Two begainer questions

M

Majparadox

Joined
Jan 7, 2002
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For years now I have been active in Mauy Thai, and recently a friend got me hooked on Balisongs. But he just moved away and I found myself without the Yoda Master. I have two pretty basic questions. One, up until recently I have always practiced with cheap balisongs that I ground the edge off of. I just acquired a model 47 Benchmade though. I love the knife , good weight and feel, and would like to keep it for a long time. What is the lifespan on a benchmade knife that is practiced on 30 minutes a day before it needs bebuilt? Question two, Is there any real disadvantage to removing the latch. I find it makes a lot of noise as well as interferes with closing at times. I do however like the ability to spot the blade handle quickly. Any help would be very appreciated.
 
The Benchmade should go through MANY hours without needing hardly any maintenance.

I just finally sent my BM42 70/500 First prod. run EDC. to Mer to get re-built after 1 year of HARD and HEAVY use. (3-6 hours per day.)

The latch can be removed, but Tonyccw should probably tell you how that worked out.

Some filing on the safe handle can help you feel the right one to use.
 
1) Many folks concider Benchmade the best balisong today, with top quality. I've heard something about life time lasting... I'm sure someone can varify/deny this.

2) One BIG disadvantage is that you won't be able to lock up your balisong, neither open or closed. So like Master Clay's put it: He's afraid of harpooning a certain spot when carried in the pocket... ;)

Other than that, a lot of others share the same interest in latchless balisongs: Less noice, it's not in the way for manipulation, etc.

For the blade spotting, I read somewhere on this forum, I think (was it Chuck Gollnick, perhaps?), that someone had bought a latchless Benchmade from a person, and the seller had filed some fine rills in the bite handle (the one you should not hold on to when ricocheting, if you didn't already know), which made it easy to feel which handle where which.


I hope this helps, and I hope you find this forum as instructive and interesting as I have. :) Welcome!
 
Thanks. That’s what I wanted to hear. I have handled several balisongs and for whatever reason the BM feels the most robust to me. One more question. I do a lot of work with Police and special OPs guys. One of them carries a bali on a daily basis and always uses a single move opening. How come there is so much talk about opening the knife with two bounces on a standard vertical opening. One off the back off the hand and one off the index finger. Why not skip both and go right to open on the first swing back. To me it seems very natural and very fast. Thanks again for the help.
 
Good question. And to tell ya the throuth, I really don't know. Show off, perhaps. It looks like they have more knowledge in manipulation when they do that basic opening, but the fact is usually that that's the only trick they know! :p

Or maybe the windmill opening will seem TOO quick for some people - that they are less frightened of a basic opening than just one flip... I don't know, I'm just thinking loudly.
 
Just sent back for repair, one model 35 BM and one BM Custom. The 35 is about 15 years old. It has had HEAVY use from cutting dry wall to cutting carpet to cleaning thousands of fish. It has gotten a little loose. The Custom was an EDC for 9 years and manipulated a LOT during that time. It needs a new tang pin. Don't know of another production bali before or since that could take that kind of use and last that long. I also have a PC Custom thats around 18 years old. Still locks up tight and no blade wobble. Kinda retired it when I got the BM. That PC is just too pretty to use. Mirror finished handles with black micarta inserts and a D2 drop point blade.
Right now I carry a 42 because thats whats available. Don't know the service life of these new models yet. The Monarch looks good but don't have one yet. If you ever get the chance to own a PC or BM Custom, do what ever it takes to get it.
You might also let BM know that you would like to see a steel handled knife for comparison purposes.
 
Well I just sent off my 43 for tweaking last week it needed a little tightening and basic resharpening, but while I was back to using my older 42as (Ami) I found that it needs it to and even more so. On Ami the tang pin has actually loosened and I can almost pop it out so when my 43 gets back BM will get another one of my favorite ladies. Now keep in mind this is under about 6-8 hrs of flipping a day.
 
Navajo -- still on the soapbox for SS handles, I see. Move over and I'll join you !! :)
 
Pete, I'll be on that soap box until BM starts making them again. And BM knows it because I tell them with just about every email. I get constant requests for steel handles. Can't sell what I can't what I can't get.

What kind of fishing on that secluded pond you mentioned? Cats, trout? Making copies on Wednesday. Mail them the same day I hope.
 
Originally posted by navajo
Pete, I'll be on that soap box until BM starts making them again.
Click to expand...
You're half way there. We've got the 49's. And rumors are that the 43-DM's are also steel. You never know, the next step down may just be what you're asking for :D
 
John --- 7800 ft elevation -- looks like Sedona, AZ ---- check your e-mail.
Tony -- there are "whisperings" ----- ALLRIGHT!! :)
 
Welcome to the loony-bin Majparadox!! :D Good to have you with us.

I would imagine that ixpfah is right about the opening question. Often people only know one move and stick with it. And I agree with you that a quick, quiet windmill is the best non-flashy opening. It's also currently my quickest opening... yes, quicker than the infamous "latch-drop". :) But, half the fun of opening a bali is taking as long as possible to do it. If I knew it wouldn't scare the living bejesus out my co-workers, I'd be doing triple aerials to get it open for box-cutting.

Hope to hear more from you in the future! Keep flippin'...
 
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