Benchmade 51 (Flytanium) or Microtech Metalmark?

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NJMevec

Joined
Aug 2, 2014
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I'm getting my first (?) balisong. My first was technically some POS I picked up for $20 off a friend and eventually threw out because it was crap but then I was bit with the bali bug. I would carry this daily (work around the home just an all around blade to use) along with my Leatherman Wave that I have on my belt and probably another EDC blade in pocket. I would get a Kydex sheath and neck carry it.

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Microtech-Metalmark-Aluminum--14791

http://www.bladehq.com/item--FlyTanium-Customized-Titanium--24754

The FlyTanium comes with the G10 scales I believe so I will experiment and see which style I prefer. The metalmark I like the shape of but I don't know how well it would be as a first flipper. Keep in mind I will probably buy the other knife within a year so I just need help deciding which one I should get first. Please help a bali noob out!
 
Just realized I didn't post this in the Balisong/Butterfly section...my bad new to the forum!
 
The Metalmark is well built, but not really suited to flipping. The Flytanium has been very well received by those who felt the 51 with G10 was too light. Hope this helps.
 
I went with the standard 51 from a seller on Amazon because BladeHQ will not ship balisongs to New York State.
 
NJMevec said:
I went with the standard 51 from a seller on Amazon because BladeHQ will not ship balisongs to New York State.
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If you plan on learning to flip (and not just keeping the 51 as a collector's piece) you may want to consider picking up a trainer, or at least a cheaper balisong that you can tape the blade on, like a Bradley Kimura or even the cheap bali-junk you can find online for $20-50. At some point during the learning process you WILL drop your knife - everyone does, usually more than once - and chances are it will land tip first and bend or chip. You really don't want to damage something as valuable as a 51 on a beginner's mistake if you can avoid it. Just my $0.02.

Best of luck learning to flip!
 
Thanks for the tip! I'm also looking at a second Bali as it is the 51 will be more of an EDC less of a trick knife. Waiting for a Tach 2 to show up for a flipper or an Alpha Beast. I'd rather make the drops and cuts with a real Bali than have no fear of being cut or dropping a trainer and then the fear of a real blade make my technique sloppy with a live blade.
 
NJMevec said:
Thanks for the tip! I'm also looking at a second Bali as it is the 51 will be more of an EDC less of a trick knife. Waiting for a Tach 2 to show up for a flipper or an Alpha Beast. I'd rather make the drops and cuts with a real Bali than have no fear of being cut or dropping a trainer and then the fear of a real blade make my technique sloppy with a live blade.
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While that's a fine idea for getting the basics down, you'll really want something less dangerous if you decide to try anything more complex. Definitely never try any rollovers with a live blade until you can do it 50+ times in a row without screwing up with a trainer, you have to be able to rely completely on muscle memory... I learned that the hard way >.< . I did a basic Y2K rollover ten times in a row without messing up with the trainer, and switched to the live blade. A couple dozen rollovers later I slipped and almost lost the tip of my pinky.
 
How did you know that's the first thing I wanted to do? I already have the rest of the basic tricks down lol. Trainer will be up next
 
I'm a microtech fan but no expert on butterfly knives so I'd say get the 1 that appeals to you and what you want to do with it it's your knife so it's your choice. The benchmades I noticed had some other colors available last time I checked bladehq so I would think somewhere would have these options too that will ship to you. In the end it's your choice I got 1 butterfly knife and it's a spyderco smallfly but if I get another 1 it's gonna be a microtech .
 
Definitely not the Metalmark, it flips but not very well. I'd go with the 51. I've only handled the G10 51, and it was great. Way better than the Metalmark.
 
I really want a Smallfly but can't find one anywhere. Microtech will be next one unless I see a Spyderfly/Tachyon II.
 
Don't tape your knife...I started with a tapped knife, after switching to a live blade *cut* *cut* *cut*. You will develop bad habits when you start with a trainer or dull blade. Learn to flip like you learn tai chi, slowly with perfect form...you practice slow, and when you try to go fast there will be far fewer mistakes. That's the philosophy I picked up at least. . .your milage may vary. :D :thumbup: My preference is the 51 btw. :)
 
9blades that seems to be the general opinion and I will agree with it. I'd rather have to learn to deal with the nicks and cuts to gain the confidence to flip better.
 
NJMevec said:
9blades that seems to be the general opinion and I will agree with it. I'd rather have to learn to deal with the nicks and cuts to gain the confidence to flip better.
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I learned with a 51 morpho. Its a really great knife. You will get cut if you get cocky though.
 
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