Handle squeeze to unlatch

J

judge

Joined
Dec 20, 1999
Messages
584
One thing that I really like about Benchmade balisongs is the ability to squeeze the handles of the closed balisong, whip the hand with the bali sharply downward, and the knife is unlatched and ready to open. This technique doesn´t work with my other cheapo balisongs because they don´t maintain that tightness but flexibility (springiness) of the Benchmade steel handled balisongs.
As soon as cheap zamac handled balis are a little worn out, they are to slack for that squeezing thing to work, mostly the latch will not close tight any more and the opened but locked knife is a rattling, insecure POS.
Does anyone have experience with squeeze unlatching? Do other balisongs besides Benchmades keep working that way when used for extended periods?

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"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron
 
The squeeze is a matter of some debate. Jody Samson feels strongly that you should have to squeeze to open the latch on a balisong, so Bali-Song, Pacific Cutlery, and Benchmade balisongs all have tight locks and require a strong squeeze. I, myself, agree. When you don't have to squeeze, the knife will come open in your pocket unexpectedly and won't stay locked when you're using the thing hard. I have found that most better production balisongs, Taylor, Compass, Valor, etc., all require a good squeeze. A lot of customs, though, don't. The Erickson that I just got, for example, does not. Making one that does is a precise art. You have to walk right up to the edge dimensionally. When you see a balisong that requires that squeeze, you know that was made by someone who knows balisongs and has made more than a few.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
I stopped buying cheap balisongs because the cheap handles wouldn't spring back and keep the flexibility, they'd just develop a large dent where the stop peg on the blade bumps into the handle. Also the inside part of the handle that keeps the blade tight when closed wears out and the knife rattles around in your pocket and accidently opens (ouch). I'm trying to find some Dragon Forge stuff locally, but no one sells them.
frown.gif
Do the handles wear out quickly on those?

-Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
The handles won't wear out on the Jaguars, which is what the Dragon Forge stuff is (though backed by a life time warranty). The pins on the other hand . . .

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Simon Yu

"I look at it this way. If things get much worse I'll be too dead to care."
 
Thats not toatly true. My pins broke, but before that, the tang pin cups in the handle crsuched out so it will not lock open. Crushed out the tang pin a bit, but the cups just got deaper. At the same time, the spring is still in the grips, so the locking closed is not a problem, and probably won't be. Jags are still my choice though (but i have been tempted by the siren call of the 42, and will be that much poorer when NWC gets em in).
 
Yeah. I love my Jag an everything, but there's definately nothing special about their handles.. heavier than aluminum, but much softer than steel.. suspiciously like zinc die-casting? ..and after you grind away a little bit of a nickel-plated handle pin, you can see that they're both solid brass - that junk bends. Benchmade uses steel. Benchmade rules.

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j rainey
 
Having squeezable handles seems to be the standard on how Balisongs are judged. No doubt abou; that.

IN regards to the Jaguars, yeah the tang pin grooves get mashed pretty easily but as per the poriginal inquiry it takes a long time before the ends of the handles get run out which gives you more mileage in the "stay fresh in the closed position", too bad I can't say the same for the open position.. but as alwayas balisongxtreme.com has remedies for that.



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<A HREF="http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html
</A> If you play with love you will be heartbroken; if you play with knives you will [bleed]


 
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