How many people actually use balisongs?

I carried one before they were illegal in Cali. I still collect them and I would carry one if I could - maybe I still do.
 
I used to carry one around the house and yard when I was growing up - loved them but wouldn't carry one now even if legal in all places. My father got me one of the hair comb toy versions at a flea market when I was about 6, then a year later a cheap $10-15 with a blade that he rounded the edge and tip on, and after that something similar to a Bear & Son that was pretty nice (8 or 9 years old it was the coolest thing in the world).

Probably got cut at least 50 times with one but to just pull it out and use it I never really flipped it around, just flicked off the tab and did a wrist rotation like casting a rod to make the handle fan open while it turned in my hand and it was open and ready in split second. Would make little spears, staffs, escrima sticks, and other cool toys with it in the yard, cut weeds around my mom's garden, slice up some fancy cheese and summer sausage, etc.

When I took it with me to train and discuss knives for back up weapons (a few others brought one a couple times) I realized they actually suck compared to your basic modern folder design, more or less. Inertia opening regular folder design when a guy or two is actually grabbing or hitting you is much more certain and most balisong handles are not good for retention especially if you goof up and holding half of the handle.
 
OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
When I took it with me to train and discuss knives for back up weapons (a few others brought one a couple times) I realized they actually suck compared to your basic modern folder design, more or less. Inertia opening regular folder design when a guy or two is actually grabbing or hitting you is much more certain and most balisong handles are not good for retention especially if you goof up and holding half of the handle.
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That's the sad part. They are decent, reliable utility knives but lousy tactical knives, and everywhere they are restricted it's as weapons. Makes you want to go talk to a few legislators and ask them, "Doesn't anyone here here know how to play this game?"

Fortunately, with AKTI and KnifeRights, legislators around the country are getting educated. Some day ...
 
I use to carry one as glorified pocket knife when I was a kid. What got annoying to others, I treated my knife like a toy and kept flipping it open and closed when ever I got bored

Then one day I had the king of dumbass moments
Was flipping my knife in and elavator (didn't think anyone would get in. Stupid I know).
Then suddendly as I flicked it open the lift door openned and people were waiting outside.
One of them looked at me horrified and said " It's cool, we'll take the next lift"

(yes, I was incredibly childish and stupid then) Gave it away soon after that to forget the embaressment
 
I haven't carried mine. Mostly because it'd freak people out (even more than regular knives), but also because the BM42 is too big IMO. I've considered carrying the BM32 Morpho, but in that case I'd put a really sharp edge on it (which I prefer on my EDC) and would probably lose a finger when flipping it :P
 
I have my Bradley Mayhem as my EDC and have already preordered a BM 62 months ago but BM has pushed the completion date on my order all the way to July now so Ill be lucky if I get it before xmas 2012.


It irritates me that this type of knife has been vilified by bad movies and stupid legislation to be seen in league with carrying an assault rifle in your pocket. It is no more dangerous then a swiss army knife.
 
I still have the bali I carried for over 5 years before I discovered that there was a whole mess of nice folders in the world. Carried a bali in my back pocket since college too. I'm 47 now.
 
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I'm 36 and have EDC'd a bali almost every day since I was 13.
I have plenty of other pocket knives that I rotate into my use and cary, but I always enjoy a nice bali. :thumbup:
 
I have had a few for many years,


...can't say I've ever used one to cut anything.




Big Mike
 
Pics of my old 'fly'...
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It was used a lot at one point in time but doesn't see use anymore, just sits in the knife draw.

-sh00ter
 
I live in CA and I make them. I just finished this one. I carry around the house.

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I've owned a couple over the last year and I think they're pretty cool, but I can't imagine walking around in public and using one of these things. I've only got one of them left and I'll keep it b/c I've modded it a little. I've got no problem using other one-handed opening knives in public (even big ones), but a balisong being opened is an unwelcome-attention-grabbing move - at least the only way I know how to easily open one.
 
I carried a balisong from about 84 to 1990 when it was confiscated. I taught myself how to open it proprerly, youtube didn't exist and you couldn't go down to the library and find a book on balisong operation. I used the heck out of it, it was my only knife for a long time.
 
Used to carry my bm m42 as an edc too until I got a Mayhem to replace it and 42 became just a flipper. Since then it has been my edc.
 
The machete-song in my sig line lives in a backpack and gets used for machete-type activities.

I carry my California-legal balisong sometimes:

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I took one of my first homemade balisongs out of retirement for this fishing trip:

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haha ok, maybe I'm the only one that doesn't carry a balisong for the sole reason that I don't really like them/ I think it would be annoying to "deploy".
 
Been carrying a Bradley Mayhem for sometime. With some of the reforms they are legal to carry in my State. I think that it is the perfect edc. And the Bali is really the strongest knife variant next to the fixed blade. I want to buy a couple more Mayhems in case they start to dry up.
I have cleaned a 25lb snapping turtle with it. If you have cleaned a turtle you know that is one hell of a test.
P.
 
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