The making of a balisong addict...

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
5,786
Well, I figured it would happen someday, but I didn't think it happened this fast! A customer sent a cheap Jaguar balisong to me for a sheath, and about five hours later I was at the local mall knife store buying a $15 POS to play with. This thing will probably last all of a week, but in five minutes I was a confirmed addict! I screwed around for a while, then looked up Clay's Balisong Extreme webpage and now I have bruised wrists and fingers due to the constant practicing I've been doing! The learning curve is VERY nice, and while I do have above normal manual dexterity (hey, it's my JOB to, guys!), it is easy to pick up. Anyway, thanks to the people keeping this art form alive. And beware if you pick up a balisong, it'll add yet another class of knives you HAVE to collect!
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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/kydex.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
Hey Chiro75......... Welcome to my obsession.

I hope my site was of some help to you. I'm in the process of puting together about 20 more techniques so, keep an eye out.

......... you think you're cut up now.......... just wait.

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Clay G.
www.balisongxtreme.com


 
I didn't really like bali's before. I thought they looked ugly and were no better than any other one hand opener. But after playing with a bear mgc I was hooked. These are the only knives that you can really "play" with.
 
Chiro75,

Another recruit. Welcome to the club. Balisongs are very exotic weapon and very addictive to play with. The first knife I own and an obsession as like everyone else.

Just make sure to buy some ear plug for the fam.
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Clay,

The NYC Knife Show is coming. See you there Fri and Sat.

Hi there CYA. Long time no hear from ya.

Rommel
 
Clay, your site is instrumental in my balisong education. Now I have to save money for the next BM bali that goes up for sale in the For sale forum! Damn!
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Maybe I can hook up with some of the Bear's through a connection. What's the Damascus bear tanto like? Anywa, I have yet to cut myself, but my index finger is a little sore. I thought my wrist was sore due to bouncing the handles off of it a couple times, but I guess it is actually from burning myself while making dinner. It wasn't until I noticed the welt that I remembered I'd done that! I'm getting to the point now that I barely touch my hand when I do the richochet's anyway, so all pain will soon be minimized. Anyway, Clay, your site will be VERY helpful for me, and what do you recommend for balis other than the elusive Benchmade models? The one I have now is a $15 POS with brass pins, so I don't expect it to hold out long. The one I am making a kydex sheath for a customer is a Jaguar, but it seems a little on the heavy side and it makes
my technique slower than with my POS. Let me know what you recommend in addition to the Benchmade models.

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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/kydex.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
I found Clays website very helpfull too! I use my Bali's for therapy! When I take a break from the grinder my hands are usually sort of stiff. I pick up the knife and start flipping it around. After about 3 minutes, about 1 with my left hand, my hands are back to normal and I'm ready to grind again! My Jaguar is a bit heavy but it's bounced off the shop floor several times and it's still OK.
Chiro, are you going to put a pic of the Bali sheath on your website. I would like to see that!
Neil

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Just updated 10/31!! New Knives, New Pics!!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html

 
I have to concure. Clay's site is the best way to learn balisong manipulation hands down.

Be forewarned, though, these things are terribly addictive.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
 
Hey Rommel,
Yeah long time no talk. I thought you were going to the Philippines? I finally found an escrima school but it's on the other side of the island.
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Dr.Lathe,
I also use balis for therapy.
smile.gif
I use the computer all day long and I find flipping a bali helps prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.

Anyone know how good Frost balis are? Clay? You must have one, right? Gollnick, I know you have one. Any problems with pins or handles?


[This message has been edited by CYA (edited 03 November 1999).]
 
Dr. Lathe, I will definitely put pics up of it. I tried pressing one last night but the problem is all the holes in the handle... a tight press locks the sheath into these holes and drawing is impossible! I'll probably end up having to forego the press and doing it all by hand. We'll see....
Lathe, what I'd like to see is what YOU could come up with in a balisong design! I mean, you have every piece of machine equipment available to you on Earth, right? That would, in theory, make the handles super easy to do, and it doesn't look like there's much to the blade itself. I know I'd be in line for a custom bali with D-2 blade and CNC'd handles! How about...titanium? You could even anodize them! Although, $50 is more along my price range right now!
wink.gif

Anyway, I am almost done with those blade blanks to send you, so I'll email you when they are finished...
As far as balisongs go, I've always wondered if it would be possible to replace the cheesy pins with something like a tiny bearing and spindle arrangement like on a bike wheel? I know the bulk would be a problem, but I would imagine they make such parts in very small sizes for machinery of all types. That way you could adjust the tightness of the bearings to remove most of the slop and keep things running incredibply smooth. Is the reasonthis wold not be feasible simply the unavailability of parts?

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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/kydex.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
D2-Ti. BALI!!!!
Chiro,
Sitting on my bench are two pieces of Ti and a D2 blade blank I cut out!! That's as far as the project has gone! Now that my fall hunting knife orders are finishing up, I should be able to get back to it.
Even having the handles CNCed out and the blades lazered, they would still be big $$$$ knives! I have to think that if there was a market for them BM or MT would be all over it. Warrantee issues with them would be a nightmare no matter how well made they would be. I thought about using bearings but I think precision bushings would eliminate the play and be more cost efective.
Kydex.... I had a similar problem making the sheath for my SIFU. I had to make a thingy to go over the thumb stud. I didn't like the tip up carry and made another one off the back of the handle. That's the one that works the best. It's probably my best Kydex project so far. I just got in some .080 brown material that I'm using for knives like my hunters with brown micarta handles. The combination looks pretty nice.
Pictures will be on the website soon.
Neil

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Just updated 10/31!! New Knives, New Pics!!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html



[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 03 November 1999).]
 
The only way to CNC handle affordably would be with aluminum handles, and even then only on a production basis, I would assume. Although, CNC machining aluminum can't be too expensive because I know a lot of small parts manufacturers got into it when billet and CNC crap was popular for bike components. I was pretty much kidding about the D-2/Ti Bali, but it would be sweet! If anyone would pull it off, it would be you! I'll probably have those D-2 blade blanks ready by next week sometime. Hope everything is well in Fl.

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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/kydex.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
FWIW, many of the Erickson custom balis have sleeve bearings (bushings?) inbetween the pin and handle. A very different feel when manipulating.

Dr. Lathe,
I would like to sign-up now for one of your custom balisongs!

Let us know, we're behind ya!

-Michael

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Chefget's Knife Page


[This message has been edited by Chefget (edited 03 November 1999).]
 
BM's better quality knives have sleves around the pins too. It really complicates assembly and makes disassembly very difficult.

I have many Frost balisongs, but I've never tried to put one through a life test. They seem well-made to me.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
 
Balisong addicts are us. They may not be the perfect folding knife, but they are safe - lock open and closed, reliable, and at least twenty times as much fun as any other kind of knife with the possible exception of a thrower.
 
Ah crap, the jig is up- I got a $8.00 POS off of EBay a while back & I find myself digging it out of the knife boxes more and more- It is too much fun. I had one back in the early 80's but it's gone to live in The Land of Lost Socks. It freaks the "Better Half" most of the time & not to give her nightmares (literally), I usually mess with these when she's not around. I want to buy more- but other than the junk on bladeauctions.com & EBay and the big-ticket (+/- $100.00) stuff, there's not much of a choice. What's out there in the $35.00-$50.00 range that won't self-destruct & has a blade made of a steel that will take a sharpening?

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Runs With Scissors
AKTI# A000107
 
Talk about a truly lefty friendly knife.... I love Bali's but I'll have to admit, I'm barely proficient at opening them with one hand. Forget the flips and such, I'm too timid
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Nothing has visual appeal like a Balisong!

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Ooooooo....... a Balisong thread thats been alive for two days now. Maybe we could finally get a Balisong forum on Bladeforums
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By the way I have 50 technique videos ready for my next page update, including some cool Double Balisong work.

I should be posting them soon, so if you're interested, keep an eye out.

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Clay G.
www.balisongxtreme.com


 
Balisongs need a good kydex sheath. If you get it right let me know chiro I got two that need one. Also I believe that BM will be coming out with a balisong with Ti handles in the future at least I have written to encourage them along these lines. They seem interested. I just hope they do it without the handle lock.
 
We had a discussion of left-handed balisongs over on Clays board recently.

You wouldn't want to be using the wrong balisong, you know... eh Clay??



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
 
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