Pinoy Steel.
The best handforged Filipino blades right to your door.
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Satnam.
The chrome plated kirpan is sold.
These are genuine Sikh kirpans, and were handmade in and around Amritsar, Punjab, home of the Golden Temple. I went through a lot to get these. Prior to finding them, I had never handled a kirpan. They are not commonly available to non-Sikhs. I do hope whoever purchases these treats them with respect.
From top to bottom:
1. The larger of the two kirpans I am offering today, this one measures in at 14 5/8” measured straight across.
The handle is a beautiful, chatoyant Indian hardwood with finger grooves. The guard is stainless steel and while thin and light, provides excellent protection, and also allows for strikes. The handle is only 3 17/32”. Through over a millenia of sword use, Indian swordsmen have decided shorter handles that really lock your hand in are the way to go. Even for my large hands, this one is a comfortable fit.
The blade is highly polished sarb loh. Iron is a sacred material to Sikhs. This blade could be carbon steel, since sarb loh is used to describe both materials today. The blade is not very sharp, but it is intended to be stabbed into soft tissue. The blade is 8” long (measured straight across) and the edge is 6 5/8”. The swedge is 1 25/32” long. The blade is much thinner toward the tip for easy penetration, and the rounded tip lends it strength. There are several design features incorporated into this blade that make a great deal of sense, but come from a school of thought I am only just starting to learn about.
There is some minor spotting near the ricasso and tip on the 1/8” thick blade.
The balance point is 1” in front of the guard.
The blade isn’t mounted perfectly straight in the handle.
The guard is secured to the handle with a nut.
The beautiful scabbard has stainless fittings and the mouth and central portions are riveted to the wood. Getting this genuine Sikh kirpan, and getting it out of India, was quite the challenge. 5.9 oz, or 9.2 oz with the scabbard. Discounted at $115.
2. This is the smaller of the two kirpans I am offering today. It is 10 5/8” long.
The handle is a beautiful and chatoyant Indian hardwood. The handle is only 3 19/32” long. Indian swords have similarly short handles to really lock your hand in. The guard, bolster and back of the handle appear to be stainless steel or chrome plated iron.
The blade is 6 1/16” long and made of sarb loh (either iron or carbon steel). Iron is sacred to Sikhs. The blade is not very sharp, but it is designed for stabbing into soft tissue. The edge is 4 9/16” long and there is a 1 23/32” long swedge. The rounded tip lends it strength for easy penetration.
The scabbard is beautiful and well crafted. The fittings and wood are perfectly matched. The throat and central fitting are riveted through the wood twice for durability.
The balance point is right in front of the guard. Please note there is some minor spotting on the ricasso.
This beautiful Sikh kirpan was a challenge to acquire and get out of India. 5.2 oz. 8.1 oz with the scabbard. $115.
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The Magnificent Seven.
Balisongs 1, 2, 4 and 6 are sold.
Seven incredible balis for you today! All of these are from Fall 2012 and six of the seven were made by the balisong maker whose brothers are currently working in the Middle East, at least for the next few years. He is the only balisong maker in the family who is curently making top notch balisongs.
From top to bottom:
1. This buyod (bowie) is an absolute monster, and very well made too. This one measures in at a whopping 15 3/16”, or 38.6 cm. The beautiful all brass and kamagong heartwood handles are thicker than usual too. This is one for the big boys, or for the average joe who likes the big daddy balis!
The handles are very dark brown kamagong heartwood I personally hand finished to 1000 grit before oiling and waxing the wood. This really took this bali to the next level! Each of the solid brass bolsters is pinned twice with two copper pins. The latch is also extra thick and in proportion with the rest of the bali.
The blade is a modern buyod with a subtle swedge. This is one heck of a bowie, and I would love to keep this one for myself since it’s a real beast of a bali. I don’t have any quite this big in my own collection.
The blade also features just one tang pin, and it too is oversized.
There is one forge mark near the swedge on this bali. Carbon steel blades often have marks left over from being forged to shape in high heat.
One way to separate the good balis from the lesser ones is to look at how smooth the latch/bolster interface is.
The latch is the custom-style and has been distinctively fileworked by the maker.
This is one solid big league buyod, and built much heavier than usual. 12.9 oz. $189.
2. This is the big daddy of tanto balisongs—one of the largest ever made in Batangas. It measures in at 14 1/8”, or 35.9 cm.
The handles feature beautifully matched kamagong ebony that I personally hand finished to 1000 grit before oiling and waxing the wood. This process significantly improves both the appearance and feel of the wood, as well as the fit of the wood to the bolsters.
The blade is nicely ground into a very aggressive American tanto profile with an integral guard. While hand finishing this piece, I got a pretty nasty cut on my finger—while not quite razor sharp, this one is close. The blade is hand forged carbon spring steel from vehicle leaf springs, which is very tough steel and an excellent choice for knife blades.
Each of the bolsters is double pinned, but the pins are barely visible; I believe this piece may actually have stainless pins rather than the more common iron ones used.
The color and figuring of this wood is really incredible.
The blade alone is 6 5/16” long.
The latch is extra thick and features distinctive filework from the craftsman. This is a first class piece all around. 8.2 oz. $195.
3. This spearpoint balisong is a beauty. Cherry picked in October ‘12, this one measures in at 28.9 cm.
The handles are top notch kamagong heartwood and are flat on all sides, although they taper and round off near the ends. These are called eight-sided handles. I have a tari with eight sided handles myself, but these handles have been hand finished. This took me almost two hours, and the handles have been left feeling much nicer; the finishing also helps bring out the natural beauty inherent in this rare ebony.
The blade is hand forged 5160 (or thereabouts) and very nicely ground with a sharp point. Due to the fine point on this balisong, I wouldn’t attempt the coin test with it.
The top bolsters are double pinned for durability. The handles are all stainless—we at Pinoy Steel were the first to offer these to the world.
The latch is beveled and signed (fileworked) by the craftsman.
This excellent double-edged spearpoint is 5.6 oz. $139.
4. This is a special balisong all around. Measuring in at 28.6 cm, it features a sibat (traditional spear) blade with sharp barbs, an integral guard that was forged in by the blacksmiths, and slimmer than normal kamagong and stainless handles.
I hand finished the beautiful kamagong ebony heartwood on these handles to 1000 grit before oiling and waxing it. This substantially improved the appearance and feel of the wood. No other dealer takes the time to do this on traditional Filipino balisongs. The handle construction is all stainless, and the top bolsters are double pinned for increased durability.
There is some very light surface spotting on the blade, and one minor pit.
This is a beauty of a balisong with a very aggressive spearpoint blade—watch out for those barbs! 4.8 oz. $145.
5. I believe this is the last of the red stag krises I had made last year, and it is definitely one of the nicest. I don’t have much of this excellent European red stag left, so if you like this piece, don’t hesitate! This one measures in at 28.7 cm.
The stag features beautiful texture, and is a much more sustainable choice than the stag from endangered deer used on conventional Filipino balisongs offered by other dealers. I go to the trouble of importing my own stag since I do not want to contribute to the extinction of the Philippines’ remaining deer population. The supply of kamagong and narra is already drying up, and fast, so soon the makers will be limited to what is available to them in the Philippines market.
The kris blade and guard were beautifully ground. The blade is classic hand forged leaf spring steel. There is some surface pitting on the ricasso from storage.
One of the stag inserts on this side has an extra copper pin to hold it in place. This is commonly seen on stag-handled balisongs since antlers do not grow in straight lines.
You may be able to make out the extra pin here.
The handles swell outward to fill up your hand. The latch is beautifully beveled by one of the two good balisong makers left who make knives for Pinoy Steel. The ricasso to handle fit on this knife is excellent.
This one weighs in at 6.4 oz. Discounted at $169.
6. Please note this one is sold, and has been added to the site for the buyer’s covenience.
This beautiful high hollowground bowie features raw Filipino kalabaw and stainless handles and measures in at 28.9 cm.
The all-stainless handles feature double-pinned bolsters, and the kalabaw horn on this piece has no cracks whatsoever. The craftsmen liked the raw Indian buffalo horn I supplied them with so much, they decided to try and use local horn in the same manner, and it turned out very well indeed!
The blade on this piece is an absolute work of art! The short and deep clip is very aggressive and practical for those who understand its uses.
There is a tiny forge mark on the ricasso of this balisong.
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Great Flippin’ Balis.
Some great balisongs for you today! The first one is an old school Japanese bali, but current production from the factory that made all the old school Japanese balis that hit US shores in the 80s. The factory is still making 80s-style balisongs today, but exclusively for the Japanese market (and Pinoy Steel)!
The balis under it are from the outfit in China that supplies the 420 stainless steel balisongs with bushings and spring latches that so many of you enjoy flipping. These are the last of the models I have to show you and I only have a few of each! All feature the grippy and perfectly executed basketweave finish.
From top to bottom:
1. These Japanese made balisongs are 9 3/16” long and a solid 7.2 oz. The tanto blades are razor sharp, professionaly heat treated and hollowground 440 stainless steel. The blades are marked “Dragon Claw.” Japanese 440 is not the junk we’ve seen from China. This blade is Benchmade sharp! The Japanese and Buck Knives continue do amazing things with 400-series steel. The nylon sheath pictured is included.
The handles are chrome-plated and they are solid and heavy. This is much higher quality than any Chinese balisong and feels like an old Taylor or PCC International Series (this is a new model that has only recently been introduced by the same company that provided Taylor and PCC with their Japanese knives).
These are great value at only $80 shipped. Only here at Pinoy Steel!
2. This balisong measures in at just under 9”. It does not feature handle skeletonizing like the other knives from this small production facility, but it does feature a beautiful woven texture that I believe is CNC-machined into the handles. These knives are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. These knives also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The pattern looks almost organic (like a handwoven basket) and also provides excellent texture for manipulation.
This is one of the newest models from this outfit and it features a hollowground recurve blade. While not quite razor sharp, it is close. The blade features two extra thick tang pins and locks up rock solid in both the open and closed positions, and there is an integral guard on it too.
The blade (like the handles) is 420 stainless steel. While the blade is not hardened for maximum cutting performance, it sharpens up easily and can take a good edge. It also takes a good polish and is highly corrosion resistant: perfect for the flippers. Of course, 420 steel can’t compare to the high carbon steel used on Filipino knives as far as toughness goes, but these knives are made for completely different uses.
You can see the bushings in the pivots here. The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
The blade has a guard and very thick tang pins. The blade is hollowground with a thicker, rounded tip.
The handles are beautifully polished. One of my buyers, who is a serious flipper, feels these solid handles feel better in the hand than the skeletonized models.
You can see the four screws used for assembly better in this picture. These knives really flip like lightning and are very, very smooth.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
This model weighs in at 4.5 oz. $75.
3. This balisong measures in at 9 1/4”. It does not feature handle skeletonizing like the other knives from this small production facility, but it does feature a beautiful woven texture that I believe is CNC-machined into the handles. These knives are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. These knives also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The pattern looks almost organic (like a handwoven basket) and also provides excellent texture for manipulation.
The blade is a spearpoint (only sharpened on one side) and is very attractive. While not quite razor sharp, it is close. The blade features two extra thick tang pins and locks up rock solid in both the open and closed positions, and there is an integral guard on it too.
The blade (like the handles) is 420 stainless steel. While the blade is not hardened for maximum cutting performance, it sharpens up easily and can take a good edge. It also takes a good polish and is highly corrosion resistant: perfect for the flippers. Of course, 420 steel can’t compare to the high carbon steel used on Filipino knives as far as toughness goes, but these knives are made for completely different uses.
The handles are beautifully polished. One of my buyers, who is a serious flipper, feels these solid handles feel better in the hand than the skeletonized models.
The blade has a guard and very thick tang pins.
You can see the four screws used for assembly better in this picture. These knives really flip like lightning and are very, very smooth.
The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
This model weighs in at 4.8 oz. $75.
4. This balisong measures in at 9 3/16”. It does not feature handle skeletonizing like the other knives from this small production facility, but it does feature a beautiful woven texture that I believe is CNC-machined into the handles. These knives are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. These knives also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The pattern looks almost organic (like a handwoven basket) and also provides excellent texture for manipulation.
The weehawk blade (like the handles) is 420 stainless steel and features nice, sharp serrations. While the blade is not hardened for maximum cutting performance, it sharpens up easily and can take a good edge. It also takes a good polish and is highly corrosion resistant: perfect for the flippers. Of course, 420 steel can’t compare to the high carbon steel used on Filipino knives as far as toughness goes, but these knives are made for completely different uses.
The handles are beautifully polished. One of my buyers, who is a serious flipper, feels these solid handles feel better in the hand than the skeletonized models.
The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
This model weighs in at 4.9 oz. $75.
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Hello again Mabuhay! Was wondering if the same rule of the karambit applies with the balisong? Would it be legal to get mailed to my home?
Asked by darrylfritzgerald
Karambits are absolutely legal to ship to CA. :) Unfortunately I don’t have any in stock on the site, but I did find one lurking in the warehouse…
Thanks,
Jay -
Eskrima.
All sold!
These blades are from a forge in Cebu that is a little bit of a secret. Away from the district most famous for blacksmithing, the men at the forge produce what I believe to be the best blades you can find in Cebu today. These are solid working blades, but they have been mirror polished: the benefit of this is increased corrosion resistance. Normally, in the Central Visayas, working blades are allowed to patinate through use, and are only ‘cleaned’ by sharpening.
Another thing I like about this forge is their use of gmelina wood. Gmelina is a fast growing species and all parts of the tree can be used. The wood is light, but durable, and the leaves are fed to cattle. This makes gmelina a far more sustainable choice than kamagong or narra. Both kamagong and narra are very difficult to procure at this time since the Philippines government has finally cracked down on illegal logging! There are farms that produce these beautiful hardwoods, but they simply cannot supply enough wood to meet the country’s needs.
From top to bottom:
1. The pinuti is a classic Cebuano blade. It was originally used in the fields and they are long and thin, much like machetes. They were expedient weapons when needed. The term ‘pinuti’ is Cebuano for white. When sharpened up, the blade would no longer be stained from use, and would therefore be ready to fight with. Pinutis like this one are still used for general slicing, but even the name ‘pinuti’ strikes fear into the heart of many Cebuanos due to the reputation that precedes these swords.
This pinuti was hand forged on the island of Cebu by some of the best blacksmiths on the entire island. The blade is chisel ground, like many Visayan blades. The handle is gmelina wood grown right on the island of Cebu.
The balance point on this short pinuti is 3 1/4” in front of the handle. It measures in at 16 7/16”, making this the shortest pinuti I’ve ever offered. For those who like their blades long, this could serve as a daga to a much longer blade; it also makes an excellent utility blade. This style of blade is very popular on the island of Cebu, even today, and pinutis are the go to blades for many eskrima masters. You won’t find a pinuti like this one anywhere else, however!
This pinuti weighs in at 11 oz, or 14.3 oz in the 3.3 oz scabbard. The scabbard was also crafted from nicely finished gmelina wood. Cebuano blades (and many other working blades from the Visayas, Indonesia and Malaysia) usually have scabbards that are shellacked for protection from the elements. This greatly increases their durability, but the orange shellac isn’t very attractive to most people. These pinutis have plain scabbards, so you can refinish them if desired and apply the finish of your choice!
The handle measures in at 5 3/16” and it is 3/4” thick. The blade is 11 1/4” long and 1 3/8” wide at its widest point. The blade is 5/32” thick all the way up to the perfectly ground tip and has a hollow chisel grind for maximum cutting ability. This blade was hand forged from 5000-series carbon spring steel and is nice and tough, but easy to sharpen, making it a great user.
There was some minor spotting on the blade from storage that I buffed clean.
The scabbard was beautifully crafted and features really lovely figuring and knots. It was nicely finished and allows for a smooth draw and holds the blade well. There is some up and down movement in the scabbard, but it doesn’t detract from the draw whatsoever.
The handle was very well crafted and fits my hand like a glove. I’m very tempted to keep this blade for my own collection! As with almost all of my blades, I cherry picked this one in person.
This is the first time I’ve offered a pinuti from this forge and it’s a beauty all around. $109.
2. These blades are from a forge in Cebu that is a little bit of a secret. Away from the district most famous for blacksmithing, the men at the forge produce what I believe to be the best blades you can find in Cebu today. These are solid working blades, but they have been mirror polished: the benefit of this is increased corrosion resistance. Normally, in the Central Visayas, working blades are allowed to patinate through use, and are only ‘cleaned’ by sharpening.
Another thing I like about this forge is their use of gmelina wood. Gmelina is a fast growing species and all parts of the tree can be used. The wood is light, but durable, and the leaves are fed to cattle. This makes gmelina a far more sustainable choice than kamagong or narra.
The plamingko is a common small knife in the Central Visayas. If the name looks like the word flamenco to you, you’d be right. This is a style of knife that was brought to Cebu by the Spanish. It closely resembles Spanish hunting knives of the time, and the navajas carried by Spanish sailors. Many in Spain call this style of blade Arabesque since it was brought to Spain by the Moors. In Cebu, it has long been used for a variety of tasks. It is used for slaughtering pigs and other animals every day in the Philippines. This particularly plamingko is the nicest modern one made in Cebu today: I haven’t seen any better, and I’ve traveled through quite a few of the towns on the east coast of the island. I hope to explore more of the island in the future. It is without a doubt one of my favorite places anywhere.
This plaminkgo measures in at 13 1/16” overall. The handle is 5 5/16”, meaning it is good for virtually anyone’s hands. The handle is much like the handle on a barong. it is comfortable and will prevent your hand from coming off the end, much like the bell-shaped end on a khukuri. It swells outward to a solid 1” thickness. The handle on this knife is gmelina arborea, a durable choice that is nice and light, as well as being ecologically friendly. Gmelina is commonly cultivated in the Visayas today as all parts of the tree are valuable and can be used.
The handle on this knife is really very comfortable, and very nicely finished for a working blade, particularly for Cebu and the Central Visayas. The handle does, however, have a few naturally occurring knots.
The blade is 7 11/16” long and is hand forged 5160 spring steel. It is nice and sharp. I originally thought it was convex ground, but I believe it is very slightly hollow ground. The choil is around 3/4” long and allows you to creep up on the blade if desired. It also prevents your hand from sliding onto the very sharp edge: definitely a nice touch. The blade is 5/32” thick and epoxied into the hilt, which ensures a secure hold.
This is a light, fast knife that is really very nicely made. The balance point is only 1.25” in front of the handle, making this a well balanced knife. This would make a great daga in combination with one of the pinutes I offer.
The gmelina sheath matches nicely and is a perfect fit. Being a working blade, this sheath allows for a smooth, fast draw. The extension on the sheath allows for this plamingko to be tucked behind a belt or lashed onto your belt.
This is a great knife. 7.2 oz, or 8.4 oz in the sheath. $95 including shipping.
3. These blades are from a forge in Cebu that is a little bit of a secret. Away from the district most famous for blacksmithing, the men at the forge produce what I believe to be the best blades you can find in Cebu today. These are solid working blades, but they have been mirror polished: the benefit of this is increased corrosion resistance. Normally, in the Central Visayas, working blades are allowed to patinate through use, and are only ‘cleaned’ by sharpening.
Another thing I like about this forge is their use of gmelina wood. Gmelina is a fast growing species and all parts of the tree can be used. The wood is light, but durable, and the leaves are fed to cattle. This makes gmelina a far more sustainable choice than kamagong or narra.
The plamingko is a common small knife in the Central Visayas. If the name looks like the word flamenco to you, you’d be right. This is a style of knife that was brought to Cebu by the Spanish. It closely resembles Spanish hunting knives of the time, and the navajas carried by Spanish sailors. Many in Spain call this style of blade Arabesque since it was brought to Spain by the Moors. In Cebu, it has long been used for a variety of tasks. It is used for slaughtering pigs and other animals every day in the Philippines. This particular plamingko is one of the nicest modern ones made in Cebu today: I haven’t seen any better, and I’ve traveled through quite a few of the towns on the east coast of the island. I hope to explore more of the island in the future. It is without a doubt one of my favorite places anywhere. This plaminkgo measures in at 9 7/8” overall. The handle is 4 1/8”, meaning it is perhaps better suited for smaller to medium-sized hands. The handle is much like the handle on a Leyte sansibar, the design of which also came from the island of Cebu. It is comfortable and will prevent your hand from coming off the end, much like a D-guard on a bowie or the handle on a falcata. The handle on this knife is gmelina arborea, a durable choice that is nice and light, as well as being ecologically friendly. Gmelina is commonly cultivated in the Visayas today as all parts of the tree are valuable and can be used.
The handle on this knife is really very comfortable, and very nicely finished for a working blade, particularly for Cebu and the Central Visayas.
The blade is 5 3/4” long and is hand forged 5160 spring steel. It is nice and sharp. I originally thought it was convex ground, but I believe it is very slightly hollow ground. The choil is 3/4” long and allows you to creep up on the blade if desired. It also prevents your hand from sliding onto the very sharp edge: definitely a nice touch. The blade is 1/8” thick and epoxied into the hilt, which ensures a secure hold.
The swell on the sheath would allow you to tuck this knife behind your belt, in the pants or even allow you to lash it to your belt with cord.
This is a light, fast knife that is really very nicely made. This would make a great daga in combination with one of the pinutes I offer.
The gmelina sheath matches nicely and is a good fit.This sheath allows for a smooth, fast draw.
This is a great knife. 3.9 oz, or 5.1 oz in the sheath. $89 including shipping.
4. These blades are from a forge in Cebu that is a little bit of a secret. Away from the district most famous for blacksmithing, the men at the forge produce what I believe to be the best blades you can find in Cebu today. These are solid working blades, but they have been mirror polished: the benefit of this is increased corrosion resistance. Normally, in the Central Visayas, working blades are allowed to patinate through use, and are only ‘cleaned’ by sharpening.
Another thing I like about this forge is their use of gmelina wood. Gmelina is a fast growing species and all parts of the tree can be used. The wood is light, but durable, and the leaves are fed to cattle. This makes gmelina a far more sustainable choice than kamagong or narra.
The plamingko is a common small knife in the Central Visayas. If the name looks like the word flamenco to you, you’d be right. This is a style of knife that was brought to Cebu by the Spanish. It closely resembles Spanish hunting knives of the time, and the navajas carried by Spanish sailors. Many in Spain call this style of blade Arabesque since it was brought to Spain by the Moors. In Cebu, it has long been used for a variety of tasks. It is used for slaughtering pigs and other animals every day in the Philippines. This particularly plamingko is the nicest modern one made in Cebu today: I haven’t seen any better, and I’ve traveled through quite a few of the towns on the east coast of the island. I hope to explore more of the island in the future. It is without a doubt one of my favorite places anywhere.
This plaminkgo measures in at 10 1/16” overall. The handle is 4 1/4”, meaning it is good for virtually anyone’s hands. The handle is much like the handle on a sansibar from the island of Leyte, which of course was originally a Cebuano design. it is comfortable and will prevent your hand from coming off the end, much like the handle on a D-guard bowie or a falcata. The handle on this knife is gmelina arborea, a durable choice that is nice and light, as well as being ecologically friendly. Gmelina is commonly cultivated in the Visayas today as all parts of the tree are valuable and can be used.
The handle on this knife is really very comfortable, and very nicely finished for a working blade, particularly for Cebu and the Central Visayas. The handle does, however, have a small check in it.
The blade is 5 13/16” long and is hand forged 5160 spring steel. It is nice and sharp. I originally thought it was convex ground, but I believe it is very slightly hollow ground. The choil is 3/4” long and allows you to creep up on the blade if desired. It also prevents your hand from sliding onto the very sharp edge: definitely a nice touch. The blade is 1/8” thick and epoxied into the hilt, which ensures a secure hold.
This is a light, fast knife that is really very nicely made. This would make a great daga in combination with one of the pinutes I offer.
The gmelina sheath matches nicely and is a good fit. It isn’t a snug fit on the blade: being a working blade, this sheath allows for a smooth, fast draw. Inverting the sheath will cause the knife to drop free. The fit could of course be tightened up by lining the mouth of the sheath with cardboard or leather. The extension on the sheath allows for this plamingko to be tucked behind a belt or tied on.
This is a great little knife! 4.3 oz, or 5.7 oz in the sheath. $89 including shipping.
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Batangas.
Four beautiful Batanguenyo balisongs for you today! The top two were made by one of the makers currently on an overseas contract; the one who made most of Pinoy Steel’s offerings today. You definitely won’t find anything like the top two anywhere else since the maker is currently on a (hopefully temporary) hiatus from the balisong game.
From top to bottom:
1. This beautiful bente nueve (29 cm on the button) was made by one of the two brothers currently on Middle East construction contracts. They are two of Batangas’ best balisong makers. Pinoy Steel is currently the only place you can get a piece like this one since the craftsman who made it is on a temporary hiatus from the balisong game.
The handles feature stainless construction and bolsters with hand finished cocobolo. I personally hand finished this dark, blood red wood to 2000 grit before oiling and waxing and it looks incredible. The top bolsters were pinned twice for durability, and the extra thick tang pins are a Pinoy Steel signature.
The blade was inspired by the deadly profile I introduced last year; this one features a shorter and deeper swedge. A very nice hybrid of the classic buyod and the more modern buyod. This one is hand forged 5160 and is razor sharp along the entire length of the blade! It was also beautifully ground.
There is some dust on the blade in the pictures; the new lights bring out a lot more detail!
The blade to handle fit on this knife is excellent.
This is a great example of a very nice balisong from one of the last great balisong craftsmen! 5.9 oz. $185.
2. This beautiful bente nueve (28.8 cm) was made by one of the two brothers currently on Middle East construction contracts. They are two of Batangas’ best balisong makers. Pinoy Steel is currently the only place you can get a piece like this one since the craftsman who made it is on a temporary hiatus from the balisong game.
The handles feature incredibly dark cocobolo heartwood; it almost looks like ebony, but after I hand finished this wood to 2000 grit before oiling and waxing, the figuring you only find in top grade cocobolo is very much present if you look! The cocobolo sandwiches flawless Batanguenyo horse thigh bone that has been left smooth to showcase its natural beauty.
The bolsters and housing are stainless steel. The top bolsters are double pinned for increased durability.
The blade was hand forged from classic leaf spring carbon steel and has the Pinoy Steel deadly profile (a bowie with a very long, shallow swedge). This is one of the first deadly blades to ever have been ground with a top popper (bottle opener) in the spine, and it was beautifully ground.
You can see the figuring better here. Please ignore the dust that settled on the blade during the pictures!
This is a top notch balisong from one of Batangas’ finest makers. Only here at Pinoy Steel. The filework on the latch didn’t come out quite right (it happens); usually it is spot on, so this is a rare example of a very nice balisong with uneven latch marking from one of the last great balisong craftsmen! 5.9 oz. $199.
3. This is one of the finest eagle balisongs that can be made today. While the craftsmen excels at eagle tangs, his grinding and drilling is not quite as good as today’s best craftsmen’s work, but this is a great opportunity to get a bali from a maker whose work I don’t often offer. This one measures in at 22.8 cm.
The handles feature stainless housings and bolsters. Each bolster is pinned twice. The handles feature beautifully figured black and honey buffalo horn from India.
The blade is hand forged 5160 and features an aggressive kris grind.
Forming an eagle by hand takes a lot of work and this maker is very good at his agilas.
This is a great balisong in a unique combo of materials and features. Solid at 5.6 oz. $159.
4.This balisong is from a maker whose work I don’t often offer. He is excellent at forming eagle tangs, but his grinding and drilling isn’t quite as good as the best craftsmen’s. Nevertheless, this is a very unique balisong with a great combination of materials and features. This one is 22.6 cm long, positively dimunitive compared to some of the big bente nueves I carry here at Pinoy Steel!
The handles feature stainless housings and double pinned, solid stainless steel bolsters. The white camel bone is warmer than the cold steel and contrasts beautifully. There are some areas of translucence in the bone. I use mineral oil as a rust preventative and some inadvertently got on the bone.
The blade is classic hand forged leaf spring steel with an aggressive kris grind.
His eagle tangs are the best made today, in my opinion.
This one weighs in at 6 oz. $159.
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Cowry-X Cutters.
Knife 3 is sold.
Here’s something you won’t find anywhere else! These are Shilin Cutters, handmade in Taipei, Taiwan by a senior member of the Chiu family. These knives were first made in Guangzhou, China in the 19th century. The making of these slipjoint knives was taught to a select few and later the skills were taken to Taiwan by migrant families.
While nobody disputes that these knives were made in Taiwan at the turn of the 20th century, who started making them first is very much in dispute and has been for decades. Once, the Shilin area of Taipei was full of family-run businesses that manufactured these beautiful knives. Today, there are only two men who make these knives. Kuo, perhaps the better of the two craftsmen, currently has a three-year waiting list for anyone who wants one of his knives.
This knife is from the older of the two men who make them today. I believe Mr Chiu is in his early 60s. The last few decades have been traumatic for the family: they sued the Kuos for the right to use certain markings on their Shilin knives (and won). Then, a more recent death in the family caused a dispute serious enough for the Chius to close their doors, perhaps pemanently.
Obtaining Chiu’s knives today is difficult enough in Taipei. They are not currently being produced, orders are not being accepted through their website and the doors of business remain shut. I am fortunate to have a connection in Taiwan who was able to track down Mr Chiu.
While they are not perfect, they are beautiful, durable and very efficient cutters that are really made to use. Due to influence from Japanese buyers who absolutely love the Shilin knives, Chiu and Kuo use some very fancy modern steel. These knives I’m offering today feature high end Japanese Cowry-X steel and a new, superhard alloy that is supposedly the hardest steel ever used on the Shilin Cutters. It is even harder than the ZDP-189 damascus (which is much more expensive) according to Mr Chiu. I don’t know what this steel is, but it appears to be an extremely hard carbon steel.
All of these knives are hair popping sharp and fully flat ground. The blades will whiz through anything effortlessly and hold an edge forever. I previously tested one by cutting through a carton repeatedly. Cartons are extremely rough on blades because of the silica that is found within the cardboard, but even after forty cuts, the blade would still shave hair cleanly. That is truly amazing performance!
From top to bottom:
1. This Shilin Cutter measures in at 7.5” long when open. The blade is 3 3/32” long with a 3” edge. This is what the maker calls a 3.5” model.
The handles are solid brass with black acrylic and brass and steel pins. The blade is marked “X” for Cowry-X. The maker considers this some of the hardest Japanese steel he’s ever used. I believe it is around 67 RC, and from cutting tests, it definitely appears to be!
The blade is fully flat ground and hair popping sharp. The markings were done by hand. There appear to be phosphor bronze washers in the pivots. From the maker, there is a lot of dust left over in the handles and pivots (traditionally there was less emphasis on knifemakers to deliver a flawless and spotless product), but the knife will smoothen out considerably with some cleaning. WD-40 always works well on traditionally-made folders that don’t have stag or bone handles.
Cowry-X is a laminate steel with a very hard cutting edge; I haven’t tried etching the steel, but it might help highlight the incredible pattern.
The blade is not perfectly ground,but it is absolutely razor sharp from heel to tip (and will stay that way better than any other knife I’ve ever handled)!
The brass handle is thick and durable, and nicely polished all over. There is a small pit in the brass on the spine on this knife; purely a cosmetic issue.
This slipjoint has an extremely strong backspring that will take a good amount of force to overcome to get the knife closed. This knife holds open in two positions for safety, and even if the blade was to close, the unsharpened portion will make contact with your index finger, preventing injury.
This is the first step when opening the knife; the blade holds in two positions.
This slipjoint offers incredible cutting power and traditional craftsmanship. 4.5 oz. $199.
2. This Shilin Cutter measures in at just under 7.5” long when open. The blade is 3 5/16” long with a 3” edge. This is what the maker calls a 3.5” model.
The blade is fully flat ground and hair popping sharp. The markings were done by hand. There appear to be phosphor bronze washers in the pivots. From the maker, there is a lot of dust left over in the handles and pivots (traditionally there was less emphasis on knifemakers to deliver a flawless and spotless product), but the knife will smoothen out considerably with some cleaning. WD-40 always works well on traditionally-made folders that don’t have stag or bone handles.
The handles are solid brass with black acrylic and brass and steel pins. The blade is marked “X” for Cowry-X. The maker considers this some of the hardest Japanese steel he’s ever used. I believe it is around 67 RC, and from cutting tests, it definitely appears to be!
The brass handle is thick and durable, and nicely polished all over. The mark you see on the spine was buffing compound; I wipe it off shortly after the pictures were taken.
Cowry-X is a laminate steel with a very hard cutting edge; I haven’t tried etching the steel, but it might help highlight the incredible pattern.
The blade is not perfectly ground,but it is absolutely razor sharp from heel to tip (and will stay that way better than any other knife I’ve ever handled)!
This slipjoint has an extremely strong backspring that will take a good amount of force to overcome to get the knife closed. This knife holds open in two positions for safety, and even if the blade was to close, the unsharpened portion will make contact with your index finger, preventing injury.
This is the first step when opening the knife; the blade holds in two positions.
This slipjoint offers incredible cutting power and traditional craftsmanship. 4.8 oz. $199.
3. This Shilin Cutter measures in at around 7.5” long when open. The blade is 3 9/32” long with a 3” edge. This is what the maker calls a 3.5” model.
The handles are solid brass with black acrylic and brass and steel pins. The blade is marked “X” for Cowry-X. The maker considers this some of the hardest Japanese steel he’s ever used. I believe it is around 67 RC, and from cutting tests, it definitely appears to be!
The blade is fully flat ground and hair popping sharp. The markings were done by hand. There appear to be phosphor bronze washers in the pivots. From the maker, there is a lot of dust left over in the handles and pivots (traditionally there was less emphasis on knifemakers to deliver a flawless and spotless product), but the knife will smoothen out considerably with some cleaning. WD-40 always works well on traditionally-made folders that don’t have stag or bone handles.
Cowry-X is a laminate steel with a very hard cutting edge; I haven’t tried etching the steel, but it might help highlight the incredible pattern.
The brass handle is thick and durable, and nicely polished all over.
The blade is not perfectly ground,but it is absolutely razor sharp from heel to tip (and will stay that way better than any other knife I’ve ever handled)!
This slipjoint has an extremely strong backspring that will take a good amount of force to overcome to get the knife closed. This knife holds open in two positions for safety, and even if the blade was to close, the unsharpened portion will make contact with your index finger, preventing injury.
This is the first step when opening or closing the knife; the blade holds in two positions. Please note one of the brass pins is slightly recessed and appears a little darker due to trapped buffing compound.
This slipjoint offers incredible cutting power and traditional craftsmanship. 4.4 oz. $199.
4. This Shilin Cutter measures in at 7 3/8” long when open. The blade is 3 3/8” long with a 3 1/8” edge. This is what the maker calls a 3.5” model.
The handles are solid brass with black acrylic and brass and steel pins. The blade is marked “A” for Chui’s Super Hard Alloy. The maker considers this the hardest Japanese steel he’s ever used. I believe it is over 67 RC, and from cutting tests, it definitely appears to be!
The blade is fully flat ground and hair popping sharp. The markings were done by hand. There appear to be phosphor bronze washers in the pivots. From the maker, there is a lot of dust left over in the handles and pivots (traditionally there was less emphasis on knifemakers to deliver a flawless and spotless product), but the knife will smoothen out considerably with some cleaning. WD-40 always works well on traditionally-made folders that don’t have stag or bone handles.
The blade is not perfectly ground,but it is absolutely razor sharp from heel to tip (and will stay that way better than any other knife I’ve ever handled)!
The brass handle is thick and durable, and nicely polished all over.
This slipjoint has an extremely strong backspring that will take a good amount of force to overcome to get the knife closed. This knife holds open in two positions for safety, and even if the blade was to close, the unsharpened portion will make contact with your index finger, preventing injury.
This is the first step when opening the knife; the blade holds in two positions.
This slipjoint offers incredible cutting power and traditional craftsmanship. 4 oz. $199.
5. This Shilin Cutter measures in at 6 3/8” long when open. The blade is 2 7/8” long with a 2 9/16” edge. This is what the maker calls a 3” model.
The handles are solid brass with black acrylic and brass and steel pins. The blade is marked “A” for Chiu’s Super Hard Alloy. The maker considers this the hardest Japanese steel he’s ever used. I believe it is over 67 RC, and from cutting tests, it definitely appears to be!
The blade is fully flat ground and hair popping sharp. The markings were done by hand. There appear to be phosphor bronze washers in the pivots. From the maker, there is a lot of dust left over in the handles and pivots (traditionally there was less emphasis on knifemakers to deliver a flawless and spotless product), but the knife will smoothen out considerably with some cleaning. WD-40 always works well on traditionally-made folders that don’t have stag or bone handles.
The blade is not perfectly ground,but it is absolutely razor sharp from heel to tip (and will stay that way better than any other knife I’ve ever handled)!
The brass handle is thick and durable, and nicely polished all over.
This slipjoint has an extremely strong backspring that will take a good amount of force to overcome to get the knife closed. This knife holds open in two positions for safety, and even if the blade was to close, the unsharpened portion will make contact with your index finger, preventing injury.
This is the first step when opening the knife; the blade holds in two positions.
This slipjoint offers incredible cutting power and traditional craftsmanship. 3 oz. $189.
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Exclusives.
Balisong two is still available: the rest are sold.
Four of these beauties were made by one of two craftsman who is currently working in the Middle East on a construction contract to feed his family. They represent some of his best work ever, and in the two years that he made knives for Pinoy Steel, I feel he really grew as a maker and the quality of his craftsmanship improved significantly. I hope him and his brother are safe today and I’m happy they were given a chance to make more money, but I wish they were home with their families and could make as much or more money making balisongs as they could in the sandbox.
You definitely won’t be able to get his pieces anywhere else at this time, so these are very much Pinoy Steel exclusives!
From top to bottom:
1. This beauty measures in at 29.1 cm, just a little longer than bente nueve length. From handling over a hundred of this craftsman’s balis, a few features stand out. He wasn’t scared to go a little over textbook length when I requested a bente nueve, and his balisongs are a touch more ‘proportional’ than his brother’s. He also puts very distinctive filework on almost all his Pinoy Steel pieces. His brother in Batangas has been fileworking Pinoy Steel balis as well, but his balisongs are thicker and more likely to be shorter or right where they should be in terms of length, and his latch filework is deeper and a little less precise.
The handles feature beautiful European red stag with great natural color. Red stag was perhaps the first material to have ever been used on a butterfly knife in Europe; when the first balisongs were made in Batangas, local stag was used. I like the historical significance of using European stag on a Batangas balisong, especially when the bali looks this good!
At present, nobody else offers Batangas-made balisongs with European or sambar stag. I made a conscious decision not to offer balisongs with Filipino stag as all species are nearing extinction. I’d say they have ten years at most unless enforcement is taken more seriously. Fortunately the Philippines government is cracking down on illegal logging, but there are still a lot of environmental issues that need to be tackled, and the sooner the better.
The bolsters, housing and latch are 300-series stainless steel. The top bolsters are double pinned for durability.
This craftsman wasn’t all that enthused about all the krises I wanted ground a few years ago, but got into a groove and started producing some of the finest kris balisongs ever made in Batangas. This one is no exception. The blade is classic hand forged spring steel from automotive leaf springs (most likely 5160 or thereabouts).
The extra tang pin is less commonly seen on FHMs, but is seen on most pieces that were made for Pinoy Steel. They don’t always prevent the blade from making contact with the housing, but they do keep the blade from rattling when the knife is latched closed and having an extra pin you can extract and use as the primary tang pin definitely doesn’t hurt either!
Both the blade and the stag are stunning. This is a top notch bali all around.
This is a beautiful piece that I know is going to move quickly. 5.9 oz. $165.
2. Here’s a very classy bente nueve I know many of you are going to love as much as I do. It measures in at 28.9 cm long and features an old school-style buyod (bowie) blade with a central ridge and long swedge. The handles are all stainless with Central African black wenge hardwood that I personally hand finished.
I still have wenge in storage and will be using it in the years to come, but I will not be buying anymore since the species is nearing extinction due to illegal logging in Central Africa. Much of the wood is being exported to China, where CITES regulations are barely enforced at all, and at the rate the remaining wenge is being harvested, extinction in the wild is a very real possibility in the next several years.
This wenge was legally sourced from a US dealer and it is some of the nicest I’ve ever offered.
The wenge has great color, grain and figuring. Black wenge is less common. I hand finished it to 2000 grit. The bolsters, housings and latch are stainless steel. The top bolsters are double pinned for greater durability.
The blade is really beautifully ground, but very lightly peppered with pits that I buffed clean by hand. I attempted to count the tiny pits, and there are around ten on one side and four on the other.
This is a beautiful and unique piece from one of today’s most gifted balisong makers, and it features his characteristic filework. Only at Pinoy Steel. 5.8 oz. Discounted at $179.
3. This piece features classic Philippines ebony, aka kamagong, and a WWII-era bayonet grind that was inspired by USGI bayonets of the period. This one is exactly 29 cm long; what I like to call a textbook bente nueve.
The handles were hand finished (by me) to 1000 grit to improve the wood’s appearance. I stopped at 1000 grit to help the wood hold oil better. At high grit, ebony heartwood gets very, very smooth and the small pore size means it can dry out quickly and potentially warp or split, so keep it oiled and waxed. The heartwood features beautiful black and mauve color with subtle figuring.
The supply of good kamagong is drying up quickly; trying to find a good pair of kamagong sticks in the Philippines’ cities is no easy task in 2013 due to the government’s enforcement of the logging ban. I’m actually very happy at this change in legislation and have always offered alternatives from legal sources to take demand off the country’s native hardwood species.
The bolsters, housings and latch are 300-series stainless steel. The top bolsters are double pinned.
This beauty was ground by one of today’s best makers. The swedge isn’t quite even, but it was still beautifully executed by anyone’s standards. They definitely aren’t CNC machining blades in the barrio!
This is a very nice bente nueve with excellent kamagong handles and a nicely ground bayonet blade. 5.5 oz. $135.
4. This beauty is top notch all around. Ground by one of two makers currently working in the Middle East on construction contracts, you won’t find one of these anywhere else! For some reason I don’t have specifics on this knife, but I’ll add them as soon as I get a chance.
The handles feature beautiful South American purpleheart that is really, truly purple. I hand finished this wood to 2000 grit to really bring out the natural color and figuring in the wood.
The handles, housings and latch are all 300-series stainless steel.
The blade is an old school buyod grind with a twist; the clip is shallower than usual, and the central ridge and hollowgrind are very 2013. The grind on this one is truly excellent.
The bolsters on this piece are longer than average; a nice touch. The top bolsters are double pinned.
Details forthcoming. $179.
5. While all of today’s offerings are top notch, this 23.2 cm balisong is my favorite from the batch. Made by one of today’s best craftsman (and one who is currently on an overseas construction contract), this is one you don’t want to miss. You definitely won’t find anything like this anywhere else!
The bolsters and custom grade (and fileworked) latch are solid brass, and the housing is stainless steel (the most durable choice). The handles feature black Indian buffalo horn with very subtle natural figuring.
Some of the earliest balisongs made (and the earliest in my collection) featured brass handles with kalabaw (water buffalo) horn handles. The glossy black horn you see is flawless. There is a little dust on the horn in the pictures from polishing with a cotton cloth. The top bolsters are double pinned.
The blade was beautifully ground and mirror polished by hand.
This is a stunning piece, and heirloom grade all around. I need one of these in 29 cm! 4.5 oz. $145.
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Kamagong Karambits.
Both karambits are now sold.
The karambits from this forge are always excellent and never stick around long since they are immensely popular here at Pinoy Steel! These two are no exception.
1. This karambit is known as the traditional Filipino karambit at the forge and it closely resembles farm tools that are used in the Philippines. Karambits and sickles were never dedicated weapons per se in the Philippines like they were in Malaysia and Indonesia, where both combat and utilitarian versions existed. Of course, either kind are adaptable to both use.
This karambit measures in at 7 7/8” measured straight across from end to end; as someone stated recently, this is by no means a small karambit.
The blade is hand forged 5160 that was expertly ground by a craftsman at one of the Philippines’ best forges. The blade is 3/16” thick at the tang, and this is a full tang karambit. The blade is 4.5” measured straight across from tip to ricasso.
The handle is beautiful kamagong ebony that extends over the ring. Four aluminum pins and epoxy mean these handles aren’t going to budge without a great deal of abuse. The pins through the ring have resulted in cracks, which is inevitable on these karambits, but they are minor and I would be happy to fill them for you. There are a total of four cracks around the ring.
The external diameter of the ring is 1.5” and the internal diameter is 7/8”. This would be a great karambit for someone who prefers a smaller finger hole.
The handle slabs and tang make for a 9/16” thick handle; nice and beefy.
There is some beautiful natural figuring in the kamagong.
The sheath is molave (or mulawin) hardwood and is absolutely beautiful.
There is a thick alumium clip to allow the karambit to be worn behind the belt or a sarong or sash.
There is some minor patina on the tang on both sides from handling in the Philippines. I have hand polished all the exposed metal on the karambit and sheath.
This is a beautiful karambit you won’t find anywhere else! 6.1 oz, or 7.9 oz with the sheath. $89.
2. This karambit is a custom-designed modern version based on a traditional Javanese karambit. Karambits and sickles were never dedicated weapons per se in the Philippines like they were in Malaysia and Indonesia, where both combat and utilitarian versions existed. Of course, either kind are adaptable to both use.
This karambit measures in at 7 5/8 measured straight across from the tip to the end of the ring.
The blade is 3 9/32” long and double edged. The top edge is 3 1/8” and the bottom edge is 2 5/8”. The blade is hand forged and well tempered 5160 carbon steel.
This full tang karambit is 3/16” thick at the tang. There is some minor patina on the tang that remains even after hand polishing.
The handle slabs are solid Philippines kamagong ebony with beautiful spalting. They are 5/8” with the tang; great for those who like solid karambits that really fill your hands up! The finger grooves also provide excellent grip however you choose to hold this karambit. There are a few cracks in the wood surrounding the ring. This is inevitable due to the three pins that have been riveted through the tang for extra security. The cracks are minor, however, and I would be happy to fill them for you.
The ring on this karambit is 1 1/4” externally and 1” internally, which to me is the perfect size.
One advantage to this karambit is it can be comfortably grasped and used without putting your finger through the ring. This is something I always like to see on a karambit.
The choils also prevent your hand from slipping onto the edge and are very ergonomically designed.
The sheath is solid molave (mulawin) heartwood and is a beautiful golden color. The thick aluminum clip makes this karambit readily carriable behind your belt, a sash or a sarong.
This beautiy is 5.3 oz, or 6.8 oz with the sheath. $89.
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Bushings.
I’m back with more stainless beauties with bushings from the guys in Mainland China. These are the finest balis coming out of China today and they are an astonishing value considering the amount of thought that has gone into them and the features they offer.
From top to bottom:
1. This model measures in at 23.4 cm and features a 420 stainless steel weehawk blade.
The blade has an integral guard and very thick tang pins. 420 steel is corrosion resistant and it can take a decent edge. These Chinese balisongs are exceptional value and the best ones coming out of China at this time!
The handles are skeletonized and screwed together, but the screws are locked in place and ground flush for maximum durability. The handles are also 400-series steel and they feature skeletonizing and a machined in basketweave pattern that provides excellent grip. An additional benefit of the woven pattern is fingerprints do not show as readily on these handles.
The latch is held in place by tension from the pivot pin and handles in the closed position. It stays open courtesy of the spring you see below.
The bushings on these balisongs work a treat! These are the only balisongs you’re going to find in this price range that flip this well and have bushings.
This model costs a little more because it has both skeletonizing and the machined in pattern. 4 oz. $85.
2. This butterfly knife measures in at 22.7 cm, a little shorter than the most popular balisong among flippers today. The handles are sandwich construction and screwed together, but the screws are fixed and have had their heads ground off. No worries about the screws backing out on these: a very nice touch. This does mean you can’t adjust the tension after heavy use, but these balisongs have proven to be very durable and have been extensively tested by my buyers.
The blade and the handles are 420 stainless steel. This is one of the newest models from this outfit and it features a hollowground recurve blade. While not quite razor sharp, it is close. The blade features two extra thick tang pins and locks up rock solid in both the open and closed positions, and there is an integral guard on it too.
The handles are beautifully polished. One of my buyers, who is a serious flipper, feels these solid handles feel better in the hand than the skeletonized models.
The spring latch on these has been proven to work and hold up quite well, although the spring isn’t as strong as on the $300+ balis out there. Then again, most of the $300 balis don’t have bushings!
This model weighs 4.9 oz. $55.
3. This model weighs in at 23.3 cm and features a serrated weehawk blade. The serrations are nice and sharp and well done.
The handles are sandwich construction and screwed together, but the screws are locked in place and ground flush for maximum durability. The handles are also 400-series steel.
The blade has an integral guard and very thick tang pins. This is 420 steel, which is corrosion resistant and it can take a decent edge. These Chinese balisongs are exceptional value and the best ones coming out of China at this time!
The latch is held in place by tension from the pivot pin and handles in the closed position. It stays open and closed courtesy of the spring you see below.
This model weighs in at 4.2 oz. $55.
4. This butterfly knife measures in at 22.5 cm, a little shorter than the most popular balisong among flippers today. The handles are sandwich construction and screwed together, but the screws are fixed and have had their heads ground off. No worries about the screws backing out on these: a very nice touch. This does mean you can’t adjust the tension after heavy use, but they have proven to be very durable and have been extensively tested by my buyers.
The blade and the handles are 420 stainless steel. This is one of the newest models from this outfit and it features a solid 420 stainless steel training blade. The blade is ground specifically for safety during training, but you should of course exercise caution when using it. The blade features two extra thick tang pins and locks up rock solid in both the open and closed positions, and there is an integral guard on it too.
The handles are beautifully laser engraved. The laser engraving is permanent and will not flake or chip unless you gouge the steel. It also provides some nice texture. One of my buyers, who is a serious flipper, feels these solid handles, coupled with the laser engraving, are about as good as it gets for flipping.
The spring latch on these has been proven to work and hold up quite well, although the spring isn’t as strong as on the $300+ balis out there. Then again, they don’t have bushings!
This is a great little balisong trainer for the flippers and martial artists. 5 oz. $79.
5. This 23.6 cm butterfly knife is also a new model with a grind that hasn’t been offered before. The blade is a spearpoint (only sharpened on one side) and is very attractive. The entire knife is 420 stainless steel, which is a good, durable and corrosion resistant choice for the flippers out there.
The blade is nicely finished and features two extra thick tang pins for rock solid lockup. These have been proven to be very durable, but of course, no knife should be dropped on concrete or tile repeatedly!
These butterfly knives feature bushings and spring latches, two features not commonly seen on Chinese butterfly knives. These are definitely in a class of their own, and in many ways, rival knives costing four or five times as much. These are absolutely for the flippers first and foremost.
The handles are sandwich construction and made from slabs of durable 420 stainless steel.
You can see the spring latch assembly and the bushings in the pivots here. The spring latch isn’t as strong as on the American made balis that now go for over three times as much, but it works well and has been proven to hold up. The bushings mean these flip like greased lightning. The pivots aren’t adjustable, but the screws used for the handle and pivot construction are locked tight and you don’t need to worry about LocTite. These are really amazing value for the flippers out there and a lot of fun.
This spearpoint version weighs in at 5 oz. $55.
6. .This balisong measures in at 23 cm. It does not feature handle skeletonizing like the other knives from this small production facility, but it does feature beautifully polished solid slabs of 420 stainess steel. These knives are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. These knives also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The blade (like the handles) is 420 stainless steel. While the blade is not hardened for maximum cutting performance, it sharpens up easily and can take a good edge. It also takes a good polish and is highly corrosion resistant: perfect for the flippers. Of course, 420 steel can’t compare to the high carbon steel used on Filipino knives as far as toughness goes, but these knives are made for completely different uses.
The blade has a guard and very thick tang pins. The blade is hollowground with a thicker, rounded tip.
These knives really flip like lightning and are very, very smooth.
The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
This model weighs in at 4.8 oz. I have three in stock at this time. $55.
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Basketweave Balis.
Two new models with bushings and spring latches: these things are incredible flippers and great value to boot!
From top to bottom:1. This model weighs in at 23.5 cm and is the first one I’m offering with a serrated weehawk blade. The serrations are nice and sharp and well done.
The blade has an integral guard and very thick tang pins. This is 420 steel, which is soft, but corrosion resistant and it can take a decent edge. These Chinese balisongs are exceptional value and the best ones coming out of China at this time!
The handles are skeletonized and screwed together, but the screws are locked in place and ground flush for maximum durability. The handles are also 400-series steel and they feature skeletonizing and a machined in basketweave pattern that provides excellent grip.
The latch is held in place by tension from the pivot pin and handles in the closed position. It stays open courtesy of the spring you see below.
The bushings are visible below and work a treat! These are the only balisongs you’re going to find in this price range that flip this well and that have bushings.
This model costs a little more because it has both skeletonizing and the machined in pattern. 4.1 oz. $85.
2. This is the first time I’m offering this particular combination of blade and handles. This model measures in at 23.4 cm and is all 420 stainless steel, which is both durable and corrosion resistant: an excellent choice of steel for a knife that will be flipped more than it will be used.
The handles are sandwich construction, but have been assembled for durability: the stainless slabs are screwed together, locked in place, and then the heads are ground off. The handles have been professionally machined and the skeletonizing and basketweave pattern are both perfect. Both provide extra grip and lighten the handles.
The blade is a spearpoint and is nice and thick in the center. It is only sharp on one side. It features an integral guard and two extra thick tang pins.
The spring latch operates through tension provided by the handles and pivot pin. Note the bushings in the pivots too. These are made for the Chinese market and are far and away the best deal in the balisong game today. They also blow away any other butterfly knife coming out of China at this time.
This model weighs in at 4.2 oz. $85.
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Pinoy Steel Exclusives.
Balisong two is sold.
For those of you who celebrate it, Happy Valentine’s Day! I usually don’t upload new items in the day time, but I hope to get these beauties up before I get onto packing up all the orders that came in over the Chinese New Year break. I think you’ll like today’s offerings.
These balisongs were made in 2011-2012 and are definitely unique to Pinoy Steel.
From top to bottom:
1. This beautiful bente nueve (exactly 29 cm) features a 60s-70s style combination of copper-pinned aluminum bolsters and a brass latch. The housing is very much modern stainless steel. The blade is a hollowground tari with 2012 double tang pins and the handles feature painstakingly hand finished amboyna burl that is really top notch stuff (and smells incredible)!
This wood was hand finished to 2000 grit, a process which took me several hours. The exact process is a secret I’ll take with me to the grave! The wood has a matte finish, and has been oiled and waxed for protection. The aluminum bolsters make this bali lighter than usual, and the copper pins won’t corrode like the iron ones normally used on stainless bolsters by the best makers.
the blade was beautifully ground and the point is perfect. The first inch or so is shaving sharp.
Each bolster is double pinned for extra durability. The copper pins match the amboyna burl beautifully.
The contrast between the brass and aluminum works beautifully. The brass latch is more durable than an aluminum one would be.
This stunning piece is nice and light at only 4 oz. $185.
2.This buyod has a classic look because of the old school-style bowie grind and classic hand forged carbon spring steel blade, but that’s where the comparison ends as you’ll see. This one is around 29.3 cm: for some reason, I forgot to write down its exact length when taking notes on each piece after the photographs, but I’ll update this ASAP.
The bolsters, housing and latch are all 300-series stainless steel. The handles feature high grade Central American cocobolo I personally finished to 1200 grit before oiling and waxing the wood to really bring out its beauty. Believe me, without the finishing, the wood would be a shadow of its true potential. Each of the bolsters is double pinned for durability.
Please note there is a cutout in the housing that is only visible if you look into the handles, so this knife is discounted.
The copper pins provide great contrast to the stainless, but complement the red cocobolo nicely.
The blade has a long clip like the old school buyods, but with a hollowgrind. There are two minor surface pits (one on each side) that are barely noticeable after I hand polished the blade and bolsters.
This blade is beautifully ground and double pinned for better lockup in both the open and closed positions .The extra pin is nice to have in a pinch too: it could be extracted and used to replace the main one where a replacement couldn’t be found.
This is a heirloom grade balisong from some of the best craftsmen around today. 5 oz. Discounted at $179.
3. This very solid kris is 28.1 cm long and very heavily built. It isn’t from the most gifted craftsmen, but it is still a nice piece I carefully selected from a batch made for retail sale in the Philippines. I typically accept 1-5% of commercially made balisongs: more recently, I haven’t purchased any at all. You won’t find one of these anywhere else.
The bolsters, housing and latch are all thick, solid brass, as are the brass ‘covers.’ The handles feature blood red narra (amboyna). I have tried to remove as much of the buffing compound from this wood as I can without removing the covers: no other dealer even bothers with this.
The blade is hand forged carbon steel with a beautifully done eagle guard.
This heavy balisong has a few grind marks and some light spotting on the blade, but no pitting. There is a forging mark on the guard as you can see. 7.3 oz. $125.
4. This kamagong spearpoint is shorter than usual at 26.5 cm: what I consider the perfect length. This would make a great EDC for someone: the blade and handles are all stainless, and the handles feature flat kamagong ebony.
The pins on this one are stainless rather than iron: the best makers won’t work with stainless pins because they are very difficult to peen, but the craftsman who made this one did an exceptional job, even if his grinding isn’t as even or accurate as that from the best craftsmen.
The spearpoint blade isn’t sharp, but isn’t meant to be: this one is meant to penetrate, and stainless is a great choice for a blade like this as edge holding and toughness are less of a concern. You also won’t have to worry about corrosion.
While a little less even than the best balisongs, this hand picked piece is actually very good. The latch/bolster interface is almost as good as on the best made. 5.1 oz.Good deal at $115.
5. I believe this is the last of my the purpleheart balicombs I took a chance on having made back in 2011. This one turned up in storage and is now looking for a deserving home! It is 18.8 cm long.
The wood is really purple: not all purpleheart is, but this heartwood is top notch stuff I spared no expense on. The bolsters, housing, latch and comb are 300-series stainless steel: as always, the teeth on the comb are sawed into a stainless bar by hand, which takes incredible skill and a very steady hand. Being an ‘11 piece, each bolster is pinned once and there is only one tang pin.
This is probably the last one I have, so if you want it, please don’t hesitate. Purpleheart this good is hard to find. 3.8 oz. $155.
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Espada y Daga.
All sold.
I have some very nice items for you today—a 2011 ginunting and six really beautiful bente nueves, most of which are absolutely unattainable anywhere else since they were made by craftsmen who are currently on overseas contracts. I don’t expect these items to last long, so if you want one, don’t hesitate!
From top to bottom:
1. This bowie measures in at 28.9 cm: a hair (ok, a few hairs) under the classic length of 29 cm. In reality, few bente nueves measure in at precisely 29 cm. I don’t think the missing millimeter will make too much of a difference though!
The handles are all stainless with absolutely beautiful brown buffalo horn from India. Why Indian horn? The horn commonly available in Luzon is a classic material for FHM balisongs, but is prone to splitting and cracking. I have only seen one with perfect horn! This is definitely something to keep in mind if you’re buying a horn-handled balisong anywhere else. They may not disclose the cracks to you before purchase, and other dealers may not entertain returns!
India has the world’s largest number of water buffalo. The horn I obtain from my source is excellent quality and holds up beautifully to pinning. It also often has great color and natural figuring, so I feel the extra expense is well worth it!
The top bolsters are pinned twice for greater durability.
The blade is classic hand forged carbon spring steel and care has been taken to preserve the temper. The blade has a beautifully ground swedge that is nice and deep. This was inspired by a grind I had the makers attempt in 2012: if you see it on a Batanguenyo balisong anywhere else, you know who made it happen! The blade also features an integral guard to keep your hand off the blade during hard use.
I would rate the overall grind at 9/10: this piece was beautifully executed.
There is a tiny pit on this bente nueve my pictures didn’t capture: it has been buffed clean and is barely visible.
This one won’t need much breaking in! 5.8 oz. $165.
2. This 29 actually measures in at 28.9 cm. This is a rare piece and the first to have been made with a combination of Indian buffalo horn and Batanguenyo horse bone.
The handles are all stainless. The Indian horn is translucent honey brown with natural lighter figuring: beautiful! The darker bone selected for this piece offsets the horn very nicely.
The hand forged carbon steel blade was beautifully ground. It features an integral guard, a long clip and a very subtle swedge. There is one pit on the blade which I have buffed clean.
Each of the top bolsters is double pinned for increased durability.
This is a beautiful piece, and again, one you won’t find anywhere else! 5.9 oz. $175.
3. This buyod measures in at 28.9 cm and features painstakingly hand finished Argentinian black mesquite.
I personally selected this wood and spent hours getting it right: the natural grain of the wood filled up with buffing compound during finishing in Batangas. I have removed the vast majority of the compound. Now, at 2000 grit, there is ghostly figuring visible in the wood that simply doesn’t appear at lower grit. I then oiled and waxed the wood for both improved appearance and to protect it from the elements.
The blade is classic hand forged carbon spring steel: the classic choice and by far the toughest steel used on FHMs today. The blade features a long clip and a very subtle swedge. There are a few pits on both sides of the blade that I have buffed clean: I am discounting this balisong because of the pits.
You can see some of the lighter figuring here: at anything less than 2000 grit it simply isn’t visible!
This is a beautiful bente nueve from a craftsman who is currently outside the Philippines and will most likely not be producing any balisongs for at least two years. Only here at Pinoy Steel! This one is ready to flip too. 5.2 oz. Discounted at $179.
4. Of all of the balisongs from today’s batch, this one is perhaps my favorite and the one I am most tempted to keep. This one is 28.9 cm long.
The handles are stainless with brass bolsters and a brass latch. Each bolster is riveted in place with two copper pins for improved durability.
The handles also feature very nice translucent brown buffalo horn from North India. The horn has nice white figuring that provides interesting contrast.
The blade is classic hand forged 5160 with an integral guard. The blade, to me, resembles the traditional balisong bowie grind, although the clip is more subtle and there is a shallow swedge and central ridge that weren’t found on the earliest balisongs.
This balisong was really crafted with love. There are a few cosmetic issues however. There is a gap between the horn and bolsters on one side and one of the horn slabs is slightly proud (raised). Despite these issues, this is a balisong I would really love to add to my collection!
This one is ready to flip! 5.5 oz. Discounted at $149.
5. This bali measures in at 28.9 cm. This is a less common (and very attractive) Pinoy Steel piece in a rare combination.
The handles are all stainless with classic smooth horse bone with great color and figuring. There is a minor darker, rougher patch on one of the bone slabs. The top bolsters are double pinned for greater durability.
The blade is classic hand forged carbon spring steel with a nicely executed hollowgrind. This labaha will shave hair off.
Labaha in this size and with stainless bolsters are rarely offered. 5 oz. A great deal at only $105 shipped.
6. This little kris is a real beauty! At only 23 cm, it is diminutive, but has a lot of bite for such a small package.
The handles are stainless with brass bolsters and a brass latch. Each of the top bolsters are double pinned. The handles also feature beautiful jet black Indian buffalo horn. Buffalo horn is an excellent material for a knife that may have to be used wet as the horn becomes more adhesive when wet due to its innate properties.
The blade is hand forged 5000-series carbon steel with a kris grind. There is one pit on the blade that I have buffed clean.
The latch was beautifully and subtly filed by the maker: one of the last balisongs he made before heading overseas on his first Middle Eastern contract.
Definitely not available anywhere else! 4.2 oz. $135.
7. This is the last of the ginuntings I hand picked all the way back in 2011. They are no longer made quite like this one, which may be because the craftsman no longer works at the forge where many of my finest swords are made!
The handle is beautiful molave hardwood and swells toward the end for a secure grip. The wood portion of the handle is 5.5”. The bolster is around 0.7” and the guard is 5/32”. Measured straight across, the handle, bolster and guard measure in at 6 3/8”: plenty of room, even for those of us with large hands.
The blade is tough and beautifully ground carbon spring steel. It measures in at 16 15/16”. The balance point is 3” in front of the guard, giving this sword a nice balance between speed and weight.
The swedge is unsharpened and is 3 1/4”.
The handle is definitely nice and roomy.
The aluminum pins are slightly proud.
The top pin is proud on the left, and the bottom pin is proud on the right side.
This ginunting weighs in at 15.5 oz, or 1 lb 3.8 oz with the scabbard. $199.
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Batch Two.
The third and sixth items are still available. The rest are sold.
Some nice pieces today: all in now classic kamagong (ebony) and jigged bone, aside from the very special Hawaiian koa and ivory G-10 kris!
From top to bottom:
1. This big bowie measures in at 32.9 cm: a rare size, and a nice one for those of you who want a little more length over the classic bente nueve.
The handles are all stainless with kamagong ebony heartwood. Each of the 300-series stainless bolsters is double pinned for increased durability; always a nice touch.
The blade is hand forged carbon spring steel, which has always been the traditional material for balisongs. The blade features an integral guard and a beautiful, subtle swedge. This style of swedge was first offered here at Pinoy Steel and if you see it on an FHM anywhere else, you know who made it happen!
Even with the more modern swedge, the tip strength has been preserved, so this one will pass the coin test and will hold up to glancing off bone just fine!
The blade is sharp, but not razor sharp, but most of the work has been done for you. As with most Filipino blades, you are expected to put the edge you want on the blade yourself!
There are a few tiny pits on the swedge that I have buffed clean. There are a few more on the underside of the ricasso that should be almost unnoticeable with a little polishing.
The latch has been fileworked by the maker in the same style as his brother’s balisongs. This maker’s filework is deeper, however, which sets the two maker’s styles apart. He also tends to make larger, heavier balisongs.
This is an excellent balisong that was made last year by a maker who normally only worked on handles for his brothers, but now that he has his chance to shine, he is producing some really nice pieces. 7 oz. $145, or $175 with hand finishing, which will leave the wood with a more matte finish, but better overall fit and finish and a cleaner appearance.
2. This balisong is 28.5 cm long (a little under textbook bente nueve length). It features the gulok bisaya grind, which resembles a classic bolo style found in the Tagalog region and others around the Philippines.
The handles on this balisong are all stainless and the wood has been hand finished. The top bolsters have been double pinned for extra durability.
The blade was beautifully hollow ground and would make for a great slicer with the pronounced belly on the blade. The grind on this one is almost perfect!
There are a few tiny pits on the ricasso and spine, but nothing major. The blade also needs finish sharpening (as most FHMs do).
You can see the very minor ricasso pit here.
There is one more on this side.
This beauty is almost ready to flip and won’t take much breaking in! 4.6 oz. $139.
3. This trainer is from different makers from the ones I usually work with, and is a little rougher around the edges than the balisongs from the best makers. I hand picked a small number of these trainers from a large batch that had been produced for commercial sale. This is one of the better ones from the select few I purchased for Pinoy Steel. It is a solid 27.9 cm and has good weight as it has been quite heavily built.
The handles are stainless with brass bolsters and latch and jigged horse bone. Each of the bolsters is riveted in place with a copper pin.
There are a few slightly darker areas near the bolsters from using the end of a bone.
The blade is hand forged carbon spring steel. While not as evenly ground as the better balisongs, it will serve well as a trainer. There is a forging mark near the spine on this side of the blade.
The bone is thick and will fill your hands up well. Please note the areas of darker bone near the top bolsters.
This is a solid trainer that you won’t find anywhere else. While it has a few cosmetic issues, it is ready to flip and feels like a well broken in FHM (please note it has a good amount of handle play, but this is common on FHMs that have been used hard). 7.1 oz. $79.
4. This trainer is from the best craftsmen and was made for Pinoy Steel in 2011. You won’t find one of these anywhere else, as the craftsman is now on a construction contract overseas and won’t be back for at least another year or two. This one measures in at 24 cm long.
The handles are stainless with brass bolsters and latch and kamagong ebony heartwood. Each of the brass bolsters is riveted in place with two copper pins for greater durability.
The wood has great color and figuring, but I have not hand finished this one (hand finishing would be an additional $20).
The blade is the same hand forged carbon steel used for the best FHMs, and it was very nicely ground. The blade is not distal tapered to the same degree as a real FHM for safety, so the balance point is very slightly forward of where it would be on a live FHM, but it is close. This is really as close as you can get to an FHM balisong for training purposes. The blade features two tang pins.
The latch is nice and thick.
This is a top quality trainer that you won’t find anywhere else. It is almost ready to flip. 5.8 oz. $85, or $105 with hand finishing.
5. This beautiful balisong measures in at 23.1 cm. It features absolutely exceptional Hawaiian koa and ivory G-10 on the handles: it took me over three hours to finish this knife, and I think the results speak for themselves.
The Hawaiian koa has incredible color, figuring and chatoyancy. This is the best koa I could get at the time and I think anyone would be hard pressed to find better koa. The ivory G-10 was painstakingly hand finished and provides excellent contrast. The bolsters are solid stainless and each one is pinned once (the traditional way).
The blade features the kris grind, and was nicely done by a craftsman who will not be making balisongs for at least another year or two. It is believed the man who started the balisong industry in the Philippines was an expert on the kris of the Southern Philippines Muslims. I selected these handle materials to resemble the traditional materials used on some of the finest Filipino battle krises.
This is an exceptional piece, and one I couldn’t have replicated since the craftsman is thousands of miles away working on oil pipelines. There is a small pit on the side of the ricasso. The blade on this one will not hit the liners when broken in. It will definitely require breaking in, however, as the handles have been pinned tight (the traditional way). 4.5 oz. $209.
6. This beautiful kamagong balicomb was made for me in 2011 by a craftsman who is now on an overseas contract: you won’t find one from this craftsman anywhere else. It measures in at 19.1 cm, a hair larger than standard for a balicomb/balisong in this size range.
The handles are all stainless with kamagong ebony heartwood. The top bolsters have been double pinned for increased durability.
The comb features a second tang pin for better lockup in the closed position.
The comb was hand ground and each tooth was sawed into the stainless bar entirely by hand: a very time consuming and precise process.
This balicomb weighs in at 5 oz. There is a fleck of steel dust trapped in the wood on one side. $105, or $125 with hand finishing.
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2013’s First Batch.
The first, third and fifth balisongs are sold.
Finally, some new balisongs! It’s been a hectic new year and I’m finally getting around to putting these beauties up. I think you’ll like them as much as I do. Today’s selections were all made in the latter half of 2012.
From top to bottom:
1. This 28.9 cm bente nueve features a modified tari (cockfighting spur) profile we’re calling the gulok bisaya. This is based on a style of bolo that is popular in the Philippines: the difference is this balisong blade is deeply hollowground for mean slicing. While it is sharp now, the makers expect you to put your own edge on to truly make this balisong yours.
The bolsters, housing and latch are solid 300-series stainless steel. The handles feature beautifully figured, milk chocolate brown kamagong heartwood. This is especially nice kamagong and I personally hand finished, oiled and waxed the wood to get the most out of it. This process takes several hours, but the results are well worth it!
The top bolsters are double pinned. The blade features a single tang pin, as is traditional. Some of my buyers prefer their balisongs this way.
The hand forged carbon steel gulok blade was very nicely ground. The belly will make for a mean slicer.
This one was made by the last of the brothers in the family who supply the majority of the balisongs I offer at Pinoy Steel. The latch has been fileworked in the same style as his brother’s balisongs, but the more aggressive filework is the maker’s own signature.
This is a very nice balisong from a maker who is just now getting his chance to shine. 4.9 oz. $139.
2. This balisong measures in at 28.8 cm and features a WWII-style bayonet blade with a twist.
The handles are all stainless steel with kamagong ebony heartwood. All eight of the bolsters are double pinned for extra security.
I chose not to hand finish the wood to keep the price down for those who don’t require the finishing or would like to attempt it themselves. As always, I would be happy to refinish this balisong for an additional $25.
The hand forged carbon spring steel blade is well hardened as always and beautifully ground. This one is special because of the aggressive sawback grind on the swedge and spine: this will make one ragged hole on the way out! Normally these serrations are only seen on rambo balisongs. The swedge and hollowgrind make for a fine tip that will penetrate easily.
The wood is solid heartwood with some lighter figuring: nice stuff!
This bente nueve weighs in at a solid 6 oz. $119.
3. This beautiful bente nueve was reserved before it even made it to the Pinoy Steel blog! It measures in at 28.3 cm long and features a beautifully executed high hollow bowie grind.
The handles are all stainless steel. Each bolster is only pinned once (the traditional way) and the handles feature beautiful Filipino kamagong ebony heartwood.
I haven’t hand finished the wood on this one, but I would be happy to do so for an additional $25. Hand finishing improves the fit and finish and brings out the color and figuring in the wood better than standard wheel buffing, which leaves metal dust and buffing compound trapped in the wood.
The blade is an absolute work of art: a thick bowie spine with a labaha-style hollowground. The tip is quite fine for cuts and easier penetration, but it is not as thick as on a standard buyod. Please note that there are a handful of tiny pits on the blade that I have buffed clean. This is often inevitable when dealing with carbon spring steel in this very humid part of the world.
The tang is ‘signed’ by the maker with three lines. This bali is from one of my favorite craftsmen and I personally have several of his balisongs in my own collection.
This is an exceptionally beautiful bali that I know will be well loved! $119, or $143 with hand finishing.
4. Here’s a simple 28.9 cm bente nueve with classic brass and jigged horse bone handles and a hollowground tari blade. What separates this one from the others that look like it is that it was made by one of Batangas’ best balisong makers (and it shows).
The horse bone inserts are beautifully done. There is a darker portion near one of the top bolsters: this is often inevitable due to differences in the bone’s integral structure. The bolsters and latch are brass, and the housing is stainless steel. Each bolster is pinned once with a copper pin (the traditional way).
The blade is beautifully ground with a fine point. There is a pit on the blade that I have buffed clean, as well as some patina on the ricasso.
This is a simple, classic bente nueve that would be welcome in any collection, no matter how simple or comprehensive. Discounted at $89.
5. Here’s one that has gotten a few people excited before it even made it to the blog! In the smaller 9.5” range (23.8 cm), this little pitbull of a balisong has a bowie blade with an aggressive bayonet-style swedge.
The handles are all stainless with kamagong ebony heartwood. The top bolsters are pinned twice for extra durability.
I haven’t hand finished the wood on this balisong to keep costs down and also since some prefer not to have their balisongs refinished or would like to attempt refinishing themselves. I would be happy to refinish the wood for you for an additional $19. Refinishing improves the overall fit and finish of the knife and also really brings out the beautiful figuring and color in the ebony. The process takes around two hours per knife, and in my opinion is well worth it!
The swedge is not sharpened, but wouldn’t take too much to get there if desired.
This very special piece weighs in at 4.8 oz. $109, or $128 with hand finishing.
6. It’s been a while since I’ve offered one of these beautiful balicombs: this one measures in at 18.7 cm and features all stainless construction with kamagong ebony heartwood.
The wood has beautiful figuring and chatoyancy and would very much benefit from hand finishing. Hand finishing would be an additional $15 on this comb: I highly recommend putting this one through the process as the wood is excellent.
The bolsters are single pinned (the traditional way).
The comb is solid stainless steel: each of the teeth is sawed into the 300-series flat bar entirely by hand. This is a painstaking process, and one slipup can mean the steel has to be scrapped. As you can see, these men are very, very good at what they do.
You may be able to make out some of the inherent chatoyancy in this picture. My apologies for the poor quality of my photography!
This little comb is only 3.9 oz: great for EDC. $105, or $120 with hand finishing.
