BM Balis

Z

ZoMbiE

Joined
Mar 19, 2000
Messages
12
So far, a lot has been said of Benchmade being the "ultimate" company producing balis. However, there are a lot of people who wouldn't put out so much money for a BM...unless we would know exactly how much better is a BM than, say a common Jaguar?

I would be interested in knowing the wear of a BM 40 series butterfly. Say, a BM 45 is put to the test:

1. Frequently dropped on hard floor.
2. Goes through all kinds of manipulation...
3. Is latched open and closed frequently
4. Used for all kinds of cutting.
5. (whatever other damage it goes thru )

Say, you had a 45 for a year or so with that kind of use...will...

1. the pins (tang, pivot, latch) ever break, bend?
2. there be handle unalignment, or slop?
3. the tang pin drive into the handles like a Jag?
4. it still be tight when latched open? closed?
5. the overall swing or movement be unsmooth, or wobbly?
6. how fast do the handles dull with daily use (or misuse
biggrin.gif
)

I'm sure there's more but i can't think of them all...but i think if a beginner (like me) would know how a BM would stand up against a cheaper bali, it would greatly influence whether or not we would bring out the $$$ and buy one...

thanks
_ZoMbiE_
 
I have several 45s that have been my favorites for years.

I don't frequently drop them on hard floors since I have carpeting, but they have taken the odd crash especially in the garage.

Mine certainly have gone through all sorts of manipulation almost every day.

Latched and unlatched frequently? Sure.

I can't say I've done a whole lot of cutting with 'em but enough to demand sharpening occationally.

1. the pins (tang, pivot, latch) ever break, bend?

The tang pins get deformed a bit, but I've never heard of anyone breaking a pivot pin on a 44 or 45.

2. there be handle unalignment, or slop?

Yes, the fork at the end of the handle where the blade joints the handle splays a little. You can tighten it back up using a big vice.

3. the tang pin drive into the handles like a Jag?

Yes, a little bit.

4. it still be tight when latched open? closed?

Yes, but less so than when it was new. Both of my really old ones still latch reasonably well.

5. the overall swing or movement be unsmooth, or wobbly?

Yes, they get a bit of wobble when the handle splays. Again, this can be corrected.

6. how fast do the handles dull with daily use (or misuse )

The handles have not substantially dulled.

Like any object made by man's hands, a BM45 is subject to wear. There is no folding knife that will last forever against frequent use. Keep in mind that a balisong artist may cycle the joints on his knife more times in five minutes of manipulation than the owner of a conventional folding knife will in a year of regular use.

Benchmade is not alone is having made durable balisongs. Taylor's Manila Folders are very well made and very durable. Compass Industries made really durable knives. I have balisong that is just excellent quality that is marked only "Taiwan (over) 440". I wish I knew who made that one. There are some nice ones being made right now in Austria. One of my constant bangers is a genuine Rostifri that I got for less than $10. But, it has solid pins. I've had it for probably a year now, played with it frequently, and it's still going strong. It's got a good feel too. I should have bought a dozen of 'em when I had the chance. Old Jaguars, if you can find 'em, were very well built with solid factory-installed pins.

The BM products are just the best balisongs that are at all readily available here in the US. I know that many people don't think that the BM42 is quite readily available right now, but they're working on that. In a few months, they will be readily available and everyone can stop making trips to Home Depot for finishing nails.



------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Thanks Chuck, ur da man! I think i'm going to get a 45 and see how it is if i can find one at a reasonable price and quality.

i hope this also helps out a lot of other people just beginning the search for balis
smile.gif
 
I got my first jag in december of 99, it broke just a week ago, i had replaced the pins (it was the one with the inserts by the way) and tightened it a bit, and put it through hell, on thursday i pulled it out of my pocket to open a box at work and the half of the handle above the insert had cracked and detatched, the handle still swings but with one hinge detatched. I would guess that would be a decent lifetime for a $30 knife

------------------
Elect Cthulhu!
Why vote for the Lesser Evil?
 
Oh, theres no contest........... the BM blows the Jags and Bears away.

The $100+ you spend on the 42 will get you a Balisong that will last you quite awhile, without always having to fix something.

As for hunting down a 45........ you'll end up paying more for that ($200+) and you won't have as good a Bali as the 42 (IMO).

Consider the improvements from the 45 to the 42:

~ The 42 has adjustable torx pivot pins.

~ The 42 has the latch gate to protect the blade.

~ The 42 has the Titanium handles. Light but VERY strong.

Why pay more for a lesser Bali (not that the 45's are bad, mind you).


------------------
Clay
www.balisongxtreme.com
Because......
getting 'em open
is half the fun!
 
As you spend more on knives, there are always diminishing returns, but you still get what you pay for.

[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 06-13-2000).]
 
I bought a BM 45 several (4, 5?) years ago, and have used it for quite some time, including dropping it. The pins are still ok, the handle is still ok, the latch has got some minor scratches, but works still perfect. The knife is tight in the open and closed position, you can squezze-open it like on day one. In my opinion, simply amazing quality compared to all the other junk (I have destroyed a few Taiwan models).
Chuck,
could you please tell me more about the Austrian balisongs? Didn´t know anyone in Austria is producing balis.

------------------
"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron

[This message has been edited by judge (edited 06-15-2000).]

[This message has been edited by judge (edited 06-15-2000).]
 
I've had no experience with Jag but only Bears. Assuming same quality, BM balis take its $$$ quite worthy. As many experts said it gets sloppy, its pin digs the handles. But BM balis have much longer period keeping its "tight" feeling, that Bears can keep only a little while or have none just out of the box. How long a BM can last than a Jag? Nearly the same, maybe. How long it stays tight (or no slop) and promises confortable flipping? Twice or three times or even more! Anyways just my personal feeling.

One more major advantage in BMs. Its sound!

------------------
Did you enjoy today?
\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
Wow - I have three BM Balis, one with stag handle and 3" blade, two 4" - stag and micarta. Bought them at least 10 years ago. 'Made in Philippines'. Paid about 40 bucks for each of them. They're stowed away now, and they're not for sale.
 
Sorry, those aren't BM Bali-Songs, those are Filipino Handmade (FHM) balisongs.

------------------
Cameron

"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"
 
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........

Sorry SAX, just when you thought you were sitting on a Gold mine.

If they've been "packed away" for awhile, you might want to un-pack them to make sure they didn't "RUST away".


------------------
Clay
www.balisongxtreme.com
Because......
getting 'em open
is half the fun!
 
I don't know. He says they've got a butterfly logo on the blade. You can see tang stamps for Bali-Song Cutlery, Pacific Cutlery, and Benchmade on my site. Before throwing 'em back in the closet, I'd check and see what you've got.



------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Thanks, y'all. I was mistaken, going from clouded memory. I managed to dig one up, it's not rusted at all. No butterfly - it says Original Balisong® and Hand Forged Philippines on one side, 11-526 on the other. Never thought I was sitting on a gold mine.

[This message has been edited by real saxophonist (edited 06-22-2000).]
 
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