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{{Globalize|date=March 2010}}
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[[Image:1-blade 420.jpg|right|thumb|A variety of 1980s vintage balisongs, primarily from Japan and the Philippines.]]
[[Image:1-blade 420.jpg|right|thumb|A variety of 1980s vintage balisongs, primarily from Japan and the Philippines.]]
[[Image:Opening and closing a Balisong aka Butterfly Knife.gif|right|thumb|A Balisong being opened and closed.]]


A '''Balisong''', otherwise known as a '''butterfly knife''' or '''fan knife''', is a folding [[pocket knife]] with two handles counter-rotating around the [[Tang (weaponry)|tang]] such that, when closed, the blade is concealed within grooves in the handles. It is sometimes called a [[Batangas]] knife. In the hands of a trained user, the knife blade can be brought to bear quickly using one hand. Manipulations, called "flipping" or "fanning", are performed for art or amusement.
A '''Balisong''', otherwise known as a '''butterfly knife''' or '''fan knife''', is a folding [[pocket knife]] with two handles counter-rotating around the [[Tang (weaponry)|tang]] such that, when closed, the blade is concealed within grooves in the handles. It is sometimes called a [[Batangas]] knife. In the hands of a trained user, the knife blade can be brought to bear quickly using one hand. Manipulations, called "flipping" or "fanning", are performed for art or amusement.

Revision as of 01:25, 27 July 2011

This article is about the Filipino folding knife. For other uses, see Balisong (disambiguation).
File:1-blade 420.jpg
A variety of 1980s vintage balisongs, primarily from Japan and the Philippines.
A Balisong being opened and closed.

A Balisong, otherwise known as a butterfly knife or fan 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. It is sometimes called a Batangas knife. In the hands of a trained user, the knife blade can be brought to bear quickly using one hand. Manipulations, called "flipping" or "fanning", are performed for art or amusement.

Balisongs are useful for situations where it is inconvenient to use both hands to open a knife. For example, a worker who is using a single hand to hold on to something as protection against falling will not wish to use that hand to open a knife. In such a situation it is useful to have a knife that can be opened with either hand.

The Balisong is commonly used by Filipino people as a self defense knife and a pocket utility knife. It is so popular in the Philippines that an urban legend exists that every Batangueño carries one everywhere he or she goes.[1] Hollow ground balisongs were also used as straight razors before conventional razors were available in the Philippines.

Etymology

File:Edcknivescollection.jpg
A variety of different handmade custom Balisong knives.

While the meaning of the term balisong is not entirely clear, a popular belief is that it is derived from the Tagalog words baling sungay (literally, "broken/folding horn") as they were originally made from carved carabao and stag horn.[2] These knives are also referred to as "fan knives", "click clacks" and "butterfly knives".

Construction

There are two main types of Balisong construction: "sandwich construction" and "channel construction".

Sandwich constructed balisong 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 Balisong, 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

A diagram of common butterfly knife parts.
A diagram of common butterfly knife 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. This is sometimes supplanted by an additional tang pin above the pivots.
Latch
The standard locking system, which holds the knife 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.
IKBS
Ikoma-Korth Bearing System. A ball bearing system that maximizes smoothness, found in high end custom made Balisong knives.
Choil
Small curve found on some knives just above the kicker, that makes it easier to sharpen the blade.
Swedge
Unsharpened spine of the blade that is angled to appear as if it were sharpened.

Low-cost imports (1984-

Template:Globalize/US

Typical low-cost Balisong with zamak handles.

Despite United States prohibitions on the import of butterfly knives, beginning in the 1980s, a variety of Asian manufacturers continued to export low-cost Balisong knives to the United States. These products are low quality due to their usage of cast handles made of brittle zamak alloy and blades made of low-quality steel.

Vintage imports (1981-1984)

From 1981 to 1984, hundreds of thousands of butterfly knives were imported into the United States from a variety of countries, primarily: the Philippines, Japan, China, and Korea -- although a few were also imported from France, Germany, and Spain. The best 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.

American butterfly knives

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.).[3] In mint condition, some of these early Balisong knives 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 Balisong knives 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 Balisong knives include Bradley Cutlery (Mayhem), Spyderco (Spyderfly and Szabofly), Roton (Monarch), Microtech Knives (Tachyon), and SWAT (Tiger).

Further information: [[:Switchblade: Legality]]

Because of its potential use as a weapon, and possibly due to its intimidating nature and rapid deployment, the Balisong knife has been outlawed in several countries.

  • In Australia, butterfly knives are generally classified as a prohibited weapon, which requires a special legitimate excuse to possess it. Australian Legal Definition: A flick knife (or other similar device) that has a blade which opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device in or attached to the handle of the knife.
  • In Canada, although not specified by name as a prohibited weapon, the Balisong knife is often considered by courts to fall under the "gravity knife" classification and is therefore illegal. (Unless grandfathered in before prohibition)
  • In the UK, the butterfly knife has been legally classified as an offensive weapon since January 1989.[4] Whilst they are legal to possess, carrying one in public is an offence under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953. Sale, lending, hiring, giving or importing is prohibited by the Criminal Justice Act 1988, as amended by the Offensive Weapons Act 1996. 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 Switzerland, butterfly knives are illegal to carry, give, lend, buy, trade. See the LArm and OArm on http://admin.ch
  • 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 punishable 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 is any illegal weapon - is punishable 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 29-cm Balisong knife 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"). In a recent[when?] US Federal Court case, Spyderco, Inc. pleaded guilty and was fined $75,000 for sending butterfly knives through the United States Postal Service. Spyderco admitted that from June 2005 through January 2007, it had mailed butterfly knives, after importing the knife components from Taipei, Taiwan, through the Port of San Francisco and the Port of Oakland, to Golden, Colorado.[5]
    • The knife is illegal to carry in California if blade length exceeds two inches as with other automatic knives, they are legal to own if kept in your home. [citation needed]
    • There are legal restrictions on gravitational knives in Kansas.
    • In New York, the butterfly knife has been determined not to be a gravity knife.[6]
    • In Oregon, it is illegal to carry a concealed Balisong.[7]
    • In Utah, Balisong knives are legal as long as they are not concealed.[citation needed]
    • In Virginia, the butterfly knife is legal for conceal and open carrying according to state law, although localities can have additional knife laws and restrictions. See Thompson v. Commonwealth.[8]
  • Butterfly knife trainers feature a special blunt and unsharpened "blade", and are legal in areas where butterfly knives are not.

Prominent manufacturers

Template:Globalize/US

File:Benchmade42bali.jpg
A benchmade model 42
File:Balisongs.jpg
A variety of butterfly knives from Pacific Cutlery, now known as Benchmade.
  • Benchmade - Model 4X,[9] Model 51/32.
  • Spyderco - The Spyderfly, the Szabofly designed by Laci Szabo, and the recently introduced Smallfly (a smaller version of the Spyderfly).[10]
  • Bradley Cutlery- The Kimura series and the Mayhem.
  • Pinoy Steel - Quality classic and modern FHM balisongs.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jaser A. Marasigan (August 3, 2006). "Sublian Festival Batagueño pride". www.mb.com.ph. Archived from the original on 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  2. ^ Imada, Jeff (1984), The Balisong Manual, California: Unique Publications, p. 130, ISBN 0865681023
  3. ^ Burch, Michael (2007). "Butterfly Knives Take Wing". In Kertzman, Joe (ed.). Knives 2008. F&W Media. pp. 26–30. ISBN 9780896895423.
  4. ^ "UK Offensive Weapons Act 1988". Retrieved 2006-11-05.
  5. ^ Bessette, Maureen (2007-04-12). "Spyderco". American Law Newswire. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  6. ^ "Is Butterfly Knife a Gravity Knife? Issues In NY Criminal Law--Vol. 5, #4©". Retrieved 2007-05-03.
  7. ^ https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.240
  8. ^ "Wayne Thompson, Opinion by Justice Cynthia D.Kinser" (PDF). 27 February 2009.
  9. ^ "Benchmade Bali-Song Products". Retrieved 2006-11-04.
  10. ^ "Spyderfly Balisong Products". Retrieved 2006-11-04.
  11. ^ "Pinoy Steel". Retrieved 2010-09-16.
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