Making a butterfly knife, any tips?

Caleb M.

Caleb M.

Joined
Dec 22, 2012
Messages
157
I am a fan (pardon the pun) of balisongs. I want to make one just for the heck of it. Where should I start, besides a drawing? I have a drawing with measurements that I may upload later. If you have any help with measurements or your own homemade bali, could you upload so I get some inspiration?
 
I have similar aspirations however my research has shown that such a build is way out of my league at this point in time. I'm gonna start with a kit for a good flipper and go from there when I build my first one.
 
Here's some tips. Looking through a bunch of wips on here and other forums. Get a good drawing. Practice practice practice. Youre first ball will NOT be that good unless youre one of those crazy guys who just tries it and makes a work of art. Ask any knife maker, Balisongs are a tough one.
 
Send pm off to our own master of the wave, the king of swing, Charlie Mike, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help you out, he's made quite a few with minimal equipment.
 
Caleb,
I've made a few "home-made" balisongs... though my definition of home-made involves a lot of CAD and a milling machine. You can click THIS LINK and check out knives 13, 16 & 19... there are quite a few progress photos there.

Good luck with your project.
Erin
 
Caleb M. said:
Where should I start?
Click to expand...

By slowing down and actually making a knife.

You post a new thread every two days or so on a big new idea for a knife you want to make or have started... But I've yet to see ANY of those threads followed up on.

I get that you're only 14 and you want to make the latest and greatest thing... but if you keep up your current approach around here it's going to be like the boy who cried wolf. Guys will see you ask questions and want them to take their time to answer you, but since you're not actually using it... they'll quit helping.

This might seem mean, but I'm trying to help you out.

If you want to learn this stuff, you need to just buckle down and make a knife.
 
NickWheeler said:
By slowing down and actually making a knife.

You post a new thread every two days or so on a big new idea for a knife you want to make or have started... But I've yet to see ANY of those threads followed up on.

I get that you're only 14 and you want to make the latest and greatest thing... but if you keep up your current approach around here it's going to be like the boy who cried wolf. Guys will see you ask questions and want them to take their time to answer you, but since you're not actually using it... they'll quit helping.

This might seem mean, but I'm trying to help you out.

If you want to learn this stuff, you need to just buckle down and make a knife.
Click to expand...

+1

I almost wrote this very same thing.

Plus I read some of your general discussion posts.
You're not coming across as a sensible or responsible youth.



Develop your skills with some simple fixed blade knives.



Draw your designs, fiddle with paper and cardboard, do one in wood like paint stir sticks, then make your balisong sometime later.
It will still suck.
It will take quite a lot of work until you make a really good knife, and much much later to make a good Balisong.



Besides, you can't have one and you know it.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...songs-of-a-certain-length-legal-in-Washington

Maybe you could have a trainer.
 
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Well said Count. I would not be posting about making or buying illegal weapons online. Or anything else illegal for that matter. Doesn't seem like a good idea to me.
 
Caleb-

I just want to reiterate that my post wasn't an attempt to be mean or scold you. I got started making knives when I was 12, but didn't even know where to look for custom makers to learn from until I was about 16. Even then, a lot of the "old" makers I tried to ask for help didn't take me seriously. My Dad always pushed that the best way to prove to them I was worth helping, was to work hard and show them I wasn't all talk.

If I learned enough to be a hack knifemaker, anyone can... but like anything, it takes less talking and more doing. :)

Best of luck on your knife making adventures. :)
 
Caleb I would take these guys starting with post #10 very seriously, its
your best shot at ever making knives.
Ken.
 
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