 A variety of different handmade custom balisongs.
 A variety of 1980's vintage balisongs, primarily from Japan and the Philippines. A butterfly knife, called a balisong in the Philippines, and sometimes known as a Batangas knife, 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. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x651, 163 KB) courtesy of Duane Weikum of EDC knives Copyright:EDCknives File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x651, 163 KB) courtesy of Duane Weikum of EDC knives Copyright:EDCknives File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
Image File history File links 1-blade_420. ...
Image File history File links 1-blade_420. ...
Batangas is a province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. ...
A pocket knife is a type of folding knife with a blade that fits inside the handle. ...
A protrusion of the blade of a tool, such as a chisel or knife, onto which the handle is fastened. ...
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")[1][2] as the original balisongs were made from carved animal horns. These knives are also referred to as "fan knives" or "click clacks." (See: Batangas Products) Tagalog (pronunciation: ) is one of the major languages of the Republic of the Philippines. ...
Batangas is a province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. ...
The use of the balisong is so popular in the Philippines that an urban legend exists about every Batangueño carrying it everywhere he goes. 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 decades ago. An urban legend or urban myth is a kind of modern folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them. ...
Batangas is a province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. ...
A duel is a formalized type of combat. ...
Honor (or honor) comprises the reputation, self-perception or moral identity of an individual or of a group. ...
History 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 1600's as a utility knife.[3] It then most likely came into popular use in the Phillipines through transference intercontinentally to Spain, which coincides with the Spanish governance of the Phillipines during that period.
There is, however, myth and legend attending to the butterfly knife 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[2] but this is believed by academics and historians to be purely conjecture or urban legend. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
Construction There are two main types of butterfly knife construction: sandwich construction and channel construction.
Sandwich constructed butterfly knives 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 butterfly knife, 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.
- 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.
- Choil
- Small curve found on some balisongs just above the kicker, that allows you to sharpen the blade more easily.
- Swedge
- Unsharpened spine of the blade that is angled to appear as if it were sharpened. (many spear point balis actually have an edged side and a swedge side instead of two sharpened sides)
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1522x1552, 195 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
Filipino handmade 'balisongs' A traditional FHM balisong Image File history File links 1-B000321. ...
| A high end FHM by Pabu Image File history File links 1-pabuknife_bali. ...
| A modern FHM "mini" by Pandayan Image File history File links 1-PBS-56. ...
| An antique dueling balisong Image File history File links 1-Stag_FHM.jpg‎ I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
| 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. Brass is any alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses, each of which has unique properties[1]. Note that in comparison bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin. ...
Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ...
Rosewood refers to a number of richly hued timbers, brownish with darker veining. ...
Balisongs are also called "vente nueve" (twenty-nine) for the standard twenty-nine-inch balisong.
Chinese copies
 An inexpensive Asian import known as a "Charming Chinese Cheapy". Since the importing of butterfly knives into the United States was banned during the mid-1980s, inexpensive butterfly knives of good quality unfortunately disappeared from the market and have become highly collectable. To satisfy the demand for inexpensive blades, a variety of Asian manufacturers -- primarily Chinese -- have flooded the market with cheap knives of inferior quality. These are the "balisongs" typically offered for sale at flea markets and swap meets. The butterfly knife community disparagingly refer to such knives as "CCC", which stands for "Cheap Chinese Crap" (or the more euphemistic "Charming Chinese Cheapies"). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (640x1024, 96 KB)Took these photos myself of a souvenier butterfly knife I got in Paphos, Cyprus. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (640x1024, 96 KB)Took these photos myself of a souvenier butterfly knife I got in Paphos, Cyprus. ...
1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...
World map showing the location of Asia. ...
Look up Crap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Inferior quality
 Typical CCC with Zamak handles. Most CCCs have cast handles made of Zamak -- an inexpensive zinc alloy which is brittle and cannot withstand the stress of vigorous flipping. Zamak handles quickly chip, crack, and break. Pivot pins tend to fall out as they wear through the cheap handles. When torx style screws are used, they are untempered to cut costs, which means the screw heads will eventually shear off. Rather than polishing or adonizing the handles, or using a baked enamel finish, the CCC handles are either spray painted or given an inexpensive chrome plating which soon peels off, exposing the rough pot metal beneath. The blades may be stamped "Stainless Steel", "Surgical Steel", or "Rostfrei" -- but they are typically forged scrap metal which is untempered and will not take or hold a working edge. CCCs are much lighter than the average balisong, so lack the weight for the proper balance that serious manipulators require when doing tricks. Furthermore, many CCCs are blatant counterfeits of the patented designs of a number of commercial and custom makers. While the low price (typically between $12 and $20) is initially attractive, they are clearly an inferior product, and no serious flipper would use one. However, for the beginner, practicing on CCC's is a good way to learn basic skills without damaging an expensive blade. Image File history File links 1-Zamak. ...
Image File history File links 1-Zamak. ...
ZAMAK is a trademark covering a family of zinc alloys, the primary components of which are zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Atomic mass 65. ...
An alloy is a combination, either in solution or compound, of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and where the resulting material has metallic properties. ...
TORX, developed by Textron Fastening Systems (formerly Camcar Textron), is the trademark for a type of screw head characterized by a 6-point star-shaped pattern (in the same way that slotted heads, Phillips, Hex, and Robertson have flat, ×-shaped, hexagonal, and square tips, respectively). ...
In a discussion of art technology, enamel (or vitreous enamel, or porcelain enamel in American English) is the colorful result of fusion of powdered glass to a substrate through the process of firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. ...
Look up chrome in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
An alloy of copper and lead. ...
For other uses, see Counterfeit (disambiguation). ...
Vintage imports Taylor Cutlery Manila Folders Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x800, 69 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
| Valor Golden Dragons Image File history File links 1-Golden_Dragons. ...
| closeup view of lettering on vintage balisongs Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x800, 60 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
| Vintage Pakistani CCCs Image File history File links 1-Pakistani. ...
| From 1981 to 1984, hundreds of thousands of butterfly knives were imported into the United States from a variety of countries, primarily: Japan, the Philippines, China, and Korea -- although a few were also imported from France, Germany, and Spain. The best imports 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. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Korea (Korean: í•œêµ or ì¡°ì„ , see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ...
American butterfly knives Benchmade/Crawford w/ mother of pearl insets Image File history File links 1-bm_crawford. ...
| Pacific Cutlery w/ Imada High Hollow blade Image File history File links 1-Imada_High_Hollow. ...
| Microtech Tachyon Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1233x932, 92 KB) Copyright: Microtech File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
| Spyderco Spyderfly Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1169x881, 91 KB) Copyright: Spyderco File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
| 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), Roton (Monarch), Microtech (Tachyon), and SWAT (Tiger). 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...
1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...
A Benchmade Griptilian 551SBK knife. ...
Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
A piece of nacre Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic mixture of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of platy crystals of aragonite and conchiolin (a scleroprotein). ...
Binomial name Diospyros ebenum Koenig ex Retz. ...
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with novotext. ...
Legal status Because of its potential usage as a weapon, and possibly due to its intimidating nature and rapid deployment, it has been outlawed in several Western countries. The importation ban and widespread criminalization of the butterfly knife occurred shortly after the popular film, The Outsiders (film) (which prominently featured butterfly knives in the same manner that Rebel Without A Cause featured switchblades -- coincidentally resulting in their rapid criminalization) was released.[citation needed] For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ...
The Outsiders is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by S. E. Hinton, and was made in 1983 by Francis Ford Coppola. ...
Natalie Wood and James Dean in a screenshot from Rebel Without a Cause. ...
- In Canada, the possession of a butterfly knife is illegal.
- In Scotland, England & Wales, The Butterfly Knife has been legally classified as an offensive weapon since January 1989.[4] Possession of one is a criminal offence, and 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 prosecuted 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 any illegal weapon - is prosecuted 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 39-inch balisong is illegal.
- 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"). The knife is illegal in California if blade length exceeds two inches.
- Butterfly knife trainers feature a special blunt and unsharpened "blade," and are legal in areas where butterfly knives are not.
Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots3 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell...
Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ...
This article is about the country. ...
Location of Erfurt in Germany The Erfurt massacre was a school shooting that occurred on April 26, 2002 in the Johann Gutenberg Gymnasium in Erfurt, Germany. ...
FINE was created in 1998 and is an informal association of the four main Fair Trade networks: F Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) I International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) N Network of European Worldshops (NEWS!) and E European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) // The aim of FINE is to enable these...
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Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic - President George Walker Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from...
A gravity knife is a knife which can be opened solely by the forces of gravity or centripetal force. ...
A switchblade, fully extended. ...
Bold text This article is about the weapon. ...
Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 770 miles (1,240 km) - % water 4. ...
Prominent manufacturers
 A benchmade model 42: the most popular butterfly knife amongst "flippers" due to its high quality construction, weight, and superior balance. It is the standard by which all other butterfly knives intended for manipulation are judged.
 A variety of butterfly knives from Pacific Cutlery, now known as Benchmade. These blades are highly collectable, with values between $500 and $1200. Image File history File linksMetadata Benchmade42bali. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Benchmade42bali. ...
Image File history File links Balisongs. ...
Image File history File links Balisongs. ...
A Benchmade Griptilian 551SBK knife. ...
Spydercos logo Spyderco is a company, founded in 1978 by Sal Glesser and based in Golden, Colorado, U.S.A., that produces knives and knife sharpeners. ...
See also A gravity knife is a knife which can be opened solely by the forces of gravity or centripetal force. ...
A switchblade, fully extended. ...
A switchblade (also known as stiletto) is a type of knife with a folding blade that springs out of the grip when a button or lever on the grip is pressed – a so-called OTF (out-the-front) design. ...
A Pantographic knife, also known as a paratrooper knife, is a folding knife whose blade is fully enclosed by its handles when closed, in a manner similar to a balisong knife(commonly called a butterfly knife in western countries) - with which it is often confused. ...
Batangas is a province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. ...
References August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ...
For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...
2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...
February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
January is the first month of the year and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ...
2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...
February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...
February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...
For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...
November 5 is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 56 days remaining. ...
For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...
November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ...
For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...
November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ...
For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...
November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 57 days remaining. ...
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