Latch Handles:The Fatal Flaw?

R

Rylorien

Joined
Oct 7, 2000
Messages
26
Okay, just curious but has this ever occured to anyone, why is it that, 99% of all Bali's come with the latch handles as the unsafe handle? and on all of them(minus ones with latch gates) the latch slaps into the blade, and not only do you loose your point, but gouge a nice little track all the way across the latch. Wouldnt it just make a bit more sense to put the latch on the safe handle where it never gets in front of the blade, or caught in between handles on the close? Or is there something I am missing, like would that affect the geometry of the knife in its manipulations, or just get in the way in your hand or something of that sort? Anyways, opinions and ideas are welcome.

Dennis

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Is that all you monks ever think about? Sects! Sects! Sects!
 
There are two types of Balisongs - Batangas and Manila style (both regions in the Philippines I believe). They both refer to what you are saying -- the Batangas style is what most people are accustomed to. That is with the latch being on the bite handle and the safe handle having no latch. The Manila style is the opposite - It has the latch on the safe side, but the Manila style is less common. Why you might ask? Why if the Manila style saves your blade from the latch is it not more common.. This I do not know. I have not yet owned a Manila style bali and am not sure how they manipulate. One would speculate that because you have you hand on the safe handle the majority of the time that during some moves it would get in the way. You can always go booshank and bust out some sweet latch gates. Also he has an awesome manilla style scimitar Bali (the only one he did not have to put a latch gate on because it was manilla style - BTW manila style was a custom option offered by BM, PC and Balisong Cutlery)

You can always go latchless style and say nuts to the latch -- but then you miss the popular/fun latch drop and open Bali techniques.

Hope that made some sense and helped-
mmtmatrix
 
To the skilled balisong artist, it doesn't matter. Latch damage comes from unskilled manipulation. Furthermore, to the skilled artist there is no need to differentiate between the latch and the safe hands. How else do you think you can manipulate a double-edged blade?

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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 would love to have the opportunity to manipulate a kris, spearpoint, or stilleto blade, I think I'd do really well, I practice with the bite handle of my balisongs all the time so not only could I do a double-edged blade but a manila style also. DAWKIND!!!! CHUCK!!!! SEND A DOUBLE-EDGED THIS WAY!!!!! I might even send it back.......
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Cameron

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"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"
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A few of my balisongs
My Photopoint album
 
One time when I was re-pinning a cheapie, I decided to reverse the handles to manila style. After manipulating it for about a min, I found the latch to be very inconvenient to be always in your palm. Since I'm used to batangas, manila seemed strange and foreign.

I sure if you practice with both, either style shouldn't matter.

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Dave
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My collection
 
I'm with david. I have a manila style bali and I don't like how the latch gets in the way. I also have only used it once or twice, so maybe I'd just have to get used to it.

Steve
 
Great thread but I'd really like to know how Balisongman is doing all this FACE stuff!?

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Sabo 29


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"Catch you on the flip side"!
 
Okay, Call me stupid Bat' How do you use that smiley legend that I just looked at...
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NEVER MIND!!!! FOUND IT!!!
Sabo 29
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"Catch you on the flip side"!

[This message has been edited by Sabo (edited 10-19-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Sabo (edited 10-19-2000).]
 
www.smilecwm.tripod.com

right next to the smilies is some text, the text looks something like [ img]http://www.smilecwm.tripod.com/dw/smilie2.gif[/img] or something like that, just click on the text so that it is all selected, right click, copy, you can have a 2nd web browser in BFC and just right click, paste. You don't need to add the
since it's already in the text. Hope this helps

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Cameron

011.gif
"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"
uriel.gif

A few of my balisongs
My Photopoint album
 
Thanks guys, that's almost as fun as slicing an artery!

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Sabo 29



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"Catch you on the flip side"!
 
Kinda sad, And it's all my fault! I just had to know. BTW, know I know. Thanks guys...COOL!

What's to know about the latches? Pay attention...One will get you one won't! 2: That little flippy thing gives me fits .

I was just trying to have some fun sir!


Sabo 29

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"Catch you on the flip side"!
 
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