seashell in balisong??

C

cua

Joined
Dec 28, 2000
Messages
22
Has anybody come up yet w/ balisong in the U.S. that has somehow incorporate mother of pearl slabs (mop) to its handle?

or let me reverse the question.do you think balisong collectors might like to have balisong w/ these type elite type of handle materials combined?. do you think balisong lovers might like to have fancy seashell material stuff on their handles? Is this idea consider something new/exotic perhaps?

any opinion would be greatly appreciated.This is Mr. cua , who cuts MOP here in the Philippines.
 
I think some of the high end custom balisongs have had MOP inserts, but I could be wrong. I know I for one would be interested in a balisong with MOP inserts, but I currently am running too low on cash to pick one up.
 
I know that some did have MOP inserts. I too would love to have a Bali with MOP but I would be very scared to use it knowing that if it drops, the handle inserts will most likely crack.
 
MOP is my personal favorite insert material. It's an option on the new Gemini customs from Darrel Ralph. You may have seen the one I had in "The Vault" on my website earlier this year that had black-lip MOP inserts. Just wonderful.

MOP is dimensionally stable. It does not expand or contract with changes in temperature or humidity or with age and so it does not crack, check, or fall out. It requires no special care.

The myth that MOP is delicate is just that, a myth. Yes, it is a brittle material and, if you strike it, it will crack or even shatter. Unprotected corners or edges can be chipped. But consider, for example, the handle design on the Gemini balisong. The inserts are "framed". They are fully surrounded by metal. So, there are no exposed edges or corners. As long as you don't pound on the knife or drop it onto a rough, hard surface, the inserts will be fine.

Ken Elgin made many balsiongs with MOP that proved quite durable.

MOP -- it's a great material.


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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
BTW, one of the fine gifts I received for Christmas this year was a knife made entirely of MOP. Of course, such a knife would be a bit brittle for demanding use and it doesn't have much of an edge. So, what's the purpose, you ask? Well, it is a caviar knife, of course. Caviar must not be touched by any metal since metal will spoil the flavor (or so I'm told). So, it is always served with utensils made of wood or bone or ivory or, in the case of this knife, MOP. Inasmuchas I eat so much caviar, I'm sure that this interesting little knife will see plenty of use... well, it's an interesting thing to set out so that people will think that you eat a lot of caviar anyway.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Gollnick:
Inasmuchas I eat so much caviar, I'm sure that this interesting little knife will see plenty of use...
</font>
Click to expand...

Yuck
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~Howdy

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much [he] learned in seven years."
-- Mark Twain
 
Thanks gollnick for your information..I can see that you are' walking enclyclopedia' for the subject Is it possible to lead me where I can see some sample pictures of shell inserts on these balisong and whether Mr. Ken Elgin is still making or not regarding these? your explanation makes alot of sense regarding the design. Mind if I stick around in this forum regarding some more questions ? Im somebody who has access to info or materials regarding philippine balisong since the whole town is called balisong and is a century old traditionalcraft for these rural folks . Once in a while I passed there . Im even too surprised to discover that there is a forum entirely devoted to this subject.


 
Thanks for the pictures, they are great and indeed exotic .!!! Any others types perhaps?.(even other shells) I seldom /never see these type even in any local balisong stores here that’s for sure.thanks chefget!
 
Mr Cua,

We would love to have your contributions.

Abalone is another wonderful shell material, but large pieces of it are uncommon, so it usually shows up in multiple insert designs.

Gold Lip MOP is unique to the waters around the Philippines, so that's what I selected as the MOP option for the Gemini balisongs as sort of tribute to the balisong's associations with the Philippines.

Oh, and as for the caviar, I'm not a big fan (haven't had any in years) since it's rather salty and I generally don't like really salty things. But, that little caviar knife is still a great piece. Maybe I'll ask Mr. Cua to make me a balisong entirely of MOP to be a caviar balisong
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Mr. Chefget,

Those are great examples of some balisongs with MOP. Thanks for posting those so quickly.

You can see in the antique English piece that the MOP has cracked right where one of the pins goes through. This is classic. Cracks in MOP almost always come from either an exposed edge or a hole. The problem is that the hole for the pin wasn't drilled properly. When mounting MOP with pins, you have to use pins with heads, nails essentially, and drill the hole to large so that the pin is not compressing the MOP. MOP may be dimensionally stable, but the metal in the handle and in the pin is not.

Most of the classic Filipino Handmade balisongs use pins to hold the inserts and suffer this same problem.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 



#We would love to have your contributions.
=Sure gollnick. I am willing to contribute someway somehow to this balisong forum its going to be two way sharing
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#Abalone is another wonderful shell material, but large pieces of it are uncommon, so it usually shows up in multiple insert designs.
= I dont know if it is piece up together or what. But if you can scan later on how it was incorporated in a balisong that would be great

#Gold Lip MOP is unique to the waters around the Philippines, so that's what I selected as the MOP option for the Gemini balisongs as sort of tribute to the balisong's associations with the Philippines.
=yes, I wonder why shells, even mop are seldom used, on it ,even locals seldom used this. I wonder why?. The way I think of it, shells need to be used since it somehow associates to asian regions. The way gollnick explain how mop either white or gold can be used by surrounding it w/ metal edging, thats great and I think my goldlip slabs can be finally used for that purpose.

#Oh, and as for the caviar, I'm not a big fan (haven't had any in years) since it's rather salty and I generally don't like really salty things. But, that little caviar knife is
is still a great piece.
= im very sorry gollnick for my ignorance. what is a caviar by the way?
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Maybe I'll ask Mr. Cua to make me a balisong entirely of MOP to be a caviar balisong
= there are limitation to length (sizes ) that an mop can reach just remmember that.well all suggestions/ideas are welcome anyway
=Talking about balisong novelites. Is very small type of balisong common in the U.S. very small ,jsuta few inches. (miniatures, for keychains and such) also how about a balisong that isnt blade but it’s a comb, flip it up , people though it’s a knife but viola!! It’s a comb (lol!!)

 
Caviar is salted and seasoned fish eggs. I myself don't like the stuff. Maybe if I didn't know what it is I might like it more, but the thought of fish eggs kind of creeps me out.

As for novelty balisongs, we have little miniature keychain ones, with little one inch blades. We also have balisong combs. Right now it's all that I have to flip... it's sad I know. The think has taken quite a beating from me.
 
# Okay , thanks for the explanation. Mr. Jgardner .I think I now recall seeing that thing in discovery channel about an industry somewhere in middle east( I think) catching that kind of fish and getting just the eggs. And is consider a "food for the gods" (very expensive stuff ,sort of status symbol if I may presumed.) I dont know if that is
it ?nothing here of that sort. But if eggs is to talk about, we have duckeggs , w/ "fetal" chick in it to swallowd up whole called "Balut"! Uniquetly filipino like the balisong!!!! W/ a unique flavor. No! no creeps, I personally like it, its very delicious and is a approdisiac!!! Im not kidding. Good "staying" power.

#As for novelty balisongs, we have little miniature keychain ones, with little one inch blades.
= oh yeah.? I wonder if mop can be incorported there sicne its small anyway. I wonder if its made here or made there?

#We also have balisong combs. Right now it's all that I have to flip... it's sad I know. The think has taken quite a beating from me.
= you mean to say,real ones illegal at you state or something , too bad. But the very first thing to be surpried of. Its only my rough idea not realizing that there is already that being materialized .(well , Im still proud of my imagination, good try ) is it made there? I wonder where I can buy that?

 
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