Help!!!

BaliDude

BaliDude

Joined
Nov 15, 2000
Messages
186
Hi, I guess this is my third post on this forum, although I have been reading the Balisong forum for a couple of months now. I'll start with introducing myself. I'm 19 years old, I live in Belgium (where the Bali's are unfortunately illegal...). I started flipping my (actually my brothers) rostfrei a few months ago after picking up "The lethal art of Filipino knife fighting" book, but it was actually Clay's site that got me realy going! I also have a French handmade balisong with stainless handles and a tanto blade, but it's hard to do backhand openings with it, as it is too short, and the open handle construction "catches" on my hand.
I don't practice any martial arts, but I'm considering Wing Chun, and maybe Escrima. Next to the balisong, I love American cars (mostly Kustoms and Hotrods), anime/manga, Chinese food, knives in general, Hongkong movies, and lots more...

Ok, now about the topic.
I'd like to buy at least one BM 42, and have a custom balisong made for me. As balisong are illegal here, I don't want to order a bali in the U.S. as it could be confiscated by customs (I guess). So i'd like to know if anyone knows of a shop in France (Paris or closer to the border) that sells BM42's. I'd also like to contact Fred Perrin, as I heard he has a shop in Paris. I've seen some of his bali's online, and i'm wondering if he would be willing to make me a custom bali, and if he sells BM 42's.
Or maybe Guillaume Morel could help me.

Well, this is it, I hope someone can help me.
Thanks
 
Welcome Mr. BaliDude (a Belgin name, I'm sure). It's very nice to have you here.

Fred Perrin's "shop" is not a retail store, but a work shop where he makes a wide assortment of knives including balisongs. He starts around $500 US. I'm sure, however, that if you contact him, he'll be happy to make a balisong for you. Then, when it's done, you can go and pick it up. As you do so, I'm sure he'll show you some of his favorite tricks and you'll have a nice and memorable visit.

Guillaume Morel is, of course, going to be your best contact to purchase a BM42 in Europe. I'm sure he'll be along shortly.

As for your other interests, I think you'll find some folks here who'll talk to you about those too.

BTW, your English is perfect, better than some of the Americans who post here. And I suppose you speak French too. That's great.

------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com

[This message has been edited by Gollnick (edited 01-15-2001).]
 
Well, I guess I'll change that stupid nick if I find a better one (that shouldn't be too hard).

Gollnick, I read that you have a monograph for knifemakers about balisong, would it be possible to send it to me?
My dad met an old friend of his and it turned out that he is a knifemaker, and he would be willing to make me a balisong, but I guess he assumes that making one would be fairly simple, so some info should come in handy. He also gives knifemaking courses, and I think I'll give that a try, so I can make my own balisongs someday. I allready started on a bali myself, by using the blade of an old scuba knife, but it would be too heavy to manipulate, as it would shatter my knuckles...but I'll finish it someday.

For the BM 42's i'll mail Guillaume if he can't reply soon enough because of his work.

 
I was in Paris, France this summer. I went to ChinaTown over there and saw some. You have to look around though. It's not easy finding them. Also, there is a knife/hunting store near Bourse, right in front of it. You know what Im talking about? Bourse...the stock building in Paris. Email me if you need anymore help.
 
Little_chaozu, I know La Bourse, I'll check it out if I go there.

I'll also try to post a pic of my French handmade bali sometime, because I haven't seen another one yet
smile.gif
.
 
I've heard my name :-)
First sorry not to be as reactive as I'd like to be. I've received my BM42AS few days ago and spent my time flipping :-)
Feel free to email for fastest replies.

So... the balisong state in Paris.
It's not easy to find a BM42 there, but some good (and expensive) hunting shops distribute Benchmade. And I have seen a BM42 quite recently in a store near the Opera... let me check the address on the yellow pages :

Courty et Fils (Sté)
44 r Petits Champs
75002 Paris
France
+33 (0)1 42 96 59 21

It's a wonderful place for knives lovers.
But they might be very expensive (you know when there's high quality, the price is also high)

NB: they have wonderful small Japanese knives (with very special blades : very short, point at a 45° angle...)

Oh they even have an URL : http://www.couteaux-courty.com
The site has interesting links if you're interested in French knives makers.

BaliDude, before coming to Paris, you should email them to know if they have a BM42 in stock.

There are some other "armurerie" (weapons sellers) who distribute Benchmade in Paris.
A quick search gave me this interesting site :
http://studwww.rug.ac.be/~gvanvoor/gb/knives.html

Else you can find balisong (other than BM) in many places, for instance the armurerie near the Bourse is :
Armurerie de la Bourse
37 r Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
+33 (0)1 42 36 79 83
But they are really really expensive. I've seen a blade I bought on the net (a United Cutlery sword) 4 times more expensive than what I paid for it !

There's also the biggest Martial Arts store in Europe :
Budostore (http://www.budostore.fr)
They do not carry a lot of bali but they used to have the recent Herbertz balis.

Hope it helps,

Guillaume

PS: BaliDude, you can also order the knife from the net and have it sent somewhere to France...

------------------
www.balisong.net
 
Thanks Guillaume!

I know about Couteaux-Courty.com from the french Excalibur magazine. I'll try them first.
Well, talking about expensive, I mailed a German guy that had a BM 42AS for sale on Bladeauction, and he told me that the reserve price was $250, and $350 for a first production run!
I also bought the new Filipino martial arts
magazine with the balisong openings in it that you mentioned here on the forum, and I like it very much
smile.gif
.

About ordering a knife and mailing it to France, should I get a postal box or something, because I don't realy know anyone in France...

 
I already have a 1st prod BM42AS.
"C'est un véritable bijou".
Concerning ordering online and sending a BM42 to France, I was thinking about that if you had a strong and trusty contact there (if you live near the frontier :-) ).
The problem might be the Customs taxes.
If the price is written on the parcel and if GIFT is not mentionned, the receiver has to pay taxes and it's not cheap :-(
If you come soon to Paris, the best plan would be the "armurerie" I mentionned above. Just ask them before (even ask them to order one for you if they're out of stock).

Guillaume

------------------
www.balisong.net
 
All custom makers and friends of makers who are interested in my Monograph should e-mail me directly and we can discuss it.



------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Thanks Gollnick, I've seen the site before, but they're a bit more expensive and I guess Berlin is a bit too far away.
I'll go to Paris, and check out some shops, and buy me some BM 42's.
Now even my brother wants one, and maybe we'll both get a Fred Perrin custom!
My brother has and is practicing martial arts
(at the moment some Karate/kickbox thing) so he always teaches me stuff, but now I'm better with balisongs and I'll teach him some tricks!!!
I'll mail you regarding the Monograph.
Thanks.
 
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