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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Whay aren't more of you into BALISONGS???
- Thread starter Stiletto Raggio
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 4, 1998
- Messages
- 193
Each category of knife poses its own type of beauty
For most of us knife people; if we would be honest with ourselves, will admit that our appreciation of our favorite knives goes beyond the practical. There are a multitude of intangibles at work that create such powerful attractions.
The balisong is an excellent contraption both in practical function and in the non-material nuances that can make us say I like it. It is my opinion that a quality bali is the strongest of all the folders and that would be enough if I were singularly sagacious with regard to the work that it might perform. However; work alone is not enough as there are far to many choices of items that are simply adequate to a task. Admit it; who is not attracted to quality in the extreme and a folder that opens smooth as silk? The balisong with its unique properties allows the user to savor at length the thrill of fluid motion. Its like therapy .
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We are the pilgrims masters; we shall go, always, a little farther.
For most of us knife people; if we would be honest with ourselves, will admit that our appreciation of our favorite knives goes beyond the practical. There are a multitude of intangibles at work that create such powerful attractions.
The balisong is an excellent contraption both in practical function and in the non-material nuances that can make us say I like it. It is my opinion that a quality bali is the strongest of all the folders and that would be enough if I were singularly sagacious with regard to the work that it might perform. However; work alone is not enough as there are far to many choices of items that are simply adequate to a task. Admit it; who is not attracted to quality in the extreme and a folder that opens smooth as silk? The balisong with its unique properties allows the user to savor at length the thrill of fluid motion. Its like therapy .
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We are the pilgrims masters; we shall go, always, a little farther.
Gollnick
Musical Director
- Joined
- Mar 22, 1999
- Messages
- 29,258
Thank you all for the many fine compliments. The credit really goes to Vance. I forgot to mention that Mel Pardue contributed a bit of expertise with the snakewood too. I actually provided the snakewood. It's one of the most patterned pieces I've ever seen. One of the challenges of decorating a knife handle is that it is, by its nature, long and thin. Since a bailsong's handle is further split in two, it's even thinner. But, this piece of snakewood, which has shades of brown, gold, red, and black in it, really cried out that it wanted to be on a balisong. I think Vance did an outstanding job on it.
I'm not normally a big Tanto fan. They always look sort of chunky and clumsy to me. But, I like the way Allen Elishewitz stylized the Tanto for this knife. It really has a look of -- well -- a look "energy" to me. It looks like it ought to be in motion, like it could be in motion.
Anyway, that's my response to the ugly argument. The balisong opens new opportunities for style. This, I think, is why a lot of balisongs end up looking sort of weird, because people try to treat them like other types of knives. It's like painting racing stripes and flames on a big luxury car. It doesn't work. The balisong, especially the way they move, present a lot of opportunities for design. To try and apply ideas from other knives to them is just missing those opportunities.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
I'm not normally a big Tanto fan. They always look sort of chunky and clumsy to me. But, I like the way Allen Elishewitz stylized the Tanto for this knife. It really has a look of -- well -- a look "energy" to me. It looks like it ought to be in motion, like it could be in motion.
Anyway, that's my response to the ugly argument. The balisong opens new opportunities for style. This, I think, is why a lot of balisongs end up looking sort of weird, because people try to treat them like other types of knives. It's like painting racing stripes and flames on a big luxury car. It doesn't work. The balisong, especially the way they move, present a lot of opportunities for design. To try and apply ideas from other knives to them is just missing those opportunities.
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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
They are illegal here.
I'm not a big fan of Balisongs, and I really have no need or desire for an automatic. Actually, I don't really care much for tanto blades, either. I guess they just don't flip my switch. I know that these knives are the main interest of many knifeknuts, and that's fine with me. That's one of the great things about knives. There's something for just about everyone, and it just keeps getting better.
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Dave
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Attention: Some assembly may be required. Batteries not included.
I'm not a big fan of Balisongs, and I really have no need or desire for an automatic. Actually, I don't really care much for tanto blades, either. I guess they just don't flip my switch. I know that these knives are the main interest of many knifeknuts, and that's fine with me. That's one of the great things about knives. There's something for just about everyone, and it just keeps getting better.
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Dave
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Attention: Some assembly may be required. Batteries not included.
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2000
- Messages
- 546
Well, then, that settles that. Either you think they are ugly, or they are illegal.
I am both awed and disappointed at the number of seemingly logical localities that have outlawed the bali. I expected Kalifornia, New York, Mass and the like to have stupid laws like that, but not my neighbors in Ohio and Ill.
This is not just a shame for knife people, but a disturbing trend in American public policy. I seems that the ploticians (not a typo) saw something that was perceived as "extra-dangerous" and banned it (kind of like the so-called "assault weapons"). What they do is try to outlaw an image and make people feel safe, rather that pass laws that are effective. I am sure that if a ganger was REALLY set on having a bali, those ignorant laws wouldn't stop him. And the other laws won't stop him from getting an AK (thanks to Bill Clinton's Chinese friends). And the laws we already have aginst murdering people probably won't stop them either.
It is too bad we live in a society that is governed more and more by appearances and emotion than by facts and logic.
I am both awed and disappointed at the number of seemingly logical localities that have outlawed the bali. I expected Kalifornia, New York, Mass and the like to have stupid laws like that, but not my neighbors in Ohio and Ill.
This is not just a shame for knife people, but a disturbing trend in American public policy. I seems that the ploticians (not a typo) saw something that was perceived as "extra-dangerous" and banned it (kind of like the so-called "assault weapons"). What they do is try to outlaw an image and make people feel safe, rather that pass laws that are effective. I am sure that if a ganger was REALLY set on having a bali, those ignorant laws wouldn't stop him. And the other laws won't stop him from getting an AK (thanks to Bill Clinton's Chinese friends). And the laws we already have aginst murdering people probably won't stop them either.
It is too bad we live in a society that is governed more and more by appearances and emotion than by facts and logic.
- Joined
- Oct 16, 1998
- Messages
- 2,395
I am not a fan of the geometric blade shape either, the Elishewitz/Benchmade Bali is the only one I own, well OK, I own a Stryker, but it is for sale. Interesting comments about he "motion" of the shape. I like it because unlike a lot of geo-blades, the total blade length is in more suitable proportion to the length of the secondary edge, thus, it is simply a better design in terms of function.
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 18
Balisongs are fun, fast, and strong, and I do love them. unfortunately, aside from Benchmade, there aren't any quality balisongs to be had. Except for custom makers, of course.
- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 102
Stiletto, some of us are finger dexterity challenged (ie; clumsy, butterfingers etc)and would like to stay out of the emergency room. But they are cool if you can handle them right.
- Joined
- Oct 19, 1999
- Messages
- 2,836
I liek this thread.. it is screaming for flame but I am SURPRISED that it has stayed interestig.. Bravo!
I, persoanlly, like with many thigns I love, want to keep the Balisong 'underground' and cultish. but that is me.
As for custom makers. Reese, The late Ron Miller's partner is considering making Balisongs again. Other than that, you can go find Ralph Turnbull (hard time convincing him) other than that Chuck Gollnick has links to interested makers in his site.Other than that there was a thread back there about a maker wanting to make a talonite Balisong. And hnn what else.. Erikson and Kelgin are out of the pic. I think Salley (if I can find his number) is interested.
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<A HREF="http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html
</A> If you play with love you will be heartbroken; if you play with knives you will [bleed]
I, persoanlly, like with many thigns I love, want to keep the Balisong 'underground' and cultish. but that is me.
As for custom makers. Reese, The late Ron Miller's partner is considering making Balisongs again. Other than that, you can go find Ralph Turnbull (hard time convincing him) other than that Chuck Gollnick has links to interested makers in his site.Other than that there was a thread back there about a maker wanting to make a talonite Balisong. And hnn what else.. Erikson and Kelgin are out of the pic. I think Salley (if I can find his number) is interested.
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<A HREF="http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html
</A> If you play with love you will be heartbroken; if you play with knives you will [bleed]
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2000
- Messages
- 36
Legal to own and buy here. BUT not legal to carry? How would I get it home after I bought it? I have always liked the design and function, BUT, IT'S THE LAW!
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 18
Thanks, Velitrius. I haven't been to any sites of custom makers who make balisongs. I have seen some gorgeous pics in Tactical Knives magazine. Anyone else know any good sites?
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"We are the musicmakers, and we are dreamers of dreams"
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"We are the musicmakers, and we are dreamers of dreams"
- Joined
- Sep 20, 1999
- Messages
- 178
To me, the balisong is just not practical. For it to be fast opening, it has to be pretty big (8+" OAL). Once a knife gets that big, there many jurisdictions where it can't be carried. Furthermore, balisongs are simply illegal altogether in many places. Finally, I can carry a William Henry, Spyderco, Benchmade etc. and not freak anybody out if it's a smaller model. Balisongs, by their very nature, have to be manipulated in a much more flashy manner. I do like balisongs because I like knives; they just are not practical.
