- Joined
- Dec 3, 2000
- Messages
- 3,002
(potentially longish)
Well....I done went an' done it now. Went an' bought myself a BM42A this week and MAN I'm in LOVE with this knife! I guess I better start at the beginning, kind of a muse post for me, as I never, ever, expected to appreciate a Balisong.
My first experience with Balisongs was when I was about thirteen or so. I saw "Butterfly knives" for sale in the back of "Boys Life Magazine" and the conversation went like this:
"hey mom! what's a butterfly knife?"
(ad-lib skeptical frown on mommy) "they're an oddly shaped knife that's works kind of like a switchblade, they're highly illegal, and only good for hurting people"
*thought to myself* wow...mom hates it...so it MUST be REALLY cool!!
"sure is funny looking, can I have one if I work hard and save my allowances?"
"NO! there's no use for a knife like that, and your father would never allow it! your Swiss Army Knife should do you fine around the farm!!"
*thought to myself* WOW.....it's been forbidden.....now I gotta have one!
So...I propmptly bought or traded one off another kid, dragged it home, and my mother grudgingly tolerated it, and my father was at work too much to have the time rip me a new one for having it. I played with it, showed off with it, basically a display consisting of slinging it to and fro, smashing it into my knuckles with so much force that if it had the edge of a butterknife it would have amputated my fingers.
I went through the cheapies throughout my teenage years, finally outgrew that kinda junk when I turned 17 or so and started going with more practical knives like....well....the SAK my mother had recommended....and forgot that "butterfly knives" ever existed.
fast forward in time eleven years and two weeks ago when my friend Tony (one of the few other knife nuts I know face to face) tells me how he's looking for a good deal on a Benchmade Balisong, and I told him I'd keep an eye out for one, trade for it if I had to, and I'd resell it to him, since I have no use for them.
Then I went into the local knifeshop and 'lo an' behold there's a whole buncha BM's and SWAT's so, I ask to paw one, just to see what my buddy liked so much about them. (I'd yet to see a well made one) As soon as my meaty forepaws closed in that knife there was a jumble of words that sprang to my lil' mind....words like "light, beautiful, graceful, simple, strong, tight,agile" And I knew I'd have to get one....so....earlier this week I did. Chose it over a SWAT cause I favored the titanium, the shorter blade, the profile, and quite honestly that anodized titanium is SO pretty! So, now I can't put it down. My wife keeps doing her best to commandeer it from me #1 because SHE wants it, and #2 cause I'm constantly playing with it. My justification for getting a SWAT now is because it's quieter, and less likely to bug her...*L*
Anyways, there's alot that appeals to me about these knives now. the slim, smooth handling, razor sharp edge and point, and the fact that when locked it feels like a fixed blade is just a little of what appeals to me. I know the "fixed blade lock up is usually reserved for Sebenzas, but it really did feel that good to me.
Another good thing about it is that I never, ever have idle hands....I have GOT to be doing something with my hands at all times...it's sheer torture for my hands to stay still for even five minutes at a time, and it seems I could have alot more fun learning to manipulate a Bali than flipping one of my regular tactical knives open and shut all the time. Right now I'm spending this month on the first three openings displayed on "Balisong xtreme" and trying to pick up some of the exercises better. by the end of the first evening I'd recieved a rather bloody lesson about the bite handle. *L*
There's also...something to be said about developing a unique skill with a weapon or tool. Back when I was much more heavily into firearms, nuthin' made me grin broader than going to the range with my buddies and thier autos, and shooting more accurately than them, reloading faster, and overall handling my weapon better than they did. (favorite revolver was a S&W 625 three inch .45 acp) And...that's kinda the way I'm feeling about the Balisongs, a more unique skill to develop and..it's hard to explain...a more personal bond with your knife...(trying not to get into a buncha metaphysical babble about the souls of inanimate objects)
Three of my concerns are:
I have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (too much abuse to my shoulders and arms) and I'm afraid of agitating it. Usually if something is gonna be bad news for the wrists I find out in short order, so far with the Balisong, I have hardly put it down, and suffer very little irritation. One of these days I'll get 'em fixed anyways. And in a worst case scenario, I can still use a basic opening and enjoy the knife for what it is, without all the neat stuff.
I'm a volunteer EMT, and known to have other folks' blood on my forepaws from time to time, which makes the idea of hands with "bites" on them rather even less appealing with all the bloodborne creeping cruds and pathogens lurking about. Of course I wear latex gloves, but....they do break. Simple solution of course is to tape my blade, and or get a drone to start learning new openings and closings and such with.
Third issue is minor, but as I recall they are illegal to carry up here, but I doubt anyone would care. I used to carry an entire myriad of autos that I'd use in front of LEO's and I never had a problem. Once again, a little discretion often goes a long ways.
Anyways, I hope my post didn't become too long or boring, just wanted to mention I'll probably be here in the "Balisong forum" alot more often and I look forward to learning more.
Well....I done went an' done it now. Went an' bought myself a BM42A this week and MAN I'm in LOVE with this knife! I guess I better start at the beginning, kind of a muse post for me, as I never, ever, expected to appreciate a Balisong.
My first experience with Balisongs was when I was about thirteen or so. I saw "Butterfly knives" for sale in the back of "Boys Life Magazine" and the conversation went like this:
"hey mom! what's a butterfly knife?"
(ad-lib skeptical frown on mommy) "they're an oddly shaped knife that's works kind of like a switchblade, they're highly illegal, and only good for hurting people"
*thought to myself* wow...mom hates it...so it MUST be REALLY cool!!
"sure is funny looking, can I have one if I work hard and save my allowances?"
"NO! there's no use for a knife like that, and your father would never allow it! your Swiss Army Knife should do you fine around the farm!!"
*thought to myself* WOW.....it's been forbidden.....now I gotta have one!
So...I propmptly bought or traded one off another kid, dragged it home, and my mother grudgingly tolerated it, and my father was at work too much to have the time rip me a new one for having it. I played with it, showed off with it, basically a display consisting of slinging it to and fro, smashing it into my knuckles with so much force that if it had the edge of a butterknife it would have amputated my fingers.
I went through the cheapies throughout my teenage years, finally outgrew that kinda junk when I turned 17 or so and started going with more practical knives like....well....the SAK my mother had recommended....and forgot that "butterfly knives" ever existed.
fast forward in time eleven years and two weeks ago when my friend Tony (one of the few other knife nuts I know face to face) tells me how he's looking for a good deal on a Benchmade Balisong, and I told him I'd keep an eye out for one, trade for it if I had to, and I'd resell it to him, since I have no use for them.
Then I went into the local knifeshop and 'lo an' behold there's a whole buncha BM's and SWAT's so, I ask to paw one, just to see what my buddy liked so much about them. (I'd yet to see a well made one) As soon as my meaty forepaws closed in that knife there was a jumble of words that sprang to my lil' mind....words like "light, beautiful, graceful, simple, strong, tight,agile" And I knew I'd have to get one....so....earlier this week I did. Chose it over a SWAT cause I favored the titanium, the shorter blade, the profile, and quite honestly that anodized titanium is SO pretty! So, now I can't put it down. My wife keeps doing her best to commandeer it from me #1 because SHE wants it, and #2 cause I'm constantly playing with it. My justification for getting a SWAT now is because it's quieter, and less likely to bug her...*L*
Anyways, there's alot that appeals to me about these knives now. the slim, smooth handling, razor sharp edge and point, and the fact that when locked it feels like a fixed blade is just a little of what appeals to me. I know the "fixed blade lock up is usually reserved for Sebenzas, but it really did feel that good to me.
Another good thing about it is that I never, ever have idle hands....I have GOT to be doing something with my hands at all times...it's sheer torture for my hands to stay still for even five minutes at a time, and it seems I could have alot more fun learning to manipulate a Bali than flipping one of my regular tactical knives open and shut all the time. Right now I'm spending this month on the first three openings displayed on "Balisong xtreme" and trying to pick up some of the exercises better. by the end of the first evening I'd recieved a rather bloody lesson about the bite handle. *L*
There's also...something to be said about developing a unique skill with a weapon or tool. Back when I was much more heavily into firearms, nuthin' made me grin broader than going to the range with my buddies and thier autos, and shooting more accurately than them, reloading faster, and overall handling my weapon better than they did. (favorite revolver was a S&W 625 three inch .45 acp) And...that's kinda the way I'm feeling about the Balisongs, a more unique skill to develop and..it's hard to explain...a more personal bond with your knife...(trying not to get into a buncha metaphysical babble about the souls of inanimate objects)
Three of my concerns are:
I have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (too much abuse to my shoulders and arms) and I'm afraid of agitating it. Usually if something is gonna be bad news for the wrists I find out in short order, so far with the Balisong, I have hardly put it down, and suffer very little irritation. One of these days I'll get 'em fixed anyways. And in a worst case scenario, I can still use a basic opening and enjoy the knife for what it is, without all the neat stuff.
I'm a volunteer EMT, and known to have other folks' blood on my forepaws from time to time, which makes the idea of hands with "bites" on them rather even less appealing with all the bloodborne creeping cruds and pathogens lurking about. Of course I wear latex gloves, but....they do break. Simple solution of course is to tape my blade, and or get a drone to start learning new openings and closings and such with.
Third issue is minor, but as I recall they are illegal to carry up here, but I doubt anyone would care. I used to carry an entire myriad of autos that I'd use in front of LEO's and I never had a problem. Once again, a little discretion often goes a long ways.
Anyways, I hope my post didn't become too long or boring, just wanted to mention I'll probably be here in the "Balisong forum" alot more often and I look forward to learning more.
).