Good Balisongs $100 or lower?

C

Coyman Neemus

Joined
Jan 21, 2018
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It's pretty well known that playing with a Balisong is dangerous, but it looks pretty cool as well. Due to this, it's not the best idea to buy a cheap Balisong, as one could break and easily injure someone while doing so. My question is this. On a limited budget, say $100, is there a Balisong out there that you would trust to not break? Also, quality steel is important to me.
 
Quality steel, in a nice balisong for under $100? Yah let me know when that happens!

If you are getting this as a flipper primarily, pinoy steel makes badass balisongs for flipping for $50-80. Bearing pivots, spring latches, very smooth. But they're low quality steel with a mediocre heat treat which is how they can make a great flipper for so cheap.

If you want a good bali with good steel. You need to step up to $200+
 
I have 3 pinoy steel balisongs, all have been flipped hard and taken some heavy drops and hold up great to the abuse. If I'm I want a bali for edc cutting chores I've got a BM51
 
What do you mean by break? Pins falling out and screws coming loose? Assuming the model uses torx screws, its important to loctite them. With a pin construction, not much you can do but check to make sure they are still in place before flipping. You dont want them falling out while flipping.

In this price range, IMO the Schrade Manilla folder is going to give you the best steel. It uses D2, which is not a super steel but better than the usual 440 stuff Bear Ops and Bear and Sons uses. Its heavier and more sloppy but thats what old school balisongs used to be. They weren't initially designed to be spun around a thousand times a day. They were functional knives first and foremost.

If you want the best flipper in this price range, IMO Bear Ops Bear Song II is probably subjectively the best. Just make sure to loctite those screws as they will fall out on you with time.
 
Dr Heelhook said:
They really need to start making the Kimuras again.
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The biggest issue is demand and profit. There arent enough buyers to maintain a constant production level. Thats why Bradley folded. Except for the very low end, Balisong manufacturers usually don't last that long because the market is a small specialty niche in the knife world. It's usually only a part-time endeavor like BRS or HOM that can make it. Benchmade can get away with it as most of their profit comes from their traditional line and they don't rely exclusively on balisongs. Their balisong production is only a miniscule portion of their total output.
 
BubbaGump said:
The biggest issue is demand and profit. There arent enough buyers to maintain a constant production level. Thats why Bradley folded. Except for the very low end, Balisong manufacturers usually don't last that long because the market is a small specialty niche in the knife world. It's usually only a part-time endeavor like BRS or HOM that can make it. Benchmade can get away with it as most of their profit comes from their traditional line and they don't rely exclusively on balisongs. Their balisong production is only a miniscule portion of their total output.
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Yeah, that's the ugly truth. What people really should do is get it into their thick skulls that balisongs are no more dangerous than any other type of knife and therefore should not be illegal.
 
This is why I would only get a balisong to use as a cutting tool.
It seems that for under $100 you can actually get a pretty decent one if you only want to cut stuff with it, otherwise it seems you need to spend a bunch of money for one you intend to flip around all day.
 
Hickory n steel said:
This is why I would only get a balisong to use as a cutting tool.
It seems that for under $100 you can actually get a pretty decent one if you only want to cut stuff with it, otherwise it seems you need to spend a bunch of money for one you intend to flip around all day.
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Actually the Bear Ops flips fairly decently. Just make sure to loctite the screws. It will hold up. Mine is four years old and still going. I flipped the daylights out of it in the past. Don't flip it much these days as I have acquired better flippers since but it is OK.

On the other hand, I think the steel is terrible. Won't take a fine edge. Poor heat treatment. IMO Bear Ops is for buyers who want a flipper but dont want to spend a lot of money. Won't be near the quality of higher end flippers but is adequate, especially as a first balisong and trainer.

The Scharde Manilla folder on the other hand is the one I would get if actual use is in play. The D2 steels is pretty good quality and it does take a very nice and fine edge. Doesn't flip well by today's standards and is too heavy and bulky. But as a user blade, it is quite good.
 
I saw bear makes a balisong with 1095 steel, which should take a good edge, and it should be difficult for them to screw up the heat treat.
 
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