Super Newbie ! what you use your Bali For

B

Brandon -B-

Joined
Aug 11, 2001
Messages
347
Howdy this is my first post on this forum and I have to say that there is no offense intended toward anyone with Balisongs or anyone that reads this post. My question is an honest one and by the responses to other questions on this post i am sure that you will be gentle:D I used to own two (probably) cheap a** balis when i was in the 5 th grade and loved manipulateing them the two ways I knew how. Now that I am using and enjoying other knives that are purpose driven ie. hunting knife, tactical knife, utility knife. I wonder what all of you use your Balisong Knives for. (I know they are fun as hell to play with and learn techniques but I mean like every day use) would you use them like a Kershaw Boa for tactical and utility applications. do any of you use a bali for EDC? is a Bali mostly a tactical weapon? Is there anywhere that it is legal to own or use? I am interested in getting a nice bali but wonder if I'll ever use it or carry it. I had the the same kind of questions about neck knives but now I carry a REKAT hobbit fang every day so that should sho you that I am genuinely interested in the answers. thanks again guys

Brandon
 
Well, I found out about this forum some months ago and wanted to have a Bali for recreation between knife purchases (still working on those finger twirls).

After only a week or so of manipulating my BM42 I noticed an increase in finger dexterity and strength. It´s kind of the same feeling when you do PT. You feel more alive when you notice a capacity increase of what your body can do. Maybe it sounds a bit corny but that´s the best way to describe it.

I saw that you mentioned carrying a REKAT Hobbit fang, maybe you are carrying it for selfdefense (too). Manipulating a Bali is a nice way of getting a good feel for sharp objects. Gripchanges can be done much faster on a non-bali knife after some Bali training.

Oh, almost forgot, it´s fun too. :D

/Colinz
 
i used to carry my bali for self defence. but then i lost it when i was carrying it through the customs into sweden (very stupid of me, i agree). ;)

now i just use it to gain/increase confidence, currage and finger flexibility. for manipulating reasons, of course :D

i don't think i'll carry a bali any more, since they are illegal in this country, and the penalty for wearing a knife here is minimum 6 months in prison :( (allthough i only got a fine when i was caught in the customs...)
 
Wow, another new member. Nice to have two in the last day or so. Brandon, what you need is to go to a Balisong Collector photoshoot. Click Here
 
Here in the great state of Ohio balisongs are legal as long as they are not concealed. Currently I'm using my BM47A as my EDC. I do rotate several other BM balisongs around with my EDC. A balisong is a perfect work knife for me since I'm a martial arts instructor:). I use my balisong for everything from manipulating to cutting open boxes.
 
I usen mine last night to dig up a carrot out of the garden to add to my stuffing... When I say EDC, I mean it, from pencil sharpener, to (I know, I shouldn't...) Prybar.:D
 
Welcome to the Balisong Forum Brandon.

Sure, I cut things with my balis, like boxes, rope, food, packages, and anything else that I feel should be seperated into 2 or more parts. But, for me, there's a LOT more to the Balisong than just a cutting edge. As a few people have mentioned, manipulating is more than just fun, it's good for you. People overlook how important it is to excersize your hands, especially if you are into fixed blades and other non-balisong folders. It's hard to appreciate what a little finger workout will do until you just happen to catch that falling 10 lb. sandbag with the tips of two fingers (happened last night :D).

And as a tool, the balisong is far more than a knife. I'll try to make a short list of things I use my BM42 for... Bottle opener, nail puller, wire cutter, wire stripper, rope handle, nut cracker, straight edge, pliers and on occasion a roach clip (I know there a few of you here wanted to know that ;)). Plus the latch itself is excellent for pulling stubborn bits of metal out of things by pushing the object between one of the lips of the latch and your thumb. And there is no faster way to remove the safety from a bic lighter than using the latch as a lever. And if you put a couple of screws through the holes in the handle to a pole, you've just made yourself a temporary but sturdy spear (if BM heard about that one, you can be sure they'd include it in the "How to Void Your Warranty" section of the included paperwork :)).

And Tony, being a Wisconsinite, I can assure you that they work great for cheese.
 
Originally posted by Agent-A1
How do you use it as a roach clip, Blasto?
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I just KNEW someone was going to ask details on that. :D Tell you what, I'll email it to you as I don't see it being appropriate on this forum. Check your mail.
 
If you don't know, then you haven't practiced enough. And here I thought "partakers" were supposed to be creative?!?!?
 
EDC? Now, you fancy folk need to remember that there be some newbie floatin round here that don't know the lingo... :cool:

Vats da EDC??

Educationally Demented Carrier?
Euphemistically and Demonstratively Challenged?
Euphonium Drum Corps?

:D

Peace
Pj
 
Welcome to the Forum...hope you come back now and then! Most everything you use any other knife for.., a Balisong will suffice and get the job done, but obviously it's primary historical use has been a "weapon".

Blasto just about covered the entire domain actually, although I must admit.."Roach Clip" is creative :rolleyes:....geeesh Dave...pop for some locking forceps and keep the resin off those Micarta inserts. ;)

Play around a little and you'll come up with tons of stuff that will make your Balisong your friend...., and stop by again!

"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what the [NEED]"
 
I'm obviously still a serious newbie to the Bali, but I've carried a knife in my pocket practically every day of my life since a teen. (Back then, there weren't the problems in high school with pocket knives...times change).

Now, I'm carrying my Bali, and using it for the tool that my knife has always been. Bottle opener, instant tool, wire stripper, fingernail tool, letter opener, eyeglass fixer, sticky-label remover, shrink-wrap cutter, salami and cheese slicer... The list goes on.

The only real difference is the addition of Diddly-wah to the list. Something to keep my hands busy. Something to fiddle with, when my hands crave action. Yeah, I'm one of those.

Well, maybe there's an additional difference of doing all the above with flash, and a bit of style. :)

Pj - Diddly-wah addict for YEARS

Oh, PS: Thanks for the education on EDC. <schmecking forehead> Looks like I've been EDCing for my whole life, and just didn't know it! :rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by Piper Jon
...The only real difference is the addition of Diddly-wah to the list. Something to keep my hands busy. Something to fiddle with, when my hands crave action. Yeah, I'm one of those...
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Same here Jon :D
 
You all said that manipulating builds finger strength and dexterity. Think it'd work for limbering up for playing the fiddle? I can see it now: I unpack my fiddle and whip out a knife and start playing with it. :) I'm right handed, though; how hard is it to start manipulating with your non-dominant hand?

Asha'man
 
Careful, though...

My wife got me a banjo for my B-day, and little cuts on your hand, can hamper your playing...:D
 
Well Asha'man, it's actually not TOO hard to learn with your non-dominate hand. There's all sorts of ways to learn with you other hand. You should check out Clay's site. It has some way's you can learn how to do this. There's two different pages and you should read both of them. Here's the links to them http://www.balisongxtreme.com/baliplanet2/tips/10-17-99.htm and http://www.balisongxtreme.com/baliplanet2/tips/10-24-99.htm.

"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you." -- Aldous Huxley
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