Unfortunately, the cheapies vary considerably. One of my most enduring balisongs is a charming china cheapie that I paid all of $9 for. The blade isn't much, of course, but handles are great, the pins are strong, and the joints move well. I wish I'd have bought a dozen of 'em at the time. This thing as held up for about a year of frequent use. But, I wouldn't buy one off some auction or mail-order if you haven't talked to someone who bought that exact same knife from the same source just recently.
Bear MGC makes a very consistent product. The pins are very strong and the joints move well after a few hours of break-in during which you're smoothing down the textured powder-coat that they apply to the handles including inside the joints (thank you Bear). Anyway, the handles will eventually crack and break near the joints, this is true. But, you'll get $20 with of banging out of one (BTW, avoid the Tanto. IMHO, it's not balanced well and hard to manipulate). You can get one from my friends at Knifemart,
www.knifemart.com, or 800-331-3213 (tell 'em you saw me talk about it on bladeforums.com. I get nothing for it, but I like 'em to know where the business is coming from. I'd also like 'em to know that they should advertise here on bladeforums.com).
Jaguar knives a famous for a nice blade, good handles, and very, very weak pins. They're imported disassembled. US customs does not allow assembled butterfly knives to be imported. But, they do allow boxes of butterfly knife parts to be imported. So, the dealer must assemble the knives. Most do not have the sort of fixtures and press that is necessary to install a proper pin, so they install very soft pins that can be set with a hammer. Those pins are also soft enough to break after only light use. Many reports abound of pins breaking within minutes. But, you can then replace the broken pin yourself and have a fine knife. You do have to watch out, though, for prices that look to good. Jaguar's are widely counterfeited.
Benchmade's knives are great. There's one of their economy line on bladeauction.com right now, item 525568. It's at $45 right now. If I were bidding, I might go to $75, but no more. This knife will last a long time before the handles splay at the joint and finally the pin falls out. Benchmade will fix it for you, but once it's been splayed out and then fixed, it's very much weakened and not suitable for manipulation anymore.
Benchmade's new Model 42 will be available in a month or so. Onestopknifeshop.com is taking orders at $129. (again, kindly drop my name. I get nothing, but I like 'em to know that I'm pullin' for 'em.) Knifemart is also taking orders.
You can also get a Dragon Forge balisong at Onestopknifeshop. I have not had one myself, but I haven't heard anything bad. They do carry a life-time warranty.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
