What ever happened to the butterfly knife? - Page 3

crzy4guns · February 19th, 2009, 02:06 PM

I think when the newer assisted opening knives came out on the market, the Balisong butterfly lost some of its appeal as a quickly opened knife. Plus the fact that some jurisdictions have banned them for carrying certainly did not help matters.

T Bone · February 19th, 2009, 03:15 PM

I love Bali's. Carried a Benchmade #69 (I think?) short Tanto blade for about 8 years. It was eventually replaced by a (far more practical) Spyderco Endura (roughly the same time I stopped carrying the Combat Commander and started carrying the Glock 17, circa 1987?).

Got back into them a couple years ago. Bought a Jaguar (Chinese Cheappie). Then a Benchmade 42 (sweet!). Then I went a little nuts and started spending a ton collecting. Got Benchmade 32 (Morpho), 41SS, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and Spyder Fly in standard and Rainbow. Also picked up a Cold Steel Arc Angel. And a Filipino hand made from Luzon (bought on GunBroker from a Naval Officer who brought it back years ago).

These aren't the most convenient knives, and are illegal to carry some places (gray area here in Michigan). Illegal to import. But the "coolness factor" will be there always.

A few pics of the Benchmades...

And the hand made Filipino original

crzy4guns · February 20th, 2009, 06:18 PM

Impressive collection there T Bone!

T Bone · February 20th, 2009, 06:39 PM

Thanks!

packinnova · February 23rd, 2009, 09:00 PM

I've got an old Benchmade I bought going on 15 yrs ago that I used to carry as a "pocket knife".

Although mine did have a sheath designed to carry it flat on the belt, VA law prevents carrying them if I remember correctly so alas...I no longer carry it. I still keep it around for fun at home though.

These days I just stick with my Kershaw assisted opener for carry.

rlimke · February 24th, 2009, 12:28 AM

As soon as I get to 25 posts, I will be listing this brand new knife in another sub-forum.

flyby · February 25th, 2009, 08:40 PM

Nice BM Balisong collection T-Bone!

People that think balis are outdated don't realize they are still the strongest most stable folding fast action knife design around..and of course still very fast with a little practice :)
Is unfortunate the biased laws that plagued autos(in many states) usually follows the butterfly knife as well :(

kg4ghn · February 26th, 2009, 01:05 AM

I have a benchmade 42 at the house with a nice handmade leather sheath for it.

It is fun to flip but I don't carry it b/c I think if I was ever in a self defense situation it would be looked down on by the DA.

Plus it is slower to draw than a regular pocket knife with a clip.

mercman · February 26th, 2009, 02:46 PM

T-bone, nice collection. The only butterfly knife that I have left is the one that I also picked up when I was in the PI back during the war. Probably made out of a file blank with black plasitc scales. It was fun to play with but I was leary of putting too sharp an edge on it.................

2edgesword · February 28th, 2009, 10:21 PM

I have a number of balisongs/butterfly knives (Benchmade, Spyderco, Jaguar). They're fun to play with learning various openings (I know about 25 various openings include some aerials) but with respect of SD I don't think they are very practical. The fine motor skills required for many of the openings would just not be very high probability in an SD situation. Even some of the very basic openings require a few extra tenths of a second to accomplish versus what I can do with a standard folder.

In my opinion the time and effort you have to devote to get really good at opening a balisong would be better spend gettng very proficient at a few opens with a folder and spending the rest of the time training application of the blade.

February 19th, 2009, 02:06 PM	#21
crzy4guns VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,272	I think when the newer assisted opening knives came out on the market, the Balisong butterfly lost some of its appeal as a quickly opened knife. Plus the fact that some jurisdictions have banned them for carrying certainly did not help matters. __________________ Kick the bums out of congress. Vote in 2010!

February 19th, 2009, 03:15 PM	#22
T Bone Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Metropolitan Detroit Posts: 1,984	I love Bali's. Carried a Benchmade #69 (I think?) short Tanto blade for about 8 years. It was eventually replaced by a (far more practical) Spyderco Endura (roughly the same time I stopped carrying the Combat Commander and started carrying the Glock 17, circa 1987?). Got back into them a couple years ago. Bought a Jaguar (Chinese Cheappie). Then a Benchmade 42 (sweet!). Then I went a little nuts and started spending a ton collecting. Got Benchmade 32 (Morpho), 41SS, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and Spyder Fly in standard and Rainbow. Also picked up a Cold Steel Arc Angel. And a Filipino hand made from Luzon (bought on GunBroker from a Naval Officer who brought it back years ago). These aren't the most convenient knives, and are illegal to carry some places (gray area here in Michigan). Illegal to import. But the "coolness factor" will be there always. A few pics of the Benchmades... And the hand made Filipino original __________________ Regards, T Bone. "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety". Benjamin Franklin

February 20th, 2009, 06:18 PM	#23
crzy4guns VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 2,272	Impressive collection there T Bone! __________________ Kick the bums out of congress. Vote in 2010!

February 20th, 2009, 06:39 PM	#24
T Bone Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Metropolitan Detroit Posts: 1,984	Thanks! __________________ Regards, T Bone. "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety". Benjamin Franklin

February 24th, 2009, 12:28 AM	#26
rlimke Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 35	The BenchMade Balisong Model 42 As soon as I get to 25 posts, I will be listing this brand new knife in another sub-forum.

February 25th, 2009, 08:40 PM	#27
flyby Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 76	Nice BM Balisong collection T-Bone! People that think balis are outdated don't realize they are still the strongest most stable folding fast action knife design around..and of course still very fast with a little practice :) Is unfortunate the biased laws that plagued autos(in many states) usually follows the butterfly knife as well :( __________________ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

February 26th, 2009, 01:05 AM	#28
kg4ghn Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 135	I have a benchmade 42 at the house with a nice handmade leather sheath for it. It is fun to flip but I don't carry it b/c I think if I was ever in a self defense situation it would be looked down on by the DA. Plus it is slower to draw than a regular pocket knife with a clip. __________________ ~Mike Glock 19 Proud GeorgiaCarry.org member!

February 26th, 2009, 02:46 PM	#29
mercman New Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: PNW Posts: 9	T-bone, nice collection. The only butterfly knife that I have left is the one that I also picked up when I was in the PI back during the war. Probably made out of a file blank with black plasitc scales. It was fun to play with but I was leary of putting too sharp an edge on it.................

February 28th, 2009, 10:21 PM	#30
2edgesword Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New York Posts: 397	I have a number of balisongs/butterfly knives (Benchmade, Spyderco, Jaguar). They're fun to play with learning various openings (I know about 25 various openings include some aerials) but with respect of SD I don't think they are very practical. The fine motor skills required for many of the openings would just not be very high probability in an SD situation. Even some of the very basic openings require a few extra tenths of a second to accomplish versus what I can do with a standard folder. In my opinion the time and effort you have to devote to get really good at opening a balisong would be better spend gettng very proficient at a few opens with a folder and spending the rest of the time training application of the blade.

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