No balisongs near the water!

R

Raylas

Joined
Jul 27, 2012
Messages
504
So, I was looking back on BM's balisong lines, and I felt this needed to be discussed: Benchmade has basically excluded anybody that lives near water, or anybody that has acidic sweat from buying a balisong by the choice of steel they use.

Now, I've TRIED using BM's D2, I rusted it to the point of worthlessness in a matter of weeks. What I don't understand is WHY BM switched their steel type. Prior to the 62, they made balisongs in 440C and 154CM, even a spring run in S30V. I wish they still made them with those materials. I'm not saying they should ditch D2, but OFFER the other steels at least.

I LOVE the designs of the balisongs, but I'm completely unable to buy them because my body chemistry will destroy them, and all the older models are priced INSANELY high, well beyond my current means to purchase without a LONG run up time. I'm effectively rendered unable to buy my favorite balisong designs due to the exclusive use of D2. I really think it would be a good idea to offer different blade steels for the designs, or at least an OPTION to upgrade the steel, even if it was for a price.
 
I live in upstate NY near a marsh. Almost every day the area is shrouded in a heavy fog. My sweat is also acidic and will corrode anything non-stainless readily.
 
^ There aren't very many in my price range. WE have the bradley lines (discontinued) The tachyon 2 (Exclusive to bladeHQ and they won't sell them to me), 29 knives (WAY out of my price range, and no way to contact the guy) Baliballistics (See 29 knives) Bear (Don't make me laugh) and Benchmade (Only uses D2, all stainless models discontinued and price gouged). Do you know of any that make a knife that fits a sub $400 price range, has stainless blades, and can be flipped? If you do, please tell me. I'm BEGGING you.
 
The Bradleys can still be found in stock for less than $100.

As far as Benchmade goes, I'm going to guess that the balisong market for sweaty acidic guys who live in the swamp is fairly low.
 
And the market for brittle, rust prone steel is high?

I've never been able to find a mayhem in stock for under 100, nor a kimura from a vendor that would ship except for ONE time. I have it, but I'd like more than ONE.
 
I doubt a bead blasted Kimura in 14C28N wouldn't stand much of a chance against acidic sweat and relentless moisture. Sounds like you should save up. ;)


glocker199 said:
The Bradleys can still be found in stock for less than $100.

As far as Benchmade goes, I'm going to guess that the balisong market for sweaty acidic guys who live in the swamp is fairly low.
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Not the Mayhem I don't think. The least expensive I've seen them was just a hair under $190.
 
Raylas said:
And the market for brittle, rust prone steel is high?
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D2 is brittle and rust prone, that's news to me:rolleyes:

Do you know of any that make a knife that fits a sub $400 price range, has stainless blades, and can be flipped? If you do, please tell me. I'm BEGGING you.
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BRS alpha beast, $370 new, can usually be found for less on the secondary market
 
I get where you're coming from, more options are obviously always better, and a stainless blade is not an unreasonable request. Who knows their reasons for limited steel choices on their balisong lines.

I understand D2 on the 62 since its more heavy duty, but would of liked an option for 154cm or S30v on the 51. Seems logical for a light weight knife geared towards everyday carry.

Why not pick up a 42 used? They come up for sale every now and then.
 
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Redmasta said:
I get where you're coming from, more options are obviously always better, and a stainless blade is not an unreasonable request. Who knows their reasons for limited steel choices on their balisong lines.

I understand D2 on the 62 since its more heavy duty, but would of liked an option for 154cm or S30v on the 51. Seems logical for a light weight knife geared towards everyday carry.

Why not pick up a 42 used? They come up for sale every now and then.
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I completely agree, get a 42, it is more than worth the money, heck, I even got one with a D2 blade,lol.

Search out a 51-1101, it's an LE with a S30V blade, it's what I EDC along with my grip, 530 or the 2102 forum knife
 
^ Sorry, but the 42's are priced WAY to high. The only ones I've seen for sale were priced at over $500.

And 51-1101: I searched it, found nothing, said "screw it I'm gonna go custom" because I don't need the extra effort of finding some limited edition knife because benchmade can't be bothered to use stainless steel on their balis. I got better things to do, and I found a custom maker that offered me a WONDERFUL price and will make exactly what I want!
 
Raylas said:
I live in upstate NY near a marsh. Almost every day the area is shrouded in a heavy fog. My sweat is also acidic and will corrode anything non-stainless readily.
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Sounds interesting. Any pictures of some fog and sweat rusted knifes?
All I ever had rust was some old cheap spring steel which I had on vacation in a hot and very humid place in India, touched with my hands, never wiped it and didn't oil on purpose just to see what happens. After 8 weeks there appeared a bit of surface rust which took me a few minutes with an oily cloth.
So yes I'm interested to see how different steels fare at even worse conditions.
Thank you in advance.
 
Oddly enough, a teammate of mine (cycling) hails from upstate New York, and he regularly rusts the coated bolts and cables on his bikes. I've seen areas on his bike where his sweat has corroded aluminum into a nasty white crumbly mess. The top tubes of all of his bikes are also missing most of the paint clear coat because of his venomous perspiration.

Before you guys harsh on Raylas, just realize he probably does have a legitimate claim.
 
Not being harsh (in case you meant me) really just want to see some pictures to get an idea. If its really super bad it would be a reason for me not to move close to any ocean.
The corroded aluminum bicycle also makes me curious for more. Sounds almost like alien blood which can eat through a whole spaceship :)
 
I've warned him several times that the clear coat is necessary to protect the carbon fiber and resin underneath. Without that, the frames can become brittle and snap. Some people just don't learn until they're in the emergency room ;)
 
The marsh is currently covered in snow and ice, but I DO have two knives that got their asses beat laying in a drawer. I'll snap some pics over the weekend if I get the chance. They ain't pretty, but I'll show you. One is a carbon mora the other is a bowie made of I THINK O1, not sure if it was that or something else.

and I'm actually NOT near the sea, I just live near a marshy place and it rains and fogs a LOT. It also tends to be horribly humid during the summer, and wet and cold during the winter.
 
A little daily maintenance will be enough. I've never heard anybody get so upset about a fairly corrosion resistant steel before.

I can use O-1, 1095, super blue, any steel I've encountered in fact in any part of the country including the super humid, wet swampy valley I live in with a little daily maintenance. Very little. I have extremely salty sweat and one can't help but sweat here in the spring through fall. I regularly take non stainless ans well as stainless knives with me in and out of the ocean, pools, swamps, whatever.

I would only worry if I was on a raft in the south pacific for a few weeks and had no way to clean it.

If you can rust a knife like the one you describe to "destroy" a blade in under 5 to 10 years than you indeed are not human, or you are exaggerating.

Try doing some maintenance.
 
Raylas said:
The marsh is currently covered in snow and ice, but I DO have two knives that got their asses beat laying in a drawer. I'll snap some pics over the weekend if I get the chance. They ain't pretty, but I'll show you. One is a carbon mora the other is a bowie made of I THINK O1, not sure if it was that or something else.

and I'm actually NOT near the sea, I just live near a marshy place and it rains and fogs a LOT. It also tends to be horribly humid during the summer, and wet and cold during the winter.
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Well, that just sounds like a little piece of heaven if you ask me. :p

In all seriousness, body chemistry is a factor when it comes to rusting out steel. Medication, dehydration, diet, and other things can contribute to this. The best advice so far was given by Joe. Maintaining a knife is simple and takes little to no time. By the way, even in Arizona, the carbon steel rusts almost immediately. You don't need to live in Smaug. ;)
 
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