Is the balisong the answer for a tough knife?

O

o4tg

Joined
Jun 12, 2013
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Just got the idea in my head today. Is it the answer for those wanting a tough and quickly deployable blade?

I had some cheap ones when I was younger that I did stupid stuff with, like constantly throwing them. Occasionally the locking bar would pop out, but even the cheap pins never gave out. Would a quality example withstand harder use than other folding knives? Technically there's no lock to fail.
 
You're correct, there is no lock fail.

However, all balisongs have a decent amount of play along with OTFs, so that might hinder their performance. In addition, handles on most models don't provide a very substantial grip. I think your best bet is a lock-back or button lock as the toughest mechanism.
 
I think it's an interesting idea to explore. The balisongs that I've had have suffered from some pretty bad blade play, but they weren't made of high quality materials. SO maybe it there was like a titanium one or one of a similarly hard compound, it could be way tougher than a folder. Let's think about it, for the lock to catastrophically fail, at least 3 very stiff pins would have to be sheared off. And by that point the actual blade would be unusable I think..

Good topic though!
 
Yeah, one of the issues I'm finding in searching them is most of them are stuck in the 80's with chrome/shiney/metal grips that look like a bar of soap. Seems like most of them are made flashy, and utilitarian (dare I say "tactical") designs almost don't exist.

I think I may try a Bear Ops with an open carry belt set up for work. If it goes well, I really like the Benchmade with OD green G10, though it seems a bit small for a bali.
 
So true, the 80's flooded the market with crappy balisongs that always seemed to cut my young knuckles and fingers at the time. I seriously cant say how many times those have broke on me. I think the microtech metalmark looks like a good design, or those bradley ones look pretty tough. Ive never handled them personally though.
 
This is my apocalypse proof balisong...

 
Yeah balis are the strongest design ; even if the 2 pivots break, it can't fold on your fingers like others folders.

Look at the Fox cutlery Mil Tac Breeden.

Very strong and classified as a tool, not a bali because of the pry bar tang.
 
CleMs said:
Yeah balis are the strongest design ; even if the 2 pivots break, it can't fold on your fingers like others folders.

Look at the Fox cutlery Mil Tac Breeden.

Very strong and classified as a tool, not a bali because of the pry bar tang.
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Holy crap, that thing looks perfect!
 
Yes it sure is a good utilitarian design, but this one isn't designed to be flipped because of the magnets in the handles.


JustinWatts said:
You're correct, there is no lock fail.

However, all balisongs have a decent amount of play along with OTFs, so that might hinder their performance.
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There is no play in balis, at least decent quality ones ; no up and down and no side to side, it isn't like an otf at all.
 
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I had a HTM/DDR American Patriot balisong that was an absolute tank of a knife. I wouldn't hesitate to use it just as hard as I would an Adamas or other hard use knife. Keep in mind that balisongs were originally working knives- not toys or weapons for movie gangs.

The problems with balisongs is that it's a niche market and nice ones get quite expensive very quickly.
 
CleMs said:
There is no play in balis, at least decent quality ones ; no up and down and no side to side, it isn't like an otf at all.
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I've never heard of a solid balisong. For one to have zero play, it wouldn't flip well at all.
 
when the balis is open it shouldnt have any blade play. my 41 and 51 are both fixed when open with no movement. Sure the knife wont close on your hand but all the pressure on the blade is put on either a single pin or two smaller pins (zen pins). The pins over time and bend and dent so I would assume the could also break. I dont baton with my balisings.... oh wait! I have and it destroys the knife so dont do it. In regards to a hard use folder they are great knives but I think something like the benchmade adamas would be better suited for batonning for a folder. (although I think batoning with folders in general is dumb). If you super concerned about lock strength ar reliability just get a small fixed blade. Most of the time the blade the handle size is far better than folders. A esee izula has a large blade vs grip size and conceals perfectly.
 
Lycosa said:
Get a BM53. It's a perfect EDC balisong.
rolf
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Its a good edc, but a poor flipper. I think the bm51 is a better edc knife. Its just as light with a bigger blade and a decent flipper. Also the latch is spring loaded and an excellent design. The pocket clips are great and its slimmer than the 53. I owned both, sold both and bought a 51 again because I missed it. The turtle on the 53 is sweet but I can live without it. The bardley Kimuras are excellent for a beater bali, they have decent weight and about the same handle length as the 51. I had one before I got into balisings to mess around with. I carried it with a remora IWB glock mag pouch holster. Worked perfectly and the all metal bali can be used as a impact tool as well. I will also note the Kimuras are crazy sharp so watch out.
 
JustinWatts said:
I've never heard of a solid balisong. For one to have zero play, it wouldn't flip well at all.
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Pretty much all bali's have some play in the handles, but even just lightly gripped in the open position it's nonexistent in the blade.
 
I carried a BM51 as my edc for a couple of years. They are rock solid when open with the latch set. The 51 is a good option if you want to edc a balisong in my opinion. It has a great pocket clip and sits well in the pocket. Because of how skinny it is it doesn't take up too much room, especially considering that it has a 4.5 inch blade. That said if I wanted to edc a balisong at this point I would probably get the BM53 (It's discontinued but still readily available). The handle is more ergonomic on the 53 and the blade is much more practical for edc. The reason I don't currently carry the 51 is that the blade is thin and a bit too "Stabby" (i.e. no belly). I snapped the tip of the blade off entirely when I dropped it (while flipping it) over concrete. Benchmade customer service is awesome and getting the blade replaced only cost $35. I've also had them send me replacement hardware on multiple occasions at no charge. I've since developed a taste for spyderco folders in exotic steels, so the benchmades don't see as much action anymore.
 
My benchmades are rock solid when locked. The small BM31 is the answer for those wanting a tough and quickly deployable blade...except if it's illegal. :)
 
lemonslush said:
when the balis is open it shouldnt have any blade play. my 41 and 51 are both fixed when open with no movement. Sure the knife wont close on your hand but all the pressure on the blade is put on either a single pin or two smaller pins (zen pins). The pins over time and bend and dent so I would assume the could also break. I dont baton with my balisings.... oh wait! I have and it destroys the knife so dont do it. In regards to a hard use folder they are great knives but I think something like the benchmade adamas would be better suited for batonning for a folder. (although I think batoning with folders in general is dumb). If you super concerned about lock strength ar reliability just get a small fixed blade. Most of the time the blade the handle size is far better than folders. A esee izula has a large blade vs grip size and conceals perfectly.
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It looks to me like the pins.would be just as tough as a folder pivot, if not tougher since the stress is spread out over two mechanisms rather than just one.
 
It's really going to depend on quality.
A friend of mine used to have a balisong...one of the pins fell out. He replaced it...and the other pivot pin fell out (it was a cheap one though).
I had a trainer, which flipped nicely. I reground it to have a screwdriver tip and a bottle opener which worked well...till a handle pin fell out.

I'm not sold on the design being inherently awesome.
 
JustinWatts said:
I've never heard of a solid balisong. For one to have zero play, it wouldn't flip well at all.
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I paid $18 for a chrome handled, and red and black splatter handled pair of balis at a flea market it in KC when I was about 14. The chromed one had play out of the box, but the red and black one remained tight the entire time I owned it, even after copious amounts of throwing it at trees.

I always considered them a novelty, but looking back they just might been some of the coolest and toughest folders I've ever owned. Being a teenager at the time, one was confiscated at school, and the other one disappeared when I loaned it to a "friend".
 
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