tape / dull the blade

C

chris_64

Joined
Nov 2, 2001
Messages
24
Hey all, I was wondering if you had any Ideas about taping the blade or maybe dulling it a bit. I just got a bm 43 i'm a newbie and i know its hard to dull the blade of a knife but after 7-8 cuts inn the first two days i'm really thinking of it. Maybe Tape. I'm wondering what all of you guys did in this matter thanx all
:confused:
 
Hi there chris_64

I'll tell what I do with my trusty old bali, I use Scotch tape. Simply take a piece, place the edge in the middle of the tape (lengthwise) and stick to either side of the blade. I do this a couple of times to prevent the edge from poping through. One nice thing about Scotch tape is that it doesn't tend to leave a sticky residue. Clay at balisongxtreme uses the liquid plastic that you can coat old plier handles with and such.

www.balisongxtreme.com
 
If money is no object, dull the blade on one and buy another knife to keep sharp. That way, you have one to practice new moves with and another to use when you want to apply the moves you already know. Otherwise, my vote is definitely to tape the blade. The reason I don’t like dulling your only knife is because it is unlikely that you will dull the knife every time you want to learn a new move, and then sharpen it once you have that move down. That would just be a waste of time and steel. Another problem is that working with a dull knife all the time will just end up encouraging bad habits that you wouldn’t pick up if you were working with a live edge. After all, half the fun of these knives is being able to manipulate them without getting cut. If you work with a dull edge all the time, your knife becomes more of a toy than a tool. Where’s the skill involved in manipulating if you don’t have any chance of getting hurt? Not sharp = not impressive.:D
 
Welcome to the Forums.., hope you enjoy!!!

I'd go with the tape if I were you.., especially since you are dealing with a very nice new knife. Dulling the blade isn't that difficult if you've done it lots, and know how to dull/restore the edge, but it sounds like you're sort of new to all this????

Another viable alternative would be to pick up a "beater" like a Jaguar Balisong ($15-$20 if you look around the net). You could just dull the edge with any common file.., and use this as a "Beginner Balsiong".., until you get enough feel so you aren't slicing yourself up so much :eek: !!

The Jag is a heavier piece than your BM.., so it would feel significantly different. On a positive note.., the additonal weight will also build tendon strength a little faster as you learn various manipulations, as will practicing the exercises on Clay's site.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of advice from these guys on here also..., everyone is really supportive and willing to chip in with whatever has worked for them personally. We've all been there.., so just keep plugging :)...., and pick up some Neosporin on the way home for those cuts ;) ! <~~ That wasn't sarcasm, it really works well!!

See ya...come back and let us know how you are doing!


Clay's site (if you didn't know) http://www.BalisongXtreme.com



"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
Unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket, I wouldn't dull the blade. Maybe you should analyze how you are practicing. Beginner techniques don't involve a high level of risk. If you are constantly cutting yourself, you should either practice the moves very slowly first or try easier techniques until such time as you are ready to move on.
One thing I find useful is to hold the bite handle with your non-knife hand and run through the move <i>very slowly</i> before attempting it full speed. Well, thats my advice for now... good luck.
 
Unfortunately, I dulled mine. For 2 reasons. 1) to avoid the cuts, and 2) to use for sparring practice (tip clipped as well). BUt this was with a bali that's considerably less than a 43.

Since you're very new to this, and you've already suffered, I'd go the 2nd knife route though, as you can pick up a rlative cheap one for less than $20 delivered from Bladeauction.com. Dull that and no worries. As Pete said, once you dull it on purpose, putting the edge back is going to be hard.
 
Know the pain; it will become your ally respect the blade; it will become your teacher.

Did I steal that from sniperboy's website? I forget, if so, very sorry, I know I heard it somewhere.
 
The purest water comes from the deepest well. -M. Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido
Click to expand...
Wear those scars with pride, remember the rule of thumb (no pun intended)... 'learn to crawl before walking and walking before running'
conditioning before execution, proper execution before speed.
Invest in some Neosporin;)
 
I got all the basics down like finger twirls and stuff. I can do aerials like closed backhand to icepick and closedbackhand to open front hand. and vice versa of all but i read somewhere about like that stuff on pliars handles i'm sure someone on here knows bou it but i how well does that come off.
 
My official stance is, always has been, and always will be, to not tape or dull the blade. Only because (like mentioned earlier), it can develope bad and dangerous habits. Getting used to the feeling of the occasional nick or cut doesn't take that long, and will give you confidence. "You can't do anything fully right, until you've done it wrong at least once."

Have fun flippin' and stock up on band-aids!! :D
 
The purest water comes from the deepest well. -M. Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido
Click to expand...
The product you refer to is a plastic coat for tools and such, that will hinder the opening and closing of your FINELY CRAFTED tool. Whatsmore it will change the balance point of the Bali. I met a Negrito in the Philippines missing a finger, he told me he was 'sleeping during his training' (Escrima) In other words. he had developed the habit of THINKING about the manuever before executing it. It was not subconcious...due to long hours of REPETITION...did I say REPETITION.In this Politically correct, sanitized day and age there still is no way of sanitizing martial arts training, you play with knives...you get cut! The concencus in this forum is... 'its all apart of the training'
Good luck and stay awake;)
 
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