- Joined
- Feb 20, 1999
- Messages
- 1,284
I'm interested to find out what the balisong enthusiasts abroad (in the States) look for in a balisong knife.
Since I'm located here in the Philippines, and balisongs are aplenty, I have to be meticulous when choosing which ones to get. What matters most to you guys? The handle materials? blade steel? blade design? I need inputs here.
I've been buying them out of the sheer pleasure of buying, but now that I learned a lot here at BFC (and I mean A LOT) I'm a bit more "choosy", and won't be buying from the the first knife stand I see on the sidewalk lining up the streets of Batangas.
Most common steel used are either railroad tracks (and they are wondering why there are derailed trains around, hehe) and truck bearing housings. Some of them even use bandsaw steel. These are individually forged and tempered. And since these are handmade, no two balisongs will truly be identical. They don't know anything about 5160, 1095, etc... they don't even have temperature gauges to tell if the steel is "well done" or "medium rare". They can tell simply by looking at the glowing piece of steel, or by striking on it until no sparks comes out of it (impurities, they call it). I'm not a knifemaker, so I can't really tell if any of these are true or not.
These are handed down from generation to generation.
The regular tests done on the blade is to punch it through our old 1-peso coin, which is made of (I think) carbon-nickel or something, around 4mm. to 5mm. thick, and still retain its point and edge. For them, this is already something of an achievement to be proud of. I guess the coins are thicker than the doors or hoods of the car.
As to handles, which is more preferable? Stag-horn or stag-bone, wood, imitation wood, plastic, or skeletonized brass?
Some things I would like them to improve would probably be the pivot pins and the locking latch. The knives may be strong, but these are the ones that are almost always the first ones to give up. I guess it's because brass is soft, and wears away quickly against the steel pins (normally made of nails).
Any other thoughts?
Dan
Since I'm located here in the Philippines, and balisongs are aplenty, I have to be meticulous when choosing which ones to get. What matters most to you guys? The handle materials? blade steel? blade design? I need inputs here.

Most common steel used are either railroad tracks (and they are wondering why there are derailed trains around, hehe) and truck bearing housings. Some of them even use bandsaw steel. These are individually forged and tempered. And since these are handmade, no two balisongs will truly be identical. They don't know anything about 5160, 1095, etc... they don't even have temperature gauges to tell if the steel is "well done" or "medium rare". They can tell simply by looking at the glowing piece of steel, or by striking on it until no sparks comes out of it (impurities, they call it). I'm not a knifemaker, so I can't really tell if any of these are true or not.

The regular tests done on the blade is to punch it through our old 1-peso coin, which is made of (I think) carbon-nickel or something, around 4mm. to 5mm. thick, and still retain its point and edge. For them, this is already something of an achievement to be proud of. I guess the coins are thicker than the doors or hoods of the car.

As to handles, which is more preferable? Stag-horn or stag-bone, wood, imitation wood, plastic, or skeletonized brass?
Some things I would like them to improve would probably be the pivot pins and the locking latch. The knives may be strong, but these are the ones that are almost always the first ones to give up. I guess it's because brass is soft, and wears away quickly against the steel pins (normally made of nails).
Any other thoughts?

Dan