Butterfly knife
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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.
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[edit] 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)
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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)
[edit] Filipino handmade 'balisongs'
 A traditional FHM balisong |
 A high end FHM by Pabu |
 A modern FHM "mini" by Pandayan |
 An antique dueling balisong |
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.
Balisongs are also called "vente nueve" (twenty-nine) for the standard twenty-nine-inch balisong.
[edit] Chinese copies
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").
[edit] Inferior quality
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.
[edit] Vintage imports
 Taylor Cutlery Manila Folders |
 Valor Golden Dragons |
 closeup view of lettering on vintage balisongs |
 Vintage Pakistani CCCs |
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.
[edit] American butterfly knives
 Benchmade/Crawford w/ mother of pearl insets |
 Pacific Cutlery w/ Imada High Hollow blade |
 Microtech Tachyon |
 Spyderco Spyderfly |
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).
[edit] 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]
- 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 three inches.
- Butterfly knife trainers feature a special blunt and unsharpened "blade," and are legal in areas where butterfly knives are not.
[edit] Prominent manufacturers
- Benchmade - Model 46DM, Model 42, Model 43-401[5]
- Bradley Cutlery - The Mayhem.
- Spyderco - The Spyderfly, the Szabofly designed by Laci Szabo, and the planned Smallfly (a smaller version of the Spyderfly).[6]
- Cold Steel - Arc Angel[7]
[edit] See also
- Gravity knife
- Switchblade, also called a Flick-knife
- Pantographic knife
- Batangas, Philippines
[edit] References
- ^ Guillaume Morel. "balisong.net", www.balisong.net, August 14, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
- ^ a b Armand Palacio. "untitled document", www.palacio.ph, January, 2001. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
- ^ webmaster@balisongcollector.com. "The History of the Balisong Knife", www.balisongcollector.com, n.d.. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
- ^ UK Offensive Weapons Act 1988. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
- ^ Benchmade Bali-Song Products. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
- ^ Spyderfly Balisong Products. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
- ^ Cold Steel Arc Angel. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
