The Five Second Balisong Test

[JohnR7]

I just figured out a way to test a butterfly knife, to check the pins in them. First you place the handle straight out from each other so the blade is at a 90 degree angle. Sort of like a Cheerleader doing a split. Then place your thumbs on the pins and wrap your fingers around the handle. Now in a very gentle way, push with your thumbs, and then rock it back and forth. In less than 5 seconds the cheap pins or a soft metal handle will start to loosen. In normal use, this takes about 5 months to begin to happen. Of course you can hammer the pins down, but if you hammer it to much, the knife will begin to bind up on you. That is what I like about the new China butterfly knives, if you hammer the pins down on them, the washers still make for a fairly smooth operation on the action of the knife.

Of course the USA made Bear and the Filipino Balisongs are the only knives that are going to pass this test. Everything else is imported in parts and assembled often using compression pins in them. Even the highly acclaimed Jaguar is pretty loose and sloppy for my taste. But some people like them really loose like that.

The added advantage to a Filipino knife is there is some flexability in the handle, so there is a spring like action to them. That is what makes them a nice practice knife, if you can find one that is made good enough to be a practice knife. Most of them are made just to go in a collection or in a display case. Thanks, JohnR7 www.BalisongKnife.com
<img src=http://home.neo.rr.com/johnr7/5secTest.jpg>

[This message has been edited by JohnR7 (edited 10-21-2000).]

 

[KentDog]

Loose and sloppy, huh? heh heh..

 

[BalisongMan]

That is the technique I use to loosen up my FHM balisongs!! It works great, I highly recommend it, especially if you want to get rid of your cheap pins and replace them fast, don't try it on the latch though, I broke the latch on my 11.5" flame blade that way.

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

"It takes a killer...to stop a killer"

A few of my balisongs
My Photopoint album

 

[JohnR7]

>>especially if you want to get rid of your cheap pins and replace them fast

It is a really good way to work out the cheap pins. Along with a small vice grip. Some of the pins are solid, but they are a soft brass metal, along with the soft handles. If you replace them with a harder metal and maybe hammer them so the heads are bigger, it may not be as pretty looking, but a lot more durable and longer lasting. I would think that just about anyone could learn how to do it by their third knife.

I found my Tim Allen "real serious" Rotary tool worked good as a grinder to pretty the pin up a bit after hammering on it to make it better looking. If I can figure out what size to get, I would like to get one of those $6 punches they use to put a nice round head on the pin when you hammer on it.
Thanks, JohnR7 www.BalisongKnife.com

 

[Dragon1]

How long does it take for the pins on a Jaguar to break when you do this?

I'm starting to feel stupid.

 

[JohnR7]

>>How long does it take for the pins on a Jaguar to break when you do this?

I do not plan to break one, to find out. Jaguars cost a bit more then the cheap China knives. I can break 4 or 5 China knives for what a Jag cost me. It would take quite a bit of effort to actually break a Jaguar or a Bear Butterfly knife. That is why they hold up so well & you can get years of service out of them.

I am just offering another way, other than the coin test, that actually only tests the blade and how good it is. The problem with the cheap knives is not so much the pins or the blade, but the metal in the handle is just to soft. With the softer metal, they need a bigger flatter head on the pins, than what may appeal to the eye. The better knives are made out of a better quality of material. You do not have to actually break them. Like a bolt you can tighen it down without breaking it. You can feel a knife this way to see how durable it is & how well it's going to hold up. Most people know when they have something solid in their hand, or something that is a little bit to soft & flexable. Thanks, JohnR7 www.BalisongKnife.com