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- May 3, 2001
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Low End Balisong Review Jag vs. Cheetah
Im pretty much a middle to lower high end knife guy preferring fewer higher quality knives. I generally buy in the $ 70 to $ 120 street range price range.
Through circumstances of my own making, much like Brere Rabbit, I find myself stuck in the tar patch of low end balisong reviews.
I fear that MOAB (Mother Of ALL Balisongers) will smite me if I dont let loose of the tar baby soon so this will be my last cheapie balisong review.
I recently got a new Jaguar Classic Balisong in trade for the BOSS Cheetah Generation 1 Pre-production knife I reviewed in another post in this forum earlier this week.
I thought it would useful to review the Jag and compare it to the early release, pre-production, manufacturing test prototype, not to be confused with the Generation 2, to be produced in another Chinese factory, expected to be far superior, pictured on the Blade June cover, production Cheetah. (I hope Ive covered all the sensitivities.)
The Jags blade is a surgical steel slight recurve bowie style blade that is longer and thicker than the Cheetahs 420HC stainless blade that is the identical clip point blade form and size seen on Microtechs Tachyon and Dragonfly.
The Jag blade was accurately ground and while not hair popping sharp is sharp enough to easily slice paper or tomatoes. The tip is fine but strong due to the thickness of the blade.
The Cheetah blade is poorly ground. The tip blunt. The blade would not cut my wrists or throat (except for Kliff Stump, do not try this at home). The tip would not pierce when stabbed into a magazine (Blade June issue). Rather it created more of a blunt trauma wound as they would say in CSI.
The handles on the Jag are cast pot metal, probably a zinc alloy, with a glued on black plastic decoration simulating an inlay. The handles are accurately cast with no flash and nearly invisible mold lines. The exterior finish as molded is smooth and shiny and left uncoated or colored.
The handles on the Cheetah are cast aluminum but feel heavier than aluminum. There is a lot of flash evident in the lightening holes. The interior of these sandwich construction handles is roughly cast. The threaded holes for the assembly screws are drilled at various angles. The screws themselves were loose but could be tightened. The handles are coated with paint that easily scratches and wears.
The latch on the Jag is a well formed casting and is well fitted to the handle. There is no latch gate or latch stop which means the latch can interfere with manipulation. The latch is pinned and not easily removed. It cannot easily be moved to other handle.
The latch on the Cheetah is roughly cast and quite loosely fitted to the handle. There is a latch gate and the latch screw allows for removing or moving the latch. This is a plus.
The Jag handles are pinned to blade in the way balisongs are classically manufactured (maybe thats why this Jag is called the Classic). The handles to blade fit are loose without any washers. The wear and stress on these pivot pins and pot metal handles is what causes the handles to fail after many hours of manipulation. The blade/handle lockup is tight with no wiggle in any direction.
The Cheetah handles have bushings, pivot screws, and plastic washers. The fit between the bushings and handles, and screws and bushings is poor. The overall effect is looser than the Jag. If the pivot screws are tightened up the loose fit can be improved but swing suffers. The blade/handle lockup is tight with no wiggle in any direction.
Overall the Jag is a heavier bigger knife. Flipping is usually easier with larger heavier handles. This is true with these knives. The Jag is much easier to manipulate (Im not much of a self manipulator myself and will defer to those that self manipulate continuously to pass final judgement).
The Jaguar is a great knife for lesser experienced flippers who want something that is ready to go out of the box. They should realize that if they become addicted to flipping, they must plan on a higher quality knife in the future. Price in ready to go useable condition $ 25, possibly less at your local flea market. Time to flipping, seconds.
The Cheetah is a real DIY (do it yourself), knife improvement, tinkers knife. If you like having to strip down and rebuild things before you can really use them, the Cheetah is for you. Prepare to spend hours reprofiling/sharpening, filing, and fitting. Buy some replacement screws and phosphor bronze washers. Get the Locktite ready. When youre finished youll have a $ 30 knife for about $ 25 dollars and half a day of your labor. Cost ready to go about $ 25. Time to flipping, about 4 hours.
My self defense, wildness survival choice? Neither. If I had to choose? Jaguar based on its larger thicker blade and overall higher quality.
Im pretty much a middle to lower high end knife guy preferring fewer higher quality knives. I generally buy in the $ 70 to $ 120 street range price range.
Through circumstances of my own making, much like Brere Rabbit, I find myself stuck in the tar patch of low end balisong reviews.
I fear that MOAB (Mother Of ALL Balisongers) will smite me if I dont let loose of the tar baby soon so this will be my last cheapie balisong review.
I recently got a new Jaguar Classic Balisong in trade for the BOSS Cheetah Generation 1 Pre-production knife I reviewed in another post in this forum earlier this week.
I thought it would useful to review the Jag and compare it to the early release, pre-production, manufacturing test prototype, not to be confused with the Generation 2, to be produced in another Chinese factory, expected to be far superior, pictured on the Blade June cover, production Cheetah. (I hope Ive covered all the sensitivities.)
The Jags blade is a surgical steel slight recurve bowie style blade that is longer and thicker than the Cheetahs 420HC stainless blade that is the identical clip point blade form and size seen on Microtechs Tachyon and Dragonfly.
The Jag blade was accurately ground and while not hair popping sharp is sharp enough to easily slice paper or tomatoes. The tip is fine but strong due to the thickness of the blade.
The Cheetah blade is poorly ground. The tip blunt. The blade would not cut my wrists or throat (except for Kliff Stump, do not try this at home). The tip would not pierce when stabbed into a magazine (Blade June issue). Rather it created more of a blunt trauma wound as they would say in CSI.
The handles on the Jag are cast pot metal, probably a zinc alloy, with a glued on black plastic decoration simulating an inlay. The handles are accurately cast with no flash and nearly invisible mold lines. The exterior finish as molded is smooth and shiny and left uncoated or colored.
The handles on the Cheetah are cast aluminum but feel heavier than aluminum. There is a lot of flash evident in the lightening holes. The interior of these sandwich construction handles is roughly cast. The threaded holes for the assembly screws are drilled at various angles. The screws themselves were loose but could be tightened. The handles are coated with paint that easily scratches and wears.
The latch on the Jag is a well formed casting and is well fitted to the handle. There is no latch gate or latch stop which means the latch can interfere with manipulation. The latch is pinned and not easily removed. It cannot easily be moved to other handle.
The latch on the Cheetah is roughly cast and quite loosely fitted to the handle. There is a latch gate and the latch screw allows for removing or moving the latch. This is a plus.
The Jag handles are pinned to blade in the way balisongs are classically manufactured (maybe thats why this Jag is called the Classic). The handles to blade fit are loose without any washers. The wear and stress on these pivot pins and pot metal handles is what causes the handles to fail after many hours of manipulation. The blade/handle lockup is tight with no wiggle in any direction.
The Cheetah handles have bushings, pivot screws, and plastic washers. The fit between the bushings and handles, and screws and bushings is poor. The overall effect is looser than the Jag. If the pivot screws are tightened up the loose fit can be improved but swing suffers. The blade/handle lockup is tight with no wiggle in any direction.
Overall the Jag is a heavier bigger knife. Flipping is usually easier with larger heavier handles. This is true with these knives. The Jag is much easier to manipulate (Im not much of a self manipulator myself and will defer to those that self manipulate continuously to pass final judgement).
The Jaguar is a great knife for lesser experienced flippers who want something that is ready to go out of the box. They should realize that if they become addicted to flipping, they must plan on a higher quality knife in the future. Price in ready to go useable condition $ 25, possibly less at your local flea market. Time to flipping, seconds.
The Cheetah is a real DIY (do it yourself), knife improvement, tinkers knife. If you like having to strip down and rebuild things before you can really use them, the Cheetah is for you. Prepare to spend hours reprofiling/sharpening, filing, and fitting. Buy some replacement screws and phosphor bronze washers. Get the Locktite ready. When youre finished youll have a $ 30 knife for about $ 25 dollars and half a day of your labor. Cost ready to go about $ 25. Time to flipping, about 4 hours.
My self defense, wildness survival choice? Neither. If I had to choose? Jaguar based on its larger thicker blade and overall higher quality.