Looking for a balisong.

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TheMightyGoat

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(Balisong means the same as butterfly knife, right?)

Specifications I'm looking for:

1) About a 4" blade (has to be over 3").
2) A stopper on the latch so that it can't fling into the blade.
3) Able to be taken appart.
4) No low end steel, but it doesn't have to be perfect either. Just decent.
5) Around $100.

I'm thinking of the Microtech Dragonfly, and I'll buy that one unless someone brings a better knife to my attention. I know of the Typhoon and various Benchmade models, but I'm not trying to bludgen my wallet to death. I've been searching google and bladeforums and the Dragonfly is the best choice I can find, but most of the things I find are $20 made in Tiwan POS knives.
 
PVK has a deal on a BM 46 w/ D2 Steel and Black handles for $99 It has a latch gate, but not a spring latch. If it wasn't my only BM 40x series I'd sell it to you.
 
Originally posted by J-man_the_jet
PVK has a deal on a BM 46 w/ D2 Steel and Black handles for $99 It has a latch gate, but not a spring latch. If it wasn't my only BM 40x series I'd sell it to you.
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Why are the double-edged Benchmades cheaper than the single-edged ones? Don't the doubles require more grind time?
 
I think you'll find the knifekits.com Typhoon meets all of your needs except #3. The Typhoon is more able to be put together... of course, you can take it apart too. Typhoon kits are about $50 each. It takes about fifteen minutes to put one together the first time. You'll get that down to three minutes after a few trys.

The BM46, BTW, is not intended for repeated assembly/disassembly. The pivot pins are press-fit.
 
Originally posted by Gollnick
I think you'll find the knifekits.com Typhoon meets all of your needs except #3. The Typhoon is more able to be put together... of course, you can take it apart too. Typhoon kits are about $50 each.
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Well, the Typhoon has just moved to the top of my list. :D I checked knifekits.com, and it's more like $70, but still that's a good deal in my opinion.
 
you can get the benchmade models at newgraham for 115 of so

http://www.newgraham.com/balis.htm

i'd recommend the 42 or 43, the 42 weehawk is a classic design and is the basis of which other balis are judged. The 43 bowie blade is my personal favorite BM blade, the 46 is not double edged it only has one sharpened edge the other side is not sharpened but it's still pretty thin so its not very good for flipping because it cuts into your fingers.
 
I would go with the Microtech Dragonfly myself I like it quite a bit and you will want something to start off with you don't have to work on or put together and once you get the Typhoon you will want to be customizing it so save it for second.

The spear point Benchmade balis you are referring to are not as popular with people I think because they are afraid of what seems to be a double edge. It's not a double edge as far as the one is not sharp but it will sting a bit when flipping it because it is ground very thin toward the edge to make it look nice. I would not recommend it for your 1st Bali.

Benchmades model 42 might be your best beat, they have gone up in prices but still you can pick one up for 115-120 bucks plus shipping and it will be a bali you will love and have for a long time, It feels great, flips great and has Benchmades quality and warranty behind it. So if you’re looking in the $100 range for a few more bucks (under 20) you can have a Benchmade 42.

But don't be scared away from the Microtech Dragonfly if you like the looks, I have one that has been a EDC flipper for about 7-9 months now and it has held up perfectly and swings like a dream.
 
Originally posted by NGK-Webmaster
I would go with the Microtech Dragonfly myself I like it quite a bit and you will want something to start off with you don't have to work on or put together and once you get the Typhoon you will want to be customizing it so save it for second.

The spear point Benchmade balis you are referring to are not as popular with people I think because they are afraid of what seems to be a double edge. It's not a double edge as far as the one is not sharp but it will sting a bit when flipping it because it is ground very thin toward the edge to make it look nice. I would not recommend it for your 1st Bali.

Benchmades model 42 might be your best beat, they have gone up in prices but still you can pick one up for 115-120 bucks plus shipping and it will be a bali you will love and have for a long time, It feels great, flips great and has Benchmades quality and warranty behind it. So if you’re looking in the $100 range for a few more bucks (under 20) you can have a Benchmade 42.

But don't be scared away from the Microtech Dragonfly if you like the looks, I have one that has been a EDC flipper for about 7-9 months now and it has held up perfectly and swings like a dream.
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Would customizing the Typhoon go beyond putting it together if I just wanted the plain version? (Which is what I prefer, even if money and skill were no object... but incidentally they are). No inlays or anything. I was under the impression that I wouldn't have to do anything other than assemble it. What's your opinion of the knife once it's together?

I have owned two balisongs, so I'm not completely new to them, and I'm pretty good at flipping them. The first one I bought several years ago, it's a POS $20 creature that I bought from a store that has never seen a quality knife. The second I bought a year ago or less, and it's considerably better quality, but certainly not as good as the Microtech or Benchmade balisongs. It's a German knife, brand name "Hertz" that I bought for $50 and I can't find it anywhere online since I bought it.
 
I own both an inlay and standard handle typhoon. If you don't feel like customizing it at all, the standard handle version is still a superb flipper once assembled. Some people worried the handles would be too smooth, but I didn't find that to be a problem. Of course, I'd be pretty surprised if the customization bug didn't catch you anyway. It doesn't take expensive tools to modify it in some way to make it your own. A hack saw or files can put a cool pattern on the handles, or a drill can make nice skelotonized holes.
 
I'll add my voice to the pro-typhoon faction. :) It's a great balisong, I do think it is a hair too smooth out of the box, but not terribly so. It is definitely very flippable w/out any customization. If not a typhoon, I'd recommend a BM42, 43, 47 over the dragonfly.
 
I'd go for the Benchmade 42. A classic desgin by the company that started it all. One suggest, put a single drop of Miltec oil (can get it for free from their site) on each pivot point. It's the best Balisong lube I've ever used. The Benchmade is smooth, but with a drop of Miltec, it's like glass.
 
you should ask this in the bali forum, would get more responses... well most of the responses would probably say go with a BM42... its pretty much the standard. Ti Handles, just over 4 inches, and the latchgate
 
Originally posted by Icon of Sin
you should ask this in the bali forum, would get more responses... well most of the responses would probably say go with a BM42... its pretty much the standard. Ti Handles, just over 4 inches, and the latchgate
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Definitely check out the bali forum. The Training Grounds thread will give you many threads comparing various balis and a search for the Typhoon will come up with a lot of information, including threads on assembly and customization tips for the Typhoon.

I currently flip either my BM42 and/or my Typhoon. My Typhoon is the standard, un-customized version (with phosphorous bronze washers) and it flips great. I'd agree with nybble in saying that it was just a "hair too smooth," but nothing that hampers flipping. There's also a BM42SS up for sale in the Exchange forum if you want to go with the heavier SS handles. I have a 42SS on the way.
 
I have a Dragonfly and like it more for edc carry and use than for flipping, I added a clip to mine to make it more pocketable and carry it several days a week. It's also much more quiet than other Bali's I have.

I like the weight, feel and action of the BM's (or Cold Steel) better for flipping but have yet to find a way to carry them without a clip that I'm happy with (but I'm working on that). The spring latch on the new Benchmades make them worth the additional money for that feature alone.

Have yet to try the Typhoon but plan to soon, www.edcknives.com has them in stock and his prices may be less than some of the other places to find them.
 
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