How many people actually use balisongs?

[Hadji Flip Me Over]

I plan on getting a BM 53 some time in the future, but it's killing me to drop $150 on a knife I can't legally carry with me, which almost relegates it to toy status. Every type of knife is legal in Pennsylvania except for automatics and balisongs. The most fun knives, of course. :grumpy:

 

[sh00ter01]

I plan on getting a BM 53 some time in the future, but it's killing me to drop $150 on a knife I can't legally carry with me, which almost relegates it to toy status. Every type of knife is legal in Pennsylvania except for automatics and balisongs. The most fun knives, of course. :grumpy:

That's funny, here in MD I can carry a bali legally but would rather be able to carry a fixed blade concealed like you guys can in PA

-sh00ter

 

[Matteo Escobar]

I've been carrying this one as my EDC. Great pocket knife with a lot useful features.

 

[BePrepared]

I'm pretty good with a bali, but that chick in the video blows me away... i am gonna have to try some of that stuff.

I taught myself to use a bali when i was around 10 with a super cheap one that i got at a swapmeet

 

[jkwithawave]

I enjoy carrying my BM 53.

 

[mkjellgren]

I would never carry a balisong as a knife I intended on using. As a toy? Absolutely. In my mind, a balisong is essentially a glorified yo-yo with a blade. There's no doubting they're fun to play with, but no amount of convincing will make me believe that they are more useful or practical that a regular one hand opening folder. You time me with a bm with an axis lock or a pm2 vs anyone with a bali, and I promise you I can draw my knife, open the blade, cut what needs to be cut, and have the knife closed and in my pocket faster, more consistently, and safer, every single time. Will I look as cool? Probably not. Fact of the matter is, balisongs are somewhat like traditional slip joints in the fact that they make you feel a certain way when you are using them, and to some people, that's what matters, but a modern one handed folder is going to out perform them (unless you're talking about traditional knives and their slicing ability) almost every time.

 

[shecky]

I still have my old one somewhere. I used to carry it here in CA (pre internet age), knowing it was mythically illegal, but never had any problem. But I gave it up for a few reasons. One, it wasn't all that great a user. The choreography involved makes it slower to deploy than any modern one hand opener. Regardless of legality, it's still a mall ninja kind of thing to use, and I'd get more eye rolling than scared reactions. And quality balisongs cost significantly more than tons of very good folders, which can be found in very high quality levels, with much greater selection, for very little cost. The same thing kind of goes for autos. Quality costs tons, but the knife world has largely left the technology behind with bigger, better things.

 

[Lt.Col.Vortex]

Not to rock the boat here, but are are balisongs really practical to use?? They look freeking cool, but how are they to use?

If I could get my hands on one, I would most certainly carry one. Georgia has some of the most stress free knife and gun laws....I say that and they have had a newish law out that says you have to have a license for any 6" bladed object or bigger. I plan on skirting that law by carrying knives that are 5 3/4 inch long

 

[Nixelplix]

Yes they are practical to use. See my post back there on page 2. You really can fit a big variety of blades between those two handles, and it's locking solution for folding knives that is least likely to fail.

 

[Ryanol]

[video=youtube;8PEyPO4PqnU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PEyPO4PqnU&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]

I dunno he's pretty fast.

 

[Grease]

I don't own one, but a couple guys I work with seem to get a lot of use and enjoyment out of theirs.

 

[mkjellgren]

I dunno he's pretty fast.

He is, but he's just playing with it. If I ever saw anyone pull out a balisong and flip it around like that when actually intending on cutting something I would laugh my ass off. It's one of the most fun toys a knife nut could ever hope for, but ultimately just not as practical as many other options in actual use.

 

[Lt.Col.Vortex]

Yes they are practical to use. See my post back there on page 2. You really can fit a big variety of blades between those two handles, and it's locking solution for folding knives that is least likely to fail.

I'm talking about using it as a pry bar to break open a door or window. Or dislodge branches from a mower deck.

I'm in conveyance work, and I have one knife that dose all my dirty work, and it dose it darn well. I just cant see using a piece of art like that for work. Now I know these knives have their place ( and dirty work is NOT their place in life ), but thats a rather dramatic mail opener.

I still want one SO bad though.....

 

[Ryanol]

I agree it's hard to beat a fixed blade for pure practicality but when it comes to knives that pivot I'll take a balisong over a thumber any day. Maybe a waved knife might give it a run for its money?

 

[Ultraman]

After getting a Bradley kimura, I soon realized there was no way I can flip as well as the experts. So now, it's been relegated to toy/novelty status, although I am convinced they can be practical knives for utility work because fundamentally, they are knives. It's unfortunate that they have such a stigma attached to them as well as legal restrictions.

One thing I don't understand is why people say it's a strong design. I've seen too many Batangas balisongs that were loose as heck because of worn out latches and pivot pins. They probably wear out faster and there are better lock designs out there. One good point is that they are a design that doesn't really require coils or springs, making it easy to manufacture in less industrialized settings.

 

[Lt.Col.Vortex]

I want a double bladed razor balisong. Hey, is your going to look cool, might as well be dangerous Do they still make strait razor balisongs??

 

[Nixelplix]

After getting a Bradley kimura, I soon realized there was no way I can flip as well as the experts. So now, it's been relegated to toy/novelty status, although I am convinced they can be practical knives for utility work because fundamentally, they are knives. It's unfortunate that they have such a stigma attached to them as well as legal restrictions.

One thing I don't understand is why people say it's a strong design. I've seen too many Batangas balisongs that were loose as heck because of worn out latches and pivot pins. They probably wear out faster and there are better lock designs out there. One good point is that they are a design that doesn't really require coils or springs, making it easy to manufacture in less industrialized settings.

Most Filipino balisongs will wear out more quickly than well made modern balisongs, because of the nature of their construction, with brass liners and thin mild steel pins. Try breaking or wearing out a 3/16th inch pivot or pin, made out of modern stainless. In most cases, the handles will wear out first, but that can be remedied by using quality materials for the handles.

 

[Nixelplix]

I want a double bladed razor balisong. Hey, if you're going to look cool, might as well be dangerous Do they still make straight razor balisongs??

What does this have to do with the topic? You don't have to post every little thought that pops in your head.

 

[Lt.Col.Vortex]

Not to thread hijack, but Nixelplix, dose that machete roll in your hand or pinch anything?? I'd personally be worried about the blade weight rolling the handle in your hands as you try to keep a firm grip( as you typically do on machetes). It looks very nice and seams to preform well too. Nice job.

"You don't have to post every little thought that pops in your head." Nope, I apologize. This is after some coffee and pie after a late work day.

 

[Nixelplix]

No it works pretty well, actually. If using it to chop a large amount of material, I've found it necessary to wear gloves to avoid blisters. It's more handle heavy than blade heavy, but the next versions of this will have slightly thicker blades. It's not for tricks, just simple openings and using. I've chopped through 3 inch thick branches in one blow with it. The one in my sig line is the "prototype" and I've beat the heck out of it, finding weak spots, and areas of improvement. Slightly thicker blades, better heat treatment for the handles, and better fitting to the tang pins, are things I've found to improve in the next versions.