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A variety of different handmade custom balisongs.

A variety of 1980s vintage balisongs, primarily from Japan and the Philippines.

A balisong, otherwise known as a butterfly knife or a Batangas knife or sometimes called Bente Nueve, is a folding pocket knife with two handles counter-rotating around the tang such that, when closed, the blade is concealed within grooves in the handles. In the hands of a trained user, the knife blade can be brought to bear quickly using one hand. Manipulations, called flipping, are performed for art or amusement.

Balisong

While the meaning of the term "balisong" is not entirely clear, a popular belief is that it is derived from the Tagalog Language words baling sungay (literally, "broken horn") as the original balisongs were made from carved animal horns.^[1] These knives are also referred to as "fan knives", "click clacks" or "butterfly knives".

Another suggested origin of the term "balisong" is its place of origin. There is a small town in Batangas called "Balisong" where the balisong is claimed to have been invented. Balisongs are handmade and forged there by makers using techniques passed down from generation to generation.

The use of the balisong is so popular in the Philippines that an urban legend exists about every Batangueño carrying it everywhere he goes.^[2] They are a pocket utility knife used by people of Filipino society. They have also been used to fight duels over matters of honor, although such practices have been discontinued for hundreds of years.

History

Balisong with carbon steel blade and brass (channel) handles

The butterfly knife appears first documented in a 1710 French book, "Le Perret", where an intricate and precise depiction of a butterfly knife is outlaid, explaining that the device was developed in the late 1500s as a utility knife.^[3] It then most likely came into popular use in the Philippines through transference intercontinentally to Spain, which coincides with the Spanish governance of the Philippines during that period.

There is conjecture attending to the balisong being an ancient Filipino invention dating back to 800 AD, stating it to be the most ancient of weapons of the Filipino fighting system of Eskrima^[4].

During WWII ( 1945 ), U.S.Troops island hopping in the Pacific, returned home with balisong knives. These knives came in the typical pocket size lengths, and also lengths approaching 30+ inches. Vintage balisong knives have hand-ground, non-symmetrical carbon steel blades. The sharp edge is formed right to the handle, leaving a small tang area, and are not usually marked by the maker with a modern western tang stamp. Collectors viewing antique carbon steel blade knives debate the exact details defining a traditional heirloom knives of the 1930s, with post war knives made with shell brass. Longer ceremonial vintage knives periodically display hand carved designs that are filled with colored and clear Japanese lacquer, perhaps the inspiration for modern clear plastic designs.

Construction

There are two main types of balisong construction: sandwich construction and channel construction.

Sandwich constructed balisongs are assembled in layers that are generally pinned or screwed together. They allow the pivot pins to be adjusted tighter without binding. When the knife is closed, the blade rests between the layers.

For a channel constructed balisong, the main part of each handle is formed from one piece of material. In this handle, a groove is created (either by folding, milling, or being integrally cast) in which the blade rests when the knife is closed. This style is regarded as being stronger than sandwich construction.

Parts

Bite Handle 

The handle that closes on the sharp edge of the blade.

Kicker (or Kick) 

Area on the blade that prevents the sharp edge from contacting the inside of the handle and suffering damage. This is sometimes supplanted by an additional tang pin above the pivots.

Latch 

The standard locking system, which holds the balisong closed. Magnets are occasionally used instead.

Latch, Batangas 

A latch that is attached to the bite handle.

Latch, Manila 

A latch that is attached to the safe handle.

Latch, Spring 

A latch that utilizes a spring to propel the latch open when the handles are squeezed.

Safe Handle 

The handle that closes on the non-sharpened edge of the blade.

Latch gate 

A block inside the channel of the handles stopping the latch from impacting the blade

Tang 

The base of the blade where the handles are attached with pivot pins.

IKBS

Ikoma-Korth Bearing System. A high end ball bearing system that maximizes smoothness, found in high-end custom balisongs.

Choil 

Small curve found on some balisongs just above the kicker, that makes it easier to sharpen the blade.

Swedge 

Unsharpened spine of the blade that is angled to appear as if it were sharpened.

Filipino handmade 'balisongs'

A traditional FHM balisong

A high end FHM by Pabu

A modern FHM "mini" by Pandayan

An antique balisong

Balisongs are still handmade in the traditional manner in the Philippines. Such knives are referred to as "Filipino handmade" (FHM), and their quality varies greatly. The typical FHM is a sandwich style balisong made from layers of brass or aluminum sheet assembled with pins. Frequently, the handles are inlayed with scales fashioned from rosewood, bone, horn, stag, or synthetic materials. Balisongs made for the tourist trade are typically of passable quality, but are mass-produced by semi-skilled workers and lack the durability and aesthetics of a knife fashioned by an apprentice to a master craftsman.

Throughout the Philippines, the Balisong is also widely called the "Beinte Nueve" (Spanish termed for twenty-nine, although in Spanish it is written as Veintinueve). In Batangas it is common practice to use Spanish numerals. "Beinte Nueve" in truth is the full length of a standard Batangas made Balisong, which is twenty-nine centimeters.^[5] When a Filipino is acknowledged as being from the province of Batangas, the next question commonly asked, "Nasaan ang Beinte Nueve mo?" (Where is your Beinte Nueve?)

Low-cost imports (1984-

Typical low-cost Balisong with zamak handles.

Despite United States prohibitions on the import of butterfly knives, beginning in the 1980s, a variety of Asian manufacturers continued to export low-cost balisongs to the United States. These products are viewed by enthusiasts as low quality due to their usage of cast handles made of brittle zamak alloy, and blades of low-quality steel.

Vintage imports (1981-1984)

Taylor Cutlery Manila Folders

Valor Golden Dragons

closeup view of lettering on vintage balisongs

Vintage Pakistani counterfeit balisong

From 1981 to 1984, hundreds of thousands of butterfly knives were imported into the United States from a variety of countries, primarily: the Philippines, Japan, China, and Korea -- although a few were also imported from France, Germany, and Spain. The best were primarily from the metalsmiths of Seki City, Japan, who manufactured butterfly knives for Taylor (Manila Folder), Parker (Gypsy), Valor (Golden Dragon), and Frost (a variety of very inexpensive butterfly knives). Guttmann Cutlery in the Philippines exported a high quality sandwich-style butterfly knife marketed as the "Original Balisong", which featured a variety of scale materials and high carbon steel blades.

American butterfly knives

Benchmade/Crawford with mother of pearl insets

Pacific Cutlery with Imada High Hollow blade

Microtech Tachyon

Spyderco Spyderfly

Balisong USA started manufacturing butterfly knives in the late 1970s, then changed its name to Pacific Cutlery in the early 1980s, before finally becoming Benchmade. The earlier knives featured a wide variety of custom blade designs (many of which were hand ground by master knifemaker Jody Samson, well known for making the swords in the movie Conan the Barbarian), as well as a number of exotic inlays for the handles (ivory, prehistoric ivory, scrimshawed ivory, mother-of-pearl, ebony, tropical woods, etc.) -- in mint condition, some of these early balisongs are worth thousands of dollars. Used, with skeletonized or micarta handles and the standard "weehawk" or "Imada high hollow" grind, they typically start at around $300 and go up from there. Unusual grinds, like the "scimitar", "cutlass", "kris", "weehawk tanto", "Spanish Bowie", or rare "mariner" cause the value to increase significantly. These early American balisongs are highly sought after by collectors, who frequently purchase them as investments and store them in airtight safes. Benchmade stopped producing custom butterfly knives in the late 1980s, but regularly offers "Limited Editions" with special features. Other American makers of commercial balisongs include Bradley Cutlery (Mayhem), Spyderco (Spyderfly and Szabofly), Roton (Monarch), Microtech Knives (Tachyon), and SWAT (Tiger).

Legal status

Because of its potential use as a weapon, and possibly due to its intimidating nature and rapid deployment, it has been outlawed in several Western countries.

• In Australia, Butterfly knives are generally classified as a prohibited weapon, which requires a special legitimate excuse to possess it. Australian Legal Definition: A flick knife (or other similar device) that has a blade which opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device in or attached to the handle of the knife.
• In Canada, although not specified by name as a prohibited weapon, the balisong is often considered by courts to fall under the "gravity knife" classification and is therefore illegal. (Unless grandfathered in before prohibition)
• In the UK, The Butterfly Knife has been legally classified as an offensive weapon since January 1989.^[6] Possession of one is an offence under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953. Sale, lending, hiring, giving or importing is prohibited by the Criminal Justice Act 1988, as amended by the Offensive Weapons Act 1996. Any imported are liable to be seized and prosecution may follow. The exception to this are knives of this type over 100 years old which are classed as antiques.
• In Germany, the butterfly knife was outlawed when the Waffengesetz (weapons law) was tightened in July 2003 in the aftermath of the Erfurt massacre. Thus buying, possessing, lending, using, carrying, crafting, altering and trading it is illegal and is punishable by up to five years imprisonment, confiscation of the knife and a fine of up to 10.000€. Using a butterfly knife for crime of any kind - as is any illegal weapon - is punishable by from 1 to 10 years imprisonment.
• In Hong Kong, the sale of full-size butterfly knives is illegal, but miniature versions can be legally obtained.
• In the Philippines, the sale of a 29-cm balisong is illegal.^{[citation needed]}
• In some U.S. states it is illegal to possess and/or carry such a knife in public. In certain jurisdictions, butterfly knives are categorized as a "gravity knife", "switchblade", or "dagger" although they are also occasionally outlawed by name ("butterfly knife"). In a recent US Federal Court case, Spyderco, Inc. pleaded guilty and was fined $75,000 for sending butterfly knives through the United States Postal Service. Spyderco admitted that from June 2005 through January 2007, it had mailed butterfly knives, after importing the knife components from Taipei, Taiwan, through the Port of San Francisco and the Port of Oakland, to Golden, Colorado.^[7]
  • The knife is illegal to carry in California if blade length exceeds two inches as with other automatic knives, they are legal to own if kept in your home.^{[citation needed]}
  • In New York, the butterfly knife has been determined not to be a gravity knife.^[8]
  • In Pennsylvania, the butterfly knife is legal for conceal and open carrying. See Commonwealth v. Miles.^[9]
  • In Utah, balisongs are legal so long as it is not used as a Dangerous Weapon.^[10]
  • In Virginia, the butterfly knife is legal for conceal and open carrying according to state law, although localities can have additional knife laws and restrictions. See Thompson v. Commonwealth.^[11]
• Butterfly knife trainers feature a special blunt and unsharpened "blade," and are legal in areas where butterfly knives are not.

Prominent manufacturers

A benchmade model 42

A variety of butterfly knives from Pacific Cutlery, now known as Benchmade.

• Benchmade - Model 4X ^[12]
• Spyderco - The Spyderfly, the Szabofly designed by Laci Szabo, and the recently introduced Smallfly (a smaller version of the Spyderfly).^[13]

See also

• Jacob's ladder (knife)
• Balisword
• Hackman butterfly knife
• Pantographic knife

References

External links

• The Balisong as a fighting knife