Question for the experts

e_utopia · Aug 11, 2000

Okay, I have the balisong bug in a bad way. The only thing saving me is that I'm not allowed any more knives for a few months

. While I pass the time, I was thinking of sketching some bali designs. Could some of the experts out there tell me what they look for in a knife? Size, blade shape, amount of decoration (too much filework would seem to make it hard to use the knife, for example), latch or no, weight, etc., etc.? Since I'm pretty new to this (I've had my BM42 almost a week

), I really don't know what works best and what might look good to me, but detract from actually using the knife. If I manage to draw anything I consider respectable, I'll post it here for all to ridicule

.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

giar · Aug 11, 2000

It's whatever feels comfortable in your hands. I prefer the 45 over the 42(though the 42 puts a smile on my face every time I pick it up). I like the heavier feel of the knife. Not saying that heavier is better...some Bali's such as Taylors have heavy wide handles which seem a bit to much for me. As for blade shape ...I love the way tanto's look...But a lot of people find them difficult to manipulate. By the way i'm far from being a expert..thats just my 2 cents.

NaTeDoGG · Aug 11, 2000

Currently I'm thinking of...

5" (or 4.5") ATS-34 modified spearpoint blade (hopefully hollow ground!!!)
brass (possibly stainless... too heavy??) skeletonized latchless handles
hidden pins (hopefully!!!)

What do you guys think?

[This message has been edited by NaTeDoGG (edited 08-11-2000).]

Soulsire · Aug 11, 2000

Im with NaTeDoGG A hollow ground edge not tapered and brass handles but I still perfer latches and a weehawk blade with the false edge sharpened,Blade length 6 inches over all length 6.5 inches also with a latch gate.
Sweeeet.....

NaTeDoGG · Aug 11, 2000

6" blade, yikes! You want to b able to manipulate it right?

Latches are the devil! Why pay good money for a custom just to have a latch bang it all up?? Even with a lacth gate you still ruin the safe handle and the latch itself.

I say just get a sheath that you really like and carry it that way. I'm sure an expert sheaths-person would love to make you a sheath if you sent them that kind of custom!

Quicksilver27 · Aug 11, 2000

ive been drawing and designing balisongs for 5 or 6 years, and even sent a few designs to Bear MGC and Frost, ive made a few, but they werent exactly perfect. anyways its extremely hard to design and draw a perfect bali

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QuickSilver--"you just gotta be quick....."
http://www.easypages.net/hosting/personal/quicksilver/BalisongsAndMore.html

hot_topic28@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by Quicksilver27 (edited 08-11-2000).]

e_utopia · Aug 12, 2000

Nate, what do you mean by 'modified spearpoint'? I can think of lots of ways to modify a spearpoint, but you probably have a specific one in mind

For now, ignore the latch question; the engineer in me (a little guy who jumped into my head through my ear when I was just a little kid

) is hard at work trying to keep the latching ability, without having the latch bang up the handle. Who knows? Maybe I will have something significant to contribute to the balisong world.

Another question, though: do you prefer the point to be in line with the axis of the handles, or slightly farther toward the spine?

Quicksilver: I know it is hard, but I'll have no chance if I don't try, eh? "Greatness is not in owning perfection; greatness is in striving for perfection" - e_utopia

I think my first project will some modifications to my 42.

Still, keep the ideas coming.

--JB

P.S., I know I have the bali-bug pretty bad; I find myself trying to twirl my car keys areound like a bali (hasn't worked yet

).

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

NaTeDoGG · Aug 12, 2000

Hehe... I twirl my car keys too, I can do aerials.

By 'modified spearpoint' I mean like this, it is a spearpoint with a part of the blade unsharpened. This allows you to manipulate the knife without cutting your index finger clean off, while still having a spearpoint.

Most people are happy with a sharpened swedge on thier weehawk, I want the real thing damnit!

Hollow grind this type of blade... scary!

I count atleast 8 points on a knife where the latch damages the blade (latchgate-less), the latch itself, or the opposite handle. The latch is the only flaw in the design of a balisong, IMO. Make it latchless, spring load it, that may work... but do SOMETHING... latches aren't plausible to keep knives you flip in good condition.

Personally, I'd mod a Jag before I'd mod my 42... you *always* learn something the first time you mod a knife.

[This message has been edited by NaTeDoGG (edited 08-12-2000).]

e_utopia · Aug 12, 2000

Okay, that makes sense. I've always called that a spearpoint, and then just noted if it was double-edge or single-edge. Do you prefer that type or with a flat area on the face of the blade (like Benchmade's 730)?

I know, I should play with some cheap stuff first, but I've always been one for diving in and hoping I figure out how to swim

BFC's great because I can ask all the stupid questions I want to, My current mods are pretty simple, though, so I shouldn't have too much trouble.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

NaTeDoGG · Aug 12, 2000

I prefer a spearpoint with a spine. It looks better and also I believe this is the proper way to do it?

e_utopia · Aug 13, 2000

Quicksilver, can you elaborate on what problems you found separating your bali designs from a 'perfect' bali, that I might not make the same mistakes?

--thanks,
JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

sniperboy · Aug 14, 2000

it always eludes me.. philosophical mumbo jumbo speaking.. the [dream] bali is a knife you can either a) never have or b) cannot envision oin your head but have blurry flashes of.. I think I go for B) I DO know though tha mine has to have heavy handles and has to be 29 cm long.. overal.

and as for learnign stuff from yoru first franlken bali.. I dunno if I learned much but I know I beat that Muther liek there was no tomorrow.. it looks liek a caveman tool now

and here are pele in the swordforum going to hopefully instruct me on how to make a shirasaya out of plain old 2 by 4's

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