Balisong strength

ghen

ghen

Joined
Dec 6, 2001
Messages
338
Hello all,

Has anyone ever done any testing to see how strong a particular make/model of balisong is?

Mr. Gollnick says, and I believe, that balis are among the strongest of folders (not an exact quote). I am wondering if anyone has actually weight tested a bali to failure.

I am writing an edged weapons policy for a large municipal police department, and I want to take the opportunity to de-demonize the bali. To do so, I need some verifiable data.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanx,

GHEN
 
Before I get jumped on; I know this depends on handle material, blade material, pin type etc. This is why I specified make/model in the thread starter.
 
While I dont have the resources to do this test, it would be a good way to show the world the bali is really just another good folding knife. Not the way hollywood shows it.

I applaud you.
 
I also haven't got the equipment to do something like that - and even if I did, I don't know how...but I think it's a great idea. Good for you. I hope someone else comes up with some data, I'd be very curious myself.
 
Not sure of any who might have that kind of data, with the exception of perhaps Sal Glesser as they are thinking about a Butterfly knife project and he has tested things of that nature before...Also rumour has that Cold Steel is venturing into the realm of the Butterfly knife? And as most know from the Proof Videos, they do some Lock type testing and they might have some stats if you inquired?

BUT, I am not sure how this will strengthen your case, no pun intended, with the police Dept as it might only cause them to worry more about a knife that won't break? Another study might be of the more common uses the knife has?

Maybe make a POLL here on the forums, generate a list for the Poll regarding the various uses, perhaps include fighting to see how strong a curve that might be towards that and to perhaps show it might not be as high as they may think?

The Lock of the Butterfly takes the strength of the three point system, the same as some farm plows have done because of it's intrinsic strength, locking back onto it's self...

Just some thoughts that came to mind while reading your thread.
Good luck in your cause, sounds worthy!
G2
 
My thoughts vis a vis the police are these:

If individual officers are more familiar with a specific type of knife, they are less likely to believe all of the hype surrounding said knife.

A basic tenet of law enforcement is that, with few exceptions; a police officer has as much discretion as they do authority.

Combining those two basic thoughts means as long as you are acting right, a police officer who sees balis as just another folding knife may be willing to see a bali owner as just another person.

Please see my thoughts in the 40T thread about acting right.

Happy New Year:cool:
 
Ghen: Get in touch with Rich at Knifemart. He intends to put one of his Monarch's through the exact testing procedure you're talking about.

But to expand Gary's posts, the balisong is a poor subject for this type of testing, because you're only testing the strength of the outer-stressed handle pivot. Yes, it's supported by the second pivot, and once latched, allows both handles to distribute the stress. But ultimately, the failure will still only be on half the knife (and if you remember my recent posting of the BM Straight Razor, half a bali is still a knife).

OT: What I have learned from all my years of balisong usage is that the current laws are misinformed. You might have a better chance in de-weaponizing the bali if you demonstrated that to use it effectively, the bali requires a certain level of learned skill, and not purely by mechanical means. And aside from that skill, the bali is no different than any other folding knife. Hopefully then you could dispel the idea that the bali is a mechnically advantageous weapon with your fellow LEO's. My $0.02.
 
Irreverantly humorous in a way.., but although Balisongs used to be popular with "Gang-Bangers" <~~ Hence the "Bad-Rep".., they aren't these days (to any great extent), and a couple of friends I have in Law Enforcement actually laugh simply because they have seen more of these types injure themselves with the knife rather than causing injury to others.



"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what the [NEED]"
 
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