Nugget of gold, or piece of ****?

Kalindras

Kalindras

Joined
Aug 24, 1999
Messages
933
Hey, you Swingers!

Thought I'd pop over and ask the folks in the know if you boys had any idea on a rough value for this Balisong I just acquired:

Pacific Cutlery, Tanto style blade, skeletonized handles (feel like steel, but might be aluminum). Pins, not bolts, at all joints, and in apparently good shape.

Do I have anything worth preserving? Or is this one of those cheesy knockoff throwaways that I shouldn't feel bad about using day-to-day? Thoughts? Anyone? Bueller?

Thanks, guys!


------------------
Vaya con Queso!!!
 
Junk, mail it to me and I'll dispose of it properly.

Actually, PC's are good stuff, they are the forerunner of Benchmade. I'd hang on to it, or you could probably sell it for a decent bit of cash if you were moved to do so. Don't know what model #, but I'm sure someone on here will.

Tique
 
I will buy it from you
smile.gif
I love tantos!

-Howdy
 
Thanks, guys!

I thought I remembered Pacific Cutlery as being one of the better makers, a ways back, but then I was stricken with momentary Alzheimer's, and couldn't remember for sure.

Thanks for clearing it up for me. I'll take good care of her, and maybe, just maybe, after I've got her cleaned up a little bit, I'll try to find a good home with someone who can appreciate her properly. Not that I don't like her lines, but I know that some of the regulars here would probably be more to her liking. Take her for daily swings, whisper sweet nothings to her in, etc...

biggrin.gif


We'll see. I'll try to get a good pic and make a post later on with details, so I can find out what model she is...

------------------
Vaya con Queso!!!
 
Try selling it to Mr. TNO over on Blade Auctions. Maybe you'll get a good grand for it
biggrin.gif
!
 
PICS!! PICS!! PICS!!
biggrin.gif


Hmmm, skeletonized handles, not slotted, PC tanto. Are the pins hidden? (flush with the handles) Does it say International Series anywhere on the bali? How long is the balisong fully opened....7.5 inches or 9"??

------------------
Cameron

011.gif
"Look deep, deep inside and you will find a place of anger, vengeance, and brutality. Go there. It is your last hope to conquer the truly wicked."
uriel.gif

A few of my balisongs
My Photopoint album
 
In answer to several questions:

1) I traded a 17" Compaq monitor for: the Balisong, a 9" Bowie blank from Jantz, two Bianchi gun storage bags, and $50. I got it from a good friend of mine who used to collect knives, but not in any organized fashion. Originally, he wanted to trade me a Gerber Survival Knife, but I didn't care for the look of it. So he offered me this one instead. Now I'm starting to feel like I may have cheated him...

2) The handles are skeletonized, but the holes are elongated, so perhaps I should have called them slotted? Anyway, they aren't solid, so I think of them as 'skeletonized.' Sorry if I caused any confusion.

3) I'd have to say, at a glance, that it's 9".

4) I don't have it on me at the moment, but I remember seeing "International Series," marked on the blade.

5) Pins aren't what I consider to be hidden--i.e., if you needed to, you could peen them over to tighten the blade and catch up. I considered it, but after finding out that this was a better quality piece, I decided to hold off. The blade fit-up is tight, with no wobble at all when the piece is opened. The catch is a tad loose when the knife is closed, but it's solid when opened, as well. The pins do actually rise above the handles--they look like maybe they were done with a head spinner? I don't know that much about Balisongs, so I can't swear to construction methods. Fill me in!

Thanks again for all the interest, and I'll try to get a pic tonight!



------------------
Vaya con Queso!!!
 
Yep, that's it. Only the one I have doesn't have the engraving on the blade. It looks more like the info was etched on. The butterfly is engraved, but no the other. But that's definitely the piece!

------------------
Vaya con Queso!!!
 
That is a PC (Pacific Cutlery) model 138, the handles are considered slotted; skeletonized looks like this:
View




------------------
Cameron

011.gif
"Look deep, deep inside and you will find a place of anger, vengeance, and brutality. Go there. It is your last hope to conquer the truly wicked."
uriel.gif

A few of my balisongs
My Photopoint album
 
Ahhh, so that's the difference...btw, what happened to that one? I looks like the handle got heated up on accident, and maybe splashed with flux? Or am I mistaking anodizing for annealing?

Anyway, I'm going to kill my camera. I've taken like, a dozen pics of this thing, trying to get the marks clear and big enough for you guys to see, but it just isn't happening. Anyway, now that I have the Bali in front of me, the markings are as follows:

[edge down, point to the left] Butterfly logo with "BALI-SONG" inside it, nearest the hinges, in what I assume is the standard location; just below logo is the "INTERNATIONAL SERIES" marking

[edge down, point to the right] On flat of blade, extending slightly onto the bevel, is marked the Copyright symbol, followed by, "1985" then below it, "PACIFIC CUTLERY CORP." and below that, "JAPAN".

All of the above marks have been etched, and not engraved. How long did Pacific Cutlery last, before they became Benchmade? Is there any way to tell if this is an early or late run piece? Elsewhere I've seen it noted that NIB pieces like this run about $100. If I was going to add this piece to my insurance on my collection, what would some of you experts out there value it at? I appreciate all the help, it's really kept me from probably ruining an interesting piece of the industry's history, not to mention a fantastic piece of art!


------------------
Vaya con Queso!!!
 
Those knives, in the tanto configuration, are hard to find.......I would think that the knife, with the original box as they didn't come with a sheath, in new condition would bring $175 or more. I sold some PC140's for $150 that were new in the box....
View
Here's a link to some other PC stuff...... http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=667533&a=8746589


[This message has been edited by Dawkind (edited 12-01-2000).]
 
Hey, Dawkind! Thanks for the tips! BTW, in a moment of strangeness...

The piece I have actually does have a sheath. I asked my friend about it, and he said that it was the only PC he ever bought. Weird, eh? The sheath is pretty standard, as I would guess by your other photos (love that double edged 4", btw!!), in black Cordura (ballistic nylon? Whatever they're calling it nowadays...) with the butterfly and "BALI-SONG" label on the front bottom...

It fits pretty well, and I don't think it's an aftermarket--I dunno, did PC ever sell the sheaths separately?

Curiouser and curiouser...



------------------
Vaya con Queso!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top