Butterfly Knife.com

Today we are going to take an in depth look at the Spyderco SpyderFly Butterfly Bali. Is it a good flipper? Would I recommend it to a friend? Also, we will look at the overall quality of the balisong itself.

Let’s look at some of the features that come with this balisong. This is an Eric Glesser design made right here in the USA. Mr. Glesser did a really good job at incorporating a lot of Spydercos famous qualities into this knife. The first thing that you might notice is the big round holes in the handles that Spyderco uses on their blades. The holes in the handles make it fun when flipping and ensures full rotations and momentum out of this knife.

Not only is the pocket clip able to switch handles, but the spring loaded latch can as well. With the latch being spring loaded, I wish that they would have placed a larger spring in it. I have came across a lot of horror stories of the latch spring breaking on people due to it being weak. However, it is very easy to switch from handle to handle (along with the pocket clip). The latch does not lock the handles in the open position.

Next, let’s look at the blade. The blade is made of VG-10 steel which is a very good Japanese steel. It also features a hollow-grind that is sharpened on just one side with a false edge on the other side. With the hollow grind that was put on this it makes the blade very well balanced, as if this knife couldn’t get any smoother!

Now let’s look at a few of the things that I would change with this knife. The first thing I would change is the weight. It weighs in at 6 oz. When it comes to expert flippers, they seem to like a lighter balisong for faster flipping. However, there are perks to the weight on this Butterfly Bali. Since it is a slow flipper, I find that it helps you perfect the flips that you are doing. You get to see exactly what the knife is doing and makes it really easy to predict where handles are going to be landing. Another thing that I would change is the spring for the latch. It just isn’t reliable enough for my liking. Though it does seem to hold up fairly well.

Another cool feature of this model of balisong is that you can get it in a “combo pack” which includes a trainer and a real blade.

This is a really cool feature of this knife. If you are a beginner or if you are advanced and need to learn new flips and tricks but don’t dare to use a sharpened knife quite yet, the combo pack comes with a trainer to help you build that confidence. When you feel like you can handle a real blade, switch out the trainer and put in the sharpened blade. 

Overview:

If you are looking for a really smooth balisong, you can’t go wrong with the SpyderFly. I would suggest it, more specifically, if you are more advanced and are looking to perfect your style and learn new tricks. Since it is slow moving and rotates so smoothly, it will help you out a lot. I would recommend this knife to anyone.  It is a solid knife that is very fair for the price.  They are a lot harder to come by now-a-days, so if you find one and have any slight interest, buy it.

Specifications:
Overall Length: 9.75″
Blade Length: 4.125″
Blade Material: VG-10
Closed Length: 6″
Handle Length: 5.6″
Weight: 6 oz.
Lock Type: Spring Latch

The new Alpha Beast Balisong Knife is being touted as THE game changer in the flipping community, and the knife has been speaking for itself. This is the first balisong knife from BRS (BladeRunnerS) and was designed by flippers KnifeZoid and Looseyfur in collaboration with knife maker Matt Cook. KnifeZoid and Looseyfur are active on several knife forums and are both very accomplished balisong flippers, you can check them out on YouTube as well.

The Alpha Beast is designed for the flipping community. KnifeZoid and Looseyfur took their real world flipping knowledge and designed/built a knife that not only met the expectations of flippers, but set a new standard. Weighing in at 5.4oz and overall length of 9.875″, the AB is literally a beast! All hesitation and inhibitions related to it’s size will quickly melt, even in the hands of a novice.

Due to the very limited production, you may have a hard time getting a hold of the Beast, so make no hesitation if you come across one!

And here is a video of the Alphabeast in action, courtesy of FKE.

Update!

Benchmade has released the specs for their model 62 butterfly knife. While the price isn’t where we hoped it would be, the specs look excellent. Here’s a lowdown of all the info available from Benchmade:

Benchmade announces the Model 62 Balisong Knife for 2012! The BM 62 knife features a D2 Tool steel Weehawk blade with razor sharpness. The handles are skeletonized to reduce weight and sport a polished stainless steel finish. Sandwich style construction with stainless steel back spacers. The 62 Bali also features Zen pins and the classic T latch to secure the knife open and closed. Made in the USA.

• Practical Weehawk Blade Shape
• Skeletonized Handles
• T Latch for Easy Open
• Unparalleled Benchmade Fit and Finish

Specifications:
Blade Length: 4.25” (10.8cm)
Blade Thickness: 0.127” (3.17mm)
Open: 9.20” (23.4cm)
Closed: 5.27” (13.4cm)
Weight: 6.39oz (181.15g)
Sheath Weight: 0.64oz (18.0g)
Handle Thickness: 0.48” (12.40mm)

Benchmade balisong fans rejoice! Rumors had already rum rampant about Benchmade’s new butterfly knife and today they confirmed those rumors on their Facebook page. Here is the first glimpse of the Benchmade 62 balisong:

Although we don’t have any technical specs like size and weight we can still extrapolate a great deal from this picture. The 62 is obviously inspired by the deceased Benchmade 42 and so we would assume that the specifications will be similar. However, looking at the 62 (above) compared to the 42 (below) it may actually be a little shorter than the 42 (the distance from the last hole to the base of the handle seems shorter on the 62, but it could also be a perspective issue). We can see that the design on the 62 will be sandwich construction (as opposed to channel on the 42). The zen pins remain in place and we would guess that the latch incorporated some type of spring to hold it in place (away from the handle).

The 62 is rumored to be made from stainless steel. Given the heavier nature of stainless we’ll be curious to hear how the knife flips in actual practice (the 42 was titanium and the knife was considered the epitome of balanced perfection by many). Some of the stainless models like those from Bradley Cutlery (the Kimura series) have been very popular. Hopefully the stainless sandwich design allows for a friendly price tag too, since steel is considerably cheaper than titanium.

We should have all the answers to these questions shortly! One thing we know for certain is that there will be a lot of happy Benchmade and Balisong fans celebrating the New Year.

-BK

UPDATE: We have a few new pics and specs for the knife (anyone is welcome to use these pictures -you can even hotlink to us – just please mention where they came from):

Some info on the FlyFather:

Specifications:
Overall Length: 9.25″
Blade Length: 4.25″
Handle Length: 5″
Closed Length: 5.25″
Weight: 4.0 oz.
Handle Material: Titanium
Blade Material: 154CM

Many people have wondered about the retail on these, but we want to preface the price with something pointed out by Protech and BladeHQ. These knives are custom level quality comparable to the work of Les Voorhies, Darrel Ralph (although certainly not as ornate) and other custom makers. Protech’s quality is second to none. The retail price on this knife is $650 with an expected street price of around $449. Quantities are expected to be limited and this is not a knife that’s intended to become “the new 42.” The initial run that will be released on December 12 will be eighteen prototypes. Once the launch of this knife is complete it’s likely that there will be a scaled down version of the knife available for less.

You can read more about this knife (as well as get opinions) on forums such as JerzeeDevil or Bladeforums.

BK

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Now here’s some fun news for you butterfly knife fans! Protech is releasing a new butterfly knife. The knife has been dubbed the “Fly Father,” has titanium handles, a custom bearing system and will only be available from BladeHQ.com. Here’s a preview image:

BladeHQ is keeping some of the other specs mum at the moment, but prototypes of the Fly Father will be available on their website starting December 12, 2012. The supply right now is super limited and the production models are expected to be available later this year or early next year. Merry Christmas!

BK

As many people know Benchmade still pops out model 42 butterfly knives now and then. Larger online stores seem to have them available periodically. Well, good news- we have just learned that BladeHQ.com will be getting a shipment of model 42 butterfly knives in the next week or. They don’t take preorders on the items, but they do have a wish list / email notification system. Or you can bookmark the benchmade 42 and spend the next 10 days refreshing it every minute or so. Just wanted to post this heads up. Best of luck!

BK

Posted  August 11, 2011

The Best Bali-song for the Price
By Alise Christensen

 A Bali-song knife, also known as a butterfly knife or fan knife, is a folding knife with two counter-rotating handles and when closed, the blade is hidden by grooves in the handles. The knife can be opened with one hand by flipping or fanning manipulations which makes it a useful utility knife in situations where only one hand is available. Because of this, you want your butterfly knife to flip with a solid and smooth action and finding a Bali-song of quality construction is essential. I have chosen my favorite of these knives from 4 different price categories in an effort to help you find perfect flipper for you.

 Under $25: The Regal

The Regal Flipper butterfly knife sets the bar high for low-cost Bali-song knives. It has a smooth, solid action thanks to quality construction and the Teflon washers at the pivot points. It features a 4” clip point blade with two tang pins. This allows for a tighter lock-up and less blade wear. There is little to no blade play; but just in case the blade ever starts to feel loose, the Regal had been constructed with Torx screws for easy adjustment. This knife is an excellent choice for someone on a budget or someone who is just starting to get into flipping.

 $25-50: Silver Vein Butterfly 114

Another great choice for beginner flippers is the Silver Vein Butterfly by Bear & Son Cutlery. This  butterfly knife has a stainless steel blade, aluminum handles, and a single tang pin. The skeletonized handles have a textured epoxy coating that gives it a tough silver vein look. Another plus I found I liked in this knife was that the latch on the kicker handle is tight when open so it doesn’t get in the way of the blade while flipping. This knife is, overall, a nice mid-range butterfly.

 $50-150: Bradley Kimura II-VII

While Benchmade makes a great Bali-song, the Kimura by Bradley Cutlery (manufactured by Kershaw) would have to be my favorite. These knives are USA made and come in versions II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII. Each version has slight variations on the blade shape and the skeletonized handles. (All have two tang pins). For a limited time it is also being produced with a polished black finish and a spectrum finish. The Kimura is under 6oz. It feels solid when open and closed and flips with super smooth action. This is a great value butterfly and I would sincerely recommend the Kimura to anyone who enjoys flipping.

 Over $150: Les Voorhies Model 1

A while back I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Les Voorhies Custom Model 1 Balisong.  The Model 1 features the use of the IKBS bearing system which gives it action superior to any other butterfly knife I have ever used. It flips quickly and smoothly. The Model 1 is also very durable and easy to maintain. If blade play ever does occur, it can be tightened by just a quick adjustment to the pivot screws. If you want a custom Bali-song, the Les Voorhies is the way to go.

What weapon other than the butterfly knife can not only threaten, but impress its intended victim? With the flick of the wrist and some skill, the presence of an avid butterfly knife user can raise pangs of fear and even envy.  It isn’t much surprise that Hollywood decided to incorporate this blade’s ferocity and allure into its motion pictures. From bloody action movies to stoner comedies, we can see the butterfly knife and its impressive (sometimes lack of) acrobatics on the big screen.

 Imagine yourself as an ex-cop who holds a grudge against a crime boss for framing you as a drug dealer, leading to the suicide of your beloved wife. Your thirst for revenge can only be quenched by the death of this particular man. Instead of dispatching this crime boss yourself, you decide to train your young daughter from infancy in the deadly art of killing people. Your daughter’s birthday is coming up. As an assassin in training, what would she want to make her happy? A cute barbie? A pretty dress? A fluffy and adorable puppy? I think not! Can she decimate potential attackers with a barbie? Can she decapitate an enemy with a dress? A puppy may be trained to be an helpful asset in her killing ways, but that takes too much time. What she needs is a knife. Not any knife, but an efficient knife that will keep a sharp edge and strike fear in the hearts of her enemies. This particular knife should be light enough for a her small size to handle but strong enough to cut a man’s throat. What I recommend is the Benchmade Bali-Song 42 (insert hyperlink http://www.bladehq.com/cat–Benchmade-Butterfly–87) . The video below shows a scene in where hit girl receives a birthday present from her dad, which happens to be a Benchmade 42.

Not the most advanced or difficult butterfly tricks, but what can you expect from a 10 year old girl?

While browsing the internet for more butterfly related videos, I stumbled upon a video montage of different scenes that include the use of a butterfly knife. Unfortunately, the video is Italian, but some of the movies titles are also written in English. Some of the movies that appear in the video are Tomb Raider, Lethal Weapon 4, Cheech and Chong: Nice Dreams and many others. Take a look!

By Aaron McCarter

Have you ever watched someone flip a butterfly knife and think, “Oh, that looks easy”? Well, I did and I was completely wrong. Luckily, the first knife I bought was a butterfly trainer. After a weekend of constant practicing I realized that flipping a balisong is all about using the momentum of the knife while making sure your fingers are only making contact with the back of the blade.

The basic way to flip open a butterfly knife is to fling the one handle and the blade open, letting the ‘fling’ of the blade and ‘twist’ of the wrist build momentum, and spin the handle you’re holding.

Here are the steps to flipping a butterfly knife:

1. In your right hand hold the butterfly knife by the handle connected to the dull side of the blade.
2. Tilt your hand backward so that the other handle falls over the top of your hand.
3. Continue tilting your hand and move your hand at the wrist in a counter-clockwise circle.
4. Allow the momentum of the handle and the blade spin the handle you’re holding 180 degrees.

I practiced this basic move in slow motion for an entire weekend. After a while I felt comfortable flipping it faster and realized that I didn’t have to smack my knuckles every time I swung open the knife.

If you’re having a hard time following these written instruction, you are not alone. Like reading a foreign language, you will understand more as you practice and gain experience. Also, there are many instructional videos available online (just check out YouTube.com).

Once you’ve mastered the basics of flipping a Balisong, you’ll be able to perform tricks, flips, and spins that will no doubt impress anyone.

Thomas Cox

Butterfly Knife Care & Maintenance
By Amanda Carbajal

Inspect Your Knife!

If your butterfly knife is constructed with screws, tightening the screws on a regular basis will prevent the knife parts from separating, and will keep the movement smooth. You may want to use a quality thread locker such as Loctite Blue 242 on the screws to keep them firmly in place. Just one tiny drop will be plenty for each screw. If your butterfly knife is constructed with pins, inspect them periodically to make sure they are in place and are tight. Check your knife regularly for any debris or damage. If your knife is covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, you’ll want to have them service the knife for you in the event of any damage.

Clean Your Knife!

A well cleaned butterfly knife will last longer than a dirty one. Grime, dust, and even fingerprints can harm the blade, as well as any moving parts. We recommend a knife cleaner such as Benchmade Blue Lube Cleanser to keep your blades clean and free of debris. In a pinch, a little bit of mild soap and warm water will clean it right up. Be Sure to dry the knife thoroughly, inside and out, to avoid rusting.

Oil Your Knife!

Your knife needs to be oiled after every cleaning, and periodically through the year. Use a high quality lubricant on all pivot points, and on the blade. This helps prevent rust and keeps it looking good and moving smoothly. Benchmade Blue Lube is a great wet lubricant, though it must be applied carefully to avoid stickiness. Tuff Glide by Sentry Solutions is a dry lubricant that won’t attract dust like a heavier oil would. One to two drops on each moving part of either lubricant will be plenty. Apply a thin layer on the blade to keep the steel rust-free and looking good.

Sharpen Your Knife!

We all know that a sharp blade is safer than a dull one. Anyone can sharpen a knife properly, given the right tools. A knife sharpening system is a great investment, as most of them will work for any blade. Look for one that comes with detailed instructions, like the Spyderco Sharpmaker, which comes with an instructional DVD. Having your knife professionally sharpened periodically is a good option too.

Remember: Inspect, Clean, Oil, Sharpen!

All of these knife accessories are available at Blade HQ.

Benchmade has released a new black blade version of their Model 51 Bali-song. The black version has all of the same specs as the satin blade: D2 tool steel, G-10 handles, blue titanium liners. The 51 is one of the best butterfly knives available in the market today.

Benchmade 51BK available here!