Who uses the spydie balisongs?

J

jlamb

Joined
Nov 25, 2009
Messages
211
I have always just skipped over the butterfly spydies never really giving them much attention. Are people just using them as an EDC that is more fun to play with? Can someone give me the lowdown that maybe I am missing?
 
I recently picked up a Smallfly with trainer at a good price. I'm a complete novice as far as balisongs go but I've enjoyed the Smallfly a great deal and the trainer is fun and obviously something to train on.

I've carried the Smallfly a couple of days over the last week and about the only complaint I have is the wire clip. It's a lot tighter or perhaps just grippier than other clips and can take a bit to get the knife out of the pocket of my jeans. Will probably loosen with use. Other than that it's a solid cutter and I like it. It won't replace my other, more traditional folders as my EDC but it'll see it's share of pocket time. Most of the time though, it'll be getting flipped.
 
I also took advantage of the smallfly and trainer deal. I edced the smallfly for about 2 days. I can't stand the blade shape for cutting so it's no longer my EDC. I will still carry it occasionally though. However it is very fun to play with. It's my first balisong and it's definitely got me thinking about getting another.
 
If all you need for EDC are utility knives then you can do better than balisongs. In SD is where balisongs shine with their strength and solidity.
 
Badhammer said:
I recently picked up a Smallfly with trainer at a good price. I'm a complete novice as far as balisongs go but I've enjoyed the Smallfly a great deal and the trainer is fun and obviously something to train on.

I've carried the Smallfly a couple of days over the last week and about the only complaint I have is the wire clip. It's a lot tighter or perhaps just grippier than other clips and can take a bit to get the knife out of the pocket of my jeans. Will probably loosen with use. Other than that it's a solid cutter and I like it. It won't replace my other, more traditional folders as my EDC but it'll see it's share of pocket time. Most of the time though, it'll be getting flipped.
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freedoom said:
I also took advantage of the smallfly and trainer deal. I edced the smallfly for about 2 days. I can't stand the blade shape for cutting so it's no longer my EDC. I will still carry it occasionally though. However it is very fun to play with. It's my first balisong and it's definitely got me thinking about getting another.
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When it comes to flipping, smaller balisongs actually tend to be harder in use due to the smaller length of the handles. If you guys are starting off using the smaller, more awkward spyderco balisongs then you should have no problem using a traditional one.
 
I have few Spydies Bali , but they are for my collection , I prefer BM models with titanium handles .
 
Robot Mania Fu said:
When it comes to flipping, smaller balisongs actually tend to be harder in use due to the smaller length of the handles. If you guys are starting off using the smaller, more awkward spyderco balisongs then you should have no problem using a traditional one.
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I agree completely. After flipping my Smallfly, flipping my Kimura II or BM42 is a breeze.
 
Does spyderco not advertise the balis anymore? I looked on their website and couldnt find anything. Is this due to the import stuff that happened a few years ago?
 
jlamb said:
Does spyderco not advertise the balis anymore? I looked on their website and couldnt find anything. Is this due to the import stuff that happened a few years ago?
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Yeah, due to the import issues a few years ago the balisongs got moved to their automatic knife catalog and their autos aren't advertised on their site.
 
I've got a Spyderfly NIB just sitting on the shelf. B01PRB. It is the version with the strange "rainbow" finish. I bought it at a gun show several years ago. Brought it home, played with it enough to understand how the whole thing works, decided it wouldn't work for carry, put it back in the box. I take it out of the box once a year or so to show to somebody but that's about it!

Gregg
 
sure the original spyderfly is a beauty to look at; with it's finely sculptured ti-handles, symetrical wasp waisted 'n swedged spear-point.
but imho, it has it's short comings.
namely, the handles extend a little wide at the base.
and this doesn't allow for comfortable ergonomics in manipulation of dynamic knife grips.
it's functional in open 'n locked position, but it's quite a challenge to execute swirls 'n twirls.
i haven't as yet tried out the newer shorten versions, but i sense it's probably performs way better with shorter handles.
 
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I carried a Spyderfly and Szabofly for a while, I found them to be pretty good but just not on the same ease of carry and use level as the BM 42 or 32 (the 32 is one of the best EDC Balis IMO). I have seen and handled the Smallfly but it is small and didn't really do anything for me so have never bought one. It's small size would give it something over the other two as far as and EDC though.

:):thumbup:
 
singularity35 said:
IMHO, butterfly knives have the strongest locks on any folders bar none.
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I totally agree.

I have their original Spyderfly. I have carried and used it on occasion, but not with regularity. It is a tad large for my EDC needs and kind of heavy too. The blade shape seems more for 'fighting' than anything else. I wish the handle would lock open!
 
Per, "butterfly knives have the strongest locks on any folders bar none." I thought spyderco butterflies do not lock open. I know this was true with the first version, has this changed on the more recent models?
 
Well, technically, the do not 'lock' open, but the butterfly knife construction makes lock failure pretty much impossible. With 2 pins fixing the blade in position, there is no way it can close on your fingers.
 
axtalan0 said:
Well, technically, the do not 'lock' open, but the butterfly knife construction makes lock failure pretty much impossible. With 2 pins fixing the blade in position, there is no way it can close on your fingers.
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That's what I mean. In the open position it will take enormous force to break the pins that hold the blade in place. Possibly more force than a human can bring to bear without using tools.
 
I like the lock open feature, especially when using a bali for utility purposes. One of the original markets in the US/Canada for balis was as an outdoor utility knife. Without a lock open feature, it makes the knife more of a weapon.
 
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