I just decided that I want to learn how to flip a bali-song but I don't yet have a bali-song and know next to nothing about what is out there on the market. Anyone got any recommendations for what bali-song I should buy. I watched a few reviews and I thought the Benchmade 42 looked cool but when I looked it up it sadly seems to have been discontinued. The Benchmade 53 doesn't look as cool. What else should I be looking into?
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Bali-song Recommendations
- Thread starter ben317
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2006
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- 1,155
Check out the kimura series from bradley cutlery. I have a Kimura 1 and I love it. It flips well even for a novice like me.
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2010
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- 2,846
ok first Bali-song is a trade mark name from benchmade. theres no dash if your speaking about balis in general, also if you want more bali info see if you can get a mod to move this to the bali subforum
now prices and available decent balis
$20-40 - (Jaguars, bear and Sons, Mtech Twist) the twist is currently being redone so they are kinda rare at this point, but in general this section isnt that great, there will be lots of blade play and the blades are generally speaking pot metal
80-100 - (Kimura series, FHM, The Fiend) the kimis are good but decently weighted balis so if you like the heavy stuff you like them, filipino handmades are good check out Jay at Pinoysteel.com or Armand at balisong.com. both have good deals, theres no real production FHM's so its like a custom on the cheap. then there is a maker called Nathan Dewey here who makes one called the Fiend, also a custom and as such there is a waiting list but its a great flipper
175++ (BM, Bradley Meyhem, custome) Here you have the 4x series from benchmade the standard flipper as it were, all discontinued and very expencive but phenominal flippers, now they have lightweight balis the 32, 51 and 53 dont get the 53 unless you want to mod the handles to add more weight. its more of a user then a flipper, the Meyhem is similar but with the TI handles it balances out more so its a decent flipper but the curved handled do not lend well to flipping. and finally customs which i dont think youll want to get into until you have a decent knowledge of the sport.
now these are the general catagories people look at for a quality flipper, there are some i didnt put in because of rarity and availablilty. but in truth balis dont have 1000th of the selection folders and fixed blades have so these are the catagories to look into, if you want to create something thats inbetween more power to you. hope you enjoy
-Brets-ftw
now prices and available decent balis
$20-40 - (Jaguars, bear and Sons, Mtech Twist) the twist is currently being redone so they are kinda rare at this point, but in general this section isnt that great, there will be lots of blade play and the blades are generally speaking pot metal
80-100 - (Kimura series, FHM, The Fiend) the kimis are good but decently weighted balis so if you like the heavy stuff you like them, filipino handmades are good check out Jay at Pinoysteel.com or Armand at balisong.com. both have good deals, theres no real production FHM's so its like a custom on the cheap. then there is a maker called Nathan Dewey here who makes one called the Fiend, also a custom and as such there is a waiting list but its a great flipper
175++ (BM, Bradley Meyhem, custome) Here you have the 4x series from benchmade the standard flipper as it were, all discontinued and very expencive but phenominal flippers, now they have lightweight balis the 32, 51 and 53 dont get the 53 unless you want to mod the handles to add more weight. its more of a user then a flipper, the Meyhem is similar but with the TI handles it balances out more so its a decent flipper but the curved handled do not lend well to flipping. and finally customs which i dont think youll want to get into until you have a decent knowledge of the sport.
now these are the general catagories people look at for a quality flipper, there are some i didnt put in because of rarity and availablilty. but in truth balis dont have 1000th of the selection folders and fixed blades have so these are the catagories to look into, if you want to create something thats inbetween more power to you. hope you enjoy
-Brets-ftw
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2010
- Messages
- 970
I had a 53 and loved it, but it was designed with use in mind, not flipping. I ended up gifting it to a friend after a couple months of hard use... great knife. Lock will never fail, the shape lends itself wonderfully to hard use. Lots of belly with a ffg and benchmade's pretty good d2. Can't go wrong with one if you intend to edc
The friend I gave it to has a 42 and a mayhem, and while he said they flipped very well and were fun, they were practically useless for any kind of chore. He hasn't complained about the 53's flipping ability, though that may just be him being polite, but did comment that I never exaggerated its usefulness
The friend I gave it to has a 42 and a mayhem, and while he said they flipped very well and were fun, they were practically useless for any kind of chore. He hasn't complained about the 53's flipping ability, though that may just be him being polite, but did comment that I never exaggerated its usefulness
Personally I have a bradley kimura ($80) and an mtech twist ($40) and I like the both. For a begginer definetly go with the mtech twist because it's cheap and it's well made. With a cheaper balisong like the twist when you are attempting tricks it won't matter if you drop the knife (I know I did...a lot) So its quality for a decent price. If you are willing to shell out the 80 bucks the kimura is a fantastic option that is great quality. I've never handled a bm model 42 before or some of the really high quality butterflys, but the kimura is a lot of knife for the money.
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2001
- Messages
- 4,608
Or .. you can get a kit from knifekits .. it resembles typhoon.
I used to have 11 balisongs, various brands from 1980s. Recently bought a copy of typhoon, CCC (Cheap Chinese Crap) but for the simulation of flippability (spelling?) it is quite good. So I guess the one from knifekits will be ok.
Not sure if spyderfly still available, flipped one at a shop (smaller model) and it's ok too.
I used to have 11 balisongs, various brands from 1980s. Recently bought a copy of typhoon, CCC (Cheap Chinese Crap) but for the simulation of flippability (spelling?) it is quite good. So I guess the one from knifekits will be ok.
Not sure if spyderfly still available, flipped one at a shop (smaller model) and it's ok too.