Custom Bali-Songs were made-to-order for a specific customer (sometimes a dealer would order a couple and then offer them in their store, but they were still built specifically for that dealer). The customer could choose a 3", 4", 5", or even 6" blade in one of over a dozen profiles. They could choose the finish they wanted, latch style or even latchless. They could choose skeletonized handles or single or double insert handles with just about any handle material they wanted. They could even opt for special extras such as filework, scrimshaw, and decorative inlay on the blade. In most cases, the blade was hand-ground by Jody Samson who also supervised the knife's assembly and finishing. Everything was done by hand by very skilled craftsmen.
Production Bali-Songs were made in batches to standardized designs. The basic blade profile was done by machine and only the final grind and sharpening was done by hand. Most production Bali-Songs had skeletonized handles. All had a classic Batangas-style latch.
Production Bali-Songs came in two distinct finishes. The standard finish and the delux finish. Standard finish does not have the holes in the skeleton pattern countersunk and does not have the pivot pins polished down. Delux finish has those extra touches.
There's also the Economy Line which have cast zamak handles.
Finally, there's the International Series which were imported.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
