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steve-in-kville

steve-in-kville

Joined
Dec 25, 2001
Messages
1,139
I have never seen such a simple tool as a knife talked about so much. I've been lurking for awhile with a half-hearted interest in knives. If this forum doesn't get someone into collecting, what will? Anyway, I've been checking out these balisong knives. I always thought they were a gimmick. I wasn't aware of the history and usefulness behind them. Can anyone provide more links with history, use, etc on the balisong? Thanks.
 
In my opinion (and probably the rest of the guys in the bali forum) this is the most practical knife ever made. What other knife is almost as strong as a fixed blade, completely safe blade while closed (NO chance of cutting yourself unless you have a cheap knife that doesnt latch right. Solution: buy a benchmade) can be flipped, thrown, tossed, passed, and manipulated. You can make up your own tricks, your own style, your own routine. It can also be used as a very good small hammer when needed (I stress NEEDED, please do not trash your new knife to tap a nail) and can be used in the closed position as a kubotan for restraining/inflicting pain on an attacker without doing anymore damage than a few bruises and maybe a cracked rib later. When worst comes to worst, it can be used blade open to save your life, or a loved ones life.

And, get this, it even CUTS things.

WOW! What a knife.
Welcom to the clack clack of balisongs.
 
Mr. MateenCleaves12 forgot only one detail: when a quality balisong is locked open, it is the strongest knife lock known, as close to a full-tang fixed blade as you can get in a folding knife. To make it fail, you'll literally have to break one of the handles which are usually thick chunks of stainless steel or even titanium. It is the strongest and the most reliable lock for a folding knife ever conceived, stronger and more reliable than the Axis lock, all of the various rolling lock variants, the lock back, the liner lock, any other lock.

The other nice thing about balisongs is that since the mechanism is so simple, it's easy to keep the it clean and in good working order even without disassembly.
 
"To make it fail, you'll literally have to break one of the handles ", with all due respect, one of the smallish twin pivots would yeild before the handle broke and well before a folder,such as the Axis, with a substantially larger pivot. Any folding knife is only as strong as its` weakest link.The tang often resembles a Swiss cheese!

The trouble with Balis is the amount of abuse they take for the amount of useful work done. Most of them ,I`d wager, would batter themselves to pieces well before the blade wears out. The trashing they take is similar, perhaps worse, than what automatics are subject to. There is also the risk of parts flying all over the place.

The nicer ones make elegant toys, and could be useful tools, but we know how you all like to play with them , admit it!
 
Originally posted by Bud
Any folding knife is only as strong as its` weakest link.
Click to expand...
And in the case of the bali, it's two pivots to the folder's one. You can break one of the pivot on a bali and the bali would still work. Not well, but it'll work. Break the pivot on a regular folder, you're toast.
The trouble with Balis is the amount of abuse they take for the amount of useful work done. Most of them ,I`d wager, would batter themselves to pieces well before the blade wears out. There is also the risk of parts flying all over the place.
Click to expand...
I don't see it that way. The manipulations are part of the appeal, and any damage that is a direct result of that manipulation is in line with normal wear and tear. If the bali is to be judged strictly as a cutting tool, then the old brass u-channels FMH would be more than ideal. The evolution of the American bali as it stands today, has the notion that bali owners will flip them sorely for flipping sake, and are thus designed to withstand that level of abuse. If anything goes flying on a balisong, it's usually the bali itself, not parts of it.
The nicer ones make elegant toys, and could be useful tools, but we know how you all like to play, admit it!
Click to expand...
I'll admit it. But then I show should show you the 4 custom BM's that were my EDC for over 10 years before NYC decided to outlaw them. They've got history as tools, not toys.
 
tony,
good reply! the bali has a great amount of history, since its design is very old and was originally intended as a practical cutting tool, not as a toy (or as a weapon, really).
my balis are my first choices for edc knives, and i only deviate from carrying them in cases where legality is a big issue (if i'll be in a situation where i'm likely to be searched :barf: ).
peace.
aleX.
 
Ah Tony , my new friend !

Please explain the physics of this statement !

"You can break one of the pivot on a bali and the bali would still work. Not well, but it'll work."

If you grasp the concept of folder locks , you will realize that they form a triangle . If you remove a point or a flat from this 3 sided form , it reverts to a line, and in this case a hinged line.No weaseling out, I need to hear this !

Perhaps you should review the science of plane kinematics.


PS, don`t get me wrong , I enjoy flipping as well ! I have prototype #23/25 of the BKC titanium series at hand as we speak.
 
MikeM, thanks for all the links. I will be checking these out later this evening.

Thanks for all the other info, too. I have been looking at the 42 (Benchmade?). I also had seen the tradional wooden-handled versions. Not sure which I'll get first.

Some good points were made about strength in simplicity: Fewer parts to wear out/break. I never looked at it this way. As I stated previously, I always thought balisongs were a flashy gadget seen in martial arts movies. When I saw Benchmade makes a balisong, I figured this style knife had a following.

Thanks agian.
 
Originally posted by Bud
Please explain the physics of this statement !

"You can break one of the pivot on a bali and the bali would still work. Not well, but it'll work."
Click to expand...
Simple. Going back to you comment of a knife consisting of a blade, a pivot, and a handle. With the typical folder, it's 1 blade/pivot/handle. Break the pivot, and you have a blade and a handle that is no longer applicable to the blade.

On the bali, it's 1 blade/2 pivots/2 handles. If you should break the pivot of the safe handle, you bali is still in effect a simple slipjoint folder without the friction lock available. If you should break the bite handle pivot, it'll have an exposed blade when folded, but the when open, the handle can be counter-exerted on the blade edge to simulate a sloppy fixed blade. And if proper held, can be just as dangerous as an old fashion shaving razor.

I see that as an advantage of the bali's dual folding handle. And I'll add one more: it's the only folder that can completely mechanically secure the blade without the need of a seperate sheath, and does not expose the blade to any forms of exposure when locked closed.

No plane geometry required. Just good basic simple mechanics. Take off either one of the pivot screws and field test...
 
Welcome, Steve.
If your balisong handles are made of molded steel handles, take care! Handle may split before pivot pin fails...
 
Originally posted by steve-in-kville
When I saw Benchmade makes a balisong, I figured this style knife had a following.
Click to expand...
Steve: You don't know how many levels that statement applies to some of us.

You did know that BM (Bali-Song USA/Pacific Cutlery) started out making the balisongs as their first knife, right? Or that it was their balisong knives that made their reputation.

This happens to me all the time when I ride my BMW motorcycle:
"I didn't know BMW made motorcycles." First motorcycle was made in 1923. The cars came 20 years later. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Has anyone bought from Knifeoutlet.com? They carry the Benchmade 42 and I was gonna order from there. Possibly there is a better place to deal with?

Thanks.
 
Hi Steve...welcome to the Bali-Forum.., and Happy New Year (almost)!

I've got a few things from Knife Outlet, and they have been very good. Some others may want to jump in that have had more experience with them. I believe I've made about 3 purchases over a 2 year period from them. All good results thus far!


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
"If you should break the pivot of the safe handle, you bali is still in effect a simple slipjoint folder without the friction lock available. If you should break the bite handle pivot, it'll have an exposed blade when folded, but the when open, the handle can be counter-exerted on the blade edge to simulate a sloppy fixed blade. And if proper held, can be just as dangerous as an old fashion shaving razor. "

LOL,I`m going away for awhile...I am beginning to think the breeze behind the balis has blown your mind,Tony.

A flopping stick, with an edge attached..COME ON!!!!


Dangerous? To whom ?????? LOLOLOLOLLOLOLLL


I`ll be back when I stop laughing.

BUD:D :D :D
 
There you go again.... disturbing the harmony :D
Originally posted by Bud
A flopping stick, with an edge attached..COME ON!!!!
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Hey, I said
Not well, but it'll work.
Click to expand...
BTW, betcha I can do more damage to you with that floppy stick can you can to me with a full working Axis folder. Up for the challenge????
Dangerous? To whom ?
Click to expand...
Guess you've never seen someone get slashed by a straight razor (and I'm not talking about the ones from Gillette either). In this case, anyone that is up against my father with one in his hands.

But we're now going off topic: It may have been a stretch, but I've fulfilled my obligation in explaining my statements, and proving that the bali's double handles have an advantage over a regular single pivot folder. How did you phrase it? "I am sure you will agree on this point." N'est pas?

Here's my question to you (when you return from your laughing trip): Out of curiosity, how long have you USED a bali as a tool? Just interested in finding out your background with bali's, is all.
 
For those that may need visual aid:

A BM Model 43 Straight razor (notice the lack of a bite handle).

Now I just need to figure out how to protect the blade when closed... :confused: :confused:
 
" BTW, betcha I can do more damage to you with that floppy stick can you can to me with a full working Axis folder. Up for the challenge???? "

A virtual knife fight? Ain`t fightin` agin forum rules?All right, I`m no snivelling pansy, en guard, you lothsome cur !


OK ,I slashed first,now its your turn! BTW,I cut your hand off, so be careful bending over!!!!LOLOLOLOLOL


Tony, do you have an Axis? They are almost as much fun as a bali,there`s a whole drill of opening-and closing techniques that are beautiful to watch and fun to learn!

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
"Now I just need to figure out how to protect the blade when closed"


DUCT TAPE?????



Bud!
 
And I parry and repoiste with my left hand and watch as you bleed to death from a cut to the jugular, as I bend over in administering last rites.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Bud
Tony, do you have an Axis?
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Well, OK if you say so. But I have other locking folders I rather play with that have much more mechanical appeal than the Axis. Lots of BM/MT/SWAT/Protech auto's, Gerber Paul's, Benchmark Rolox's, PC Barry Wood's, S&W swing blades, and even the Tri-Folders from Cold Steel.

BTW, duct tape won't work. Gums up the cystaline edge of a straight razor and defeats the purpose. Plus if you strop it on the leather, that's get messy too. Next.
 
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