Jags, plunging into their death

L

lockstock

Joined
May 16, 2000
Messages
39
I took the day off today (I plan my own hours) to work a little on my balisong moves (I needed some relaxation). I recently got a constant cable connection to the Internet, which, needless to say, is very fast. Anyway, so I've spent several hours enjoying Clay's AVI's learning new moves, and eventually got to the part where you practice throwing your knife. At first I was a bit intimidated, but later I found that it felt really good to throw the knife twirling in the air.

And then: "Plink!"
eek.gif
I'd broken a pin in my favourite Jaguar. "Well, I'll fix it next week"
cool.gif
, I thought and got out my serrated Jaguar and continued practicing. "Plonk!"

Nyaaarrrgghh!!
mad.gif
Now I'm out of balisongs (I only have two (broken) for the moment (more on the incoming)). Well, well... I guess I'll just have to go to the hardware store tomorrow (they should be open a few hours on a saturday). I'll look through Clay's guide on replacing pins and make a shopping list (by the way, thanks Clay for a magnificent site).

Oh, and of course, the "sounds" above are a bit filtered. The actual sound was "klickety-klickety-CRASH!-plink-'what?'" and "klickety-klickety-CRASH!-plonk-'DARN!'". So, you understand that the knives didn't break while twirling in the air, but rather when bashing into the hard floor of my room.
wink.gif


Where am I coming with all this? Two knives are definitely not enough. Clay's site is really (and I mean really) good. It's a good idea to tape the edge of your knife before you start throwing (luckily there was no "klickety-klickety-GUSH!-'AAARRGH!'"
smile.gif
)

keep flipping and wish me luck fixing my knives.

Oh, and is it a big deal for me, or a person at the hardware store, to put some of those adjustable torx-things they use for pins in BM-42 in my Jags?

------------------
Guns for show, knives for pro
 
I am not an expert but I think that the torx screws would "unscrew" unless somehow you can have them pressed together. If ya use the finishing nails make sure you have razors, if you don't use something as a spacer you probably will regret it. Good luck

------------------
Cameron
"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"

ICQ# 77993406
 
(As foot comes out of mouth) I was repinning my Jag today (hinge and tang pins only) and I had already finished the tang pin and was just about done with my second handle when I tried to manipulate it, one of the handles was stuck. I HAD USED SPACERS ON ONE OF THE HANDLES BUT I FORGOT TO USE IT ON THE SECOND, ARGGGGGH!! I tried sticking a screwdriver inbetween the handles (as described on Clay's site) and that didn't do anything, I tried that for about 5-10 minutes with the only result being I damaged the handles, now small burrs on the handle needed to be ground down, but first I needed to loosen the handle so I stuck a center punch in the same hole as I did the screwdriver and I started to softly pound it in, hopefully seperating the "prongs" of the handle. That did not work so I just put a glove on one hand and grabbed the blade and safe handle with it, with the other hand I grabbed the bite handle and started to flex them sideways, after a couple minutes both handles were swingin' freely.

Now, for the grinding. I decided to use a dremel instead of the bench grinder as to not screw up the handles anymore (I already have TONS of damage on my bali from previous encounters with the grinder), as I was shaving off the burrs I slipped and ran a nice streak across the back of the handles, to make a long story short I ran the dremel along one entire handle and will do the other handle later today, here is the pic of the MASSIVE difference between the handles:
View




------------------
Cameron
"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"

ICQ# 77993406
 
Wow, I love that new shine. "As foot comes out of mouth."
biggrin.gif
I was wondering how did you fit spacers in? On my many Jags there is no way to fit anything between the blade and handle. Does the balisong move more smoothly now with the spacers? I thought of putting one it too before. One more question, where did you find the spacers and what was the diameter? Thanks

------------------
A real knife collector is always broke.
 
What I mean by spacers is razors inbetween the blade and handles when you are hitting the finishing nail, that way it doesn't squish the blade and cause the handle to not swing. When you're done you just pull out the razors (I actually use a rubber band, it only has to go on one side instead of the use of 2 razors: one on each side.)

The dremel didn't give it the shine, that's what it originally was, the dremel made it look both golden and silvery, it is tons smoother though.

------------------
Cameron
"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"

ICQ# 77993406
 
Wow, I misunderstood every single one of your points. I thought you meant spacers like as in washers, not razors. When I redid one of my Jaguars, one of the pins wouldn't come out so I had to file out the pin and ended up marring the handles. When I scratched up the handle, a golden-like metal shown. I think that is the zinc part that makes up most of the handle.

------------------
A real knife collector is always broke.
 
Yeah... I haven't been able to get pins out without filing them down and screwing up the handle a little. I tried prying and I even put a nail on the pin ad hit it with a hammer after filing it for a while. :/
 
Hola!
Now I've fixed one of my Jags (I've replaced the pins in both, but I'll need to redo one, because I used too small nails). After bending I don't know how many nails, I finally fixed one knife. But... hey! Shouldn't the latch be on the other handle?!
redface.gif

I must have moved the handle to the wrong side while cutting that last nail. Well, well... At least I get to try the Manilla style
smile.gif

I fond it a bit uncomfortable having the latch on the safe handle. It gets in the way all the time, but then again you don't have to worry about damaging he blade (as if throwing the knife would't inflict any damage). I think I'll keep this knife this way, since I have some new ones coming in.

What kind of metal do you guys use in your home-made pins? I used brass this time.

------------------
"Guns for show, knives for pro"
 
I use finishing nails, one piece instead of the 2 brass pieces that originally come with 'em, plus it's a lot stronger: solid metal versus hollow brass.

------------------
Cameron
"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"

ICQ# 77993406
 
Cameron-
I really screwed up my first repin because I didnt use spacers because I didnt have any handy and wanted to play so I tried it and ruined it for 2 weeks because I couldnt get the nail back out and nothing would loosen the handles. Anyway I got it out and I am gonna repin tonight or tomorrow and was wondering about using rubberbands as spacers. how do they not get stuck in there, and are they better than razor blades?
 
I think that rubber bands are better than razors because:
  • You only have to put the rubber band into one side, opposed to razors which you have to put one on each side
  • The rubber band won't slip out, I don't know if anyone else had that problem. One of the razors' edges actually broke while I was hitting the pin.
As long as you have a new/strong rubberband, it is small/big enough to fit inbetween the blade and handle on one side, then you shouldn't have a problem getting it back out. I've repinned most of my balis numerous times (not that the finishing nails broke, just making them look better and give myself something to do) and I've never had a rubber band break. Good luck!

------------------
Cameron
"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"
uriel.gif
 
Phew! Now I've finally replaced the pins in both my jags. And they're working lika a charm. But there is a tiny problem with one of them, you see it's very tightly latched open (good when doing pivots) but it won't latch tightly when closed. I've narrowed the "latch groove" on the safe handle a little so it stays closed when I latch it, but instead of the latch holding the handles together (handles pressing away from each other and thus pressing against the latch) the safe handle is holding the latch in place (by pressing against the sides, or the "body" of the latch). I'd rather have the handles "pressing away from each other", because it allows you to drop the latch by squeezing the handles together. I can't figure out how to fix it.

any ideas?

anyways, my fav jag is swinging better than ever after that pin-replacement, and the handles are perfectly aligned. Wohoooo!
smile.gif

Let's see how long they last. The pins are made from solid brass nails, which are pretty soft.

Have a great day!

/Per

------------------
"Guns for show, knives for pro"
 
You could carefully beat on the pin in the tang. This will make it swell up a bit and it won't sink as far into the cups in the handles. This was a tip on www.balisongxtreme.com I believe.

Nate

[This message has been edited by NaTeDoGG (edited 07-16-2000).]
 
I've done that allready. That's why it latches so tightly when open (blade out). The problem is that it doesn't latch tightly when closed (blade inside the handles). Thanks anyway.

------------------
Per - "Guns for show, knives for pro"

[This message has been edited by lockstock (edited 07-17-2000).]
 
Afew pointers that i have learned.
1. When you practice aerials and throws, its a good idea to tape the edge and practice above a soft serface. I use my bed (definatly do NOT practice above a WATER BED
smile.gif
) or sometimes the couch, but carpeting should help a bit, grass is fine if you dont mind a muddy blade and the divots it chreates. When i fixed my jag I used 'Tension Pins'. I found a set that fit snug in the handles then inserted a couple nails that fit well, after hacksawing the extra protruding nail and pins i just mushroomed the nail, works better for me than using a stright nail! Plus for some reason finding the correct diameter nail in my area is impossible, maybe they are outlawd
wink.gif


------------------
Elect Cthulhu!
Why vote for the Lesser Evil?

Check out my bali site!
 
Lockstock refers to Clay AVI. Is this a website with video info on bali moves? Where can I find it? All help appreciated...

------------------
It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission...
 
Clay's site is at the following URL (click for instant access):
<a href="http://www.balisongxtreme.com">www.balisongxtreme.com</a>

It's a great site with (among other things) descriptions (text, pictures and video) on how to do different moves with your balisong aswell as exercises to imporove your control over your knife (I recommend these, it takes your balisong techniques to another level)

Happy practicing!


Per


------------------
"Guns for show, knives for pro"

[This message has been edited by lockstock (edited 07-19-2000).]
 
Thanks,
The site looks amazing. Tonight the adventure begins.
One of fun parts is discovering how much of a knife nut I actually am...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top