butterfly appearance in the U.S. is attributed to the Philippine connection.
I stress the importance of verifying your local areas legal stance on the balisong.
No need to get legally hemmed up over carrying one, no matter how cool they are.
The first step to opening a butterfly knife is to release the latch that holds the handles together over the blade. Photo: Michael Janich
Michael pointed out that the balisong is a basic design with two handles rotating around a tang.
Although they look complicated, they are less complicated to manufacture than you might think.
So, its possible to make one without sophisticated tooling.
Opening a butterfly knife is a fun thing to watch and learn. However, the author highly recommends using a blunt-edged training knife to learn the process. Photo: Michael Janich
When closed, the blade is concealed within grooves in the handles i.e., like a basic folding pocketknife.
Measuring by length of blade, a balisong will be significantly lighter than a comparably sized typical folding knife.
An early nickname for balisongs was click-click knives due to the sound made from the handles when flipping/fanning.
In this photo, knife expert Michael Janich shows his method of opening a balisong knife. Photo: Michael Janich
Some will make a case against the balisong based on the level of manipulation required to open.
Any blade even a fixed blade requires training to be effective.
Do not fall prey to thinking equipment alone will suffice when it comes to personal defense.
Examples of butterfly knives include those in the author’s collection. Included are balisongs from Benchmade, Spyderco, Boker Tactical and Bear.
The SmallFly2 weighs only 3.4 ounces with an overall length of 7.5 and a closed length of 4.35.
The Bear OPS VIII Butterfly features a 4 Bowie-style 154CM blade with a taper-ground edge.
The handles are Cerakoted stainless steel.
Pivot bearings keep the knife shifting from open to closed.
The Kimura measures 5.25 closed to 9.5 open with a weight of 5.1 ounces.
The Bear OPS VIII is the more traditional-looking balisong of the two.
I purposely chose the SmallFly2 and Bear OPS balisongs to show the range of possible options.
It is important to realize that due to different dimensions and weights each balisong flips uniquely.
An end user should be aware of this.
Balisong blades offer different things to different people personal defense, discipline of mastering, utility, even entertainment.
Each of these makes balisongs well worthy of consideration.
