Pinoy Steel.
The best handforged Filipino blades right to your door.
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Brass and bone bente nueves.
These classic brass and bone bente nueves are always a good choice—they are considered basic knives in Batangas, but they can be just as attractive and usable as the fancier kinds in my opinion! Both of these knives were made by the best makers around today.
The first knife is 28 cm long and has a carbon steel kris blade: the waves start a little closer to the tip on this knife than on the previous two. Brass bolsters and latch with stainless liners. The top bolsters are double pinned. Double tang pins (extra thick) for extra durability. Smooth horse bone inserts. Two of the inserts are a little darker near the top bolsters since they were cut toward the end of a bone. Great knife at a great price! 6 oz. SOLD.
The 27 cm FHM balisong under it has classic jigged horse bone and brass bolsters. The liners are steel and the latch is brass. Carbon steel rambo blade with five holes drilled through it and a sawback portion on the swedge. A good, solid classic bente nueve that will serve you well. 6 oz. SOLD.
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Black beauties.
These big, black beautiful bente nueves were all made by the best makers around today and are both works of art as well as very usable.
The knife on top is 29 cm long and was made by a very gifted balisong maker who is currently not making balisongs for personal reasons. This knife is solid, heavy and expertly crafted. I have one just like it in my personal collection. Brass bolsters, liners and a very special latch. Beautiful jet black kamagong inserts. It weighs a whopping 11 oz and has a bearing steel (52100) blade with extra thick pins and a thick brass latch with filework and green ‘jewels.’ Marked “29” on the ricasso and it has bearing grooves from when the blade was forged. Not for sale at this time.
The second knife down is 28 cm long and has a spring steel kris blade that starts off straight and then gets wavy toward the end. This is similar to the style of blade seen on some Maguindanao krises and has never been done on an FHM balisong before. The blade has two extra thick tang pins for durability and to keep the blade from hitting the liners. The bolsters and latch are brass and the liners are stainless. The inserts are black Dupont Corian. It looks a lot like buffalo horn, but should prove to be considerably more durable and weather resistant in use. 5.5 oz. SOLD.
The third knife is also 28 cm long and is very much like the one above it. Unfortunately, there is a crack running through the top of one of the Corian slabs. Shortly after the pics were taken, the piece of Corian actually came off. Fortunately, the crack is a good distance away from the pin and was an easy fix with JB Weld, one of the strongest epoxies around! 5.5 oz. Discounted at $109.
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Some beautiful new balis!
These knives were all made by the best makers currently producing handmade Filipino balisongs in Batangas. They are all truly beautiful knives with their own character—no two FHM balisongs are ever the same!
1. The knife on top is 29 cm long (a true bente nueve). It has a handforged carbon steel buyod (bowie) blade that was very nicely ground and finished. Stainless bolsters, liners and latch. Each of the bolsters was pinned twice with stainless pins, and the blade has two extra thick tang pins for extra durability.
The inserts on this knife are something else. They are Brazilian morado (aka Brazilian rosewood, pau ferro, or ironwood). This wood is strikingly beautiful and difficult to source. It has outstanding figuring running lengthwise that you really have to see for yourself to appreciate! 6 oz. SOLD.
2. The second knife from the top is 28 cm long and is a classic. Brass bolsters and latch with steel liners and jigged horse bone inserts. The blade is handforged spring steel in the tari (cockfighting blade) pattern. Tari blades are perhaps my favorite. You get a sharp, hollowground blade with a mean point for penetration. There is a tiny forging mark on the blade (about 1/16” long) and some of the horse bone is slightly dark since it came from the end of a long bone, but this knife is simple, practical and beautiful in its own right. 5 oz. A great deal. SOLD TO DL.
3. Knife #3 is 23 cm long and again has classic brass bolsters, steel liners and a brass latch. The inserts are beautiful pieces of smooth horse bone that are especially attractive. The handforged leaf spring steel blade has one of the nicest kris grinds I’ve seen coming out of Batangas. The blade also has two extra-thick tang pins for durability and the top bolsters have two copper pins each instead of the usual one. Definitely a great knife! 4 oz. $89.
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Guilt-free stag bente nueves.
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Here are some great bente nueves for your viewing pleasure!
The first knife has decades old American caribou inserts. The antlers were purchased from an American hunter who had them in his possession for decades. Caribou are rare in the US nowadays, but they were once plentiful. They are still found in much of Canada, but seldom south of the border.
The knife measures 27.5 cm. The inserts have lovely caramel hues and are ground flat (the eight sided, or ocho bados style). The bolsters, liners and latch are stainless steel and the blade is a very unique labaha (hollowground straight razor) profile. Rather than distinct grind lines, the blade is ground in almost one perpetual sweep. This maximizes the cutting area and also allows for an almost flat grind across the distal taper! This blade is absolutely razor sharp! This is an exceptionally beautiful knife! Please note there are some small lines by the pins in the inserts: the makers wanted to get the pins in exactly the right places. 6 oz, SOLD.
The second knife (from the top) is 28 cm long and has aluminum bolsters, stainless liners and a brass latch. The bolsters have two copper pins for extra durability. Lovely contrast of materials on this knife! The inserts are European red stag: again, with lovely caramel hues. This is truly a gorgeous knife! Carbon steel buyod (bowie) blade with some tiny forging marks on the ricasso. The makers also made some light marks near the pins so they could be sure all the pins would line up (not visible in the pictures) 5.5 oz, SOLD.
The third knife is also 28 cm long and is much like the knife above it, albeit with darker color on the stag. The inserts are also lightly jigged for extra grip. The first FHMs ever made were much like the Boentgen and Sabin knives that were patented in Germany in the late 1800s, and they had jigged stag inserts. The jigging on these inserts is reminiscent of the first FHMs that were ever made! 5.5 oz, $129.
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19 cm balisong and balicombs.
This balisong and the two balicombs all measure around 19 cm long (7.5”) and weigh 4 oz. These are great for pocket carry and are a good usable size.
The knife on top features beautiful European red stag inserts with light jigging for extra grip. Stainless bolsters, liners and latch with a carbon steel labaha (hollowground razor) blade. $119.
The two balicombs on the bottom feature a 303 stainless hand sawed comb and stainless bolsters, liners and latch. The inserts are beautiful top grade curly redwood with an amazing amount of flash (chatoyancy). This is some of the nicest redwood I’ve ever seen. There is a tiny amount of buffing compound trapped in the grain of the wood, but the darker streaks will change color as the comb is turned in the light. Amazing wood! $129 each.
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Sambar stag and horse bone.
The week’s just flown by—here are some lovely balis for your midweek viewing pleasure!
The FHM balisong on top is outstanding. It is right at 29 cm (a real bente nueve) with a razor sharp carbon steel buyod (bowie) blade. No forge marks or pitting. Brass bolsters, stainless liners and a nice, thick stainless latch. The inserts are top grade Indian sambar stag. There are two horizontal marks near the center pins in two of the inserts, but they are barely visible because of the stag’s natural color. The marks were made by the makers so they could get the pins lined up evenly. Pinning bone and stag just right is never easy. 6.75 oz. SOLD.
The balisong in the middle is 23 cm long and has nice, thick, deeply jigged horse bone inserts. The inserts swell toward the middle which make them fill up your hand nicely—that and the unique jigging are what sold me on this knife. Carbon steel labaha (hollowground razor) blade. The bolsters and liners are stainless and the latch is aluminum, which is the smoothest to latch and unlatch. I purchased this knife for my own personal collection, but I am putting it on offer. It has been flipped a little, but it still needs breaking in. Approximately 5 oz. $89.
The last knife is 23 cm long and was made by the best makers, but it had some rust on the blade from fingerprints that were left on it. I cleaned the rust off, but I managed to put some surface pits into the blade while using a small grinding wheel. I attempted to remove the pitting using 100 grit sandpaper, but it is slow going sanding a hard carbon steel blade by hand.
Beautiful knife in a unique combination—stainless bolsters, liners and latch with jigged horse bone inserts. This knife is up for sale provisionally. If it doesn’t sell, I’m going to have the makers grind and polish the blade, and it will be relisted at $95. Great deal for someone who doesn’t mind the surface scratches and pitting or is willing to put in a little work to get it looking perfect! Approximately 5 oz. $85.
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Guro Mark Dapilmoto of Majapahit Combat Arts (San Antonio, TX) working Pekiti Tirsia drills and entries with the balisong. Featuring one of the stainless spring latch balicombs from right here: Pinoy Steel! Thanks again Mark!
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Brass and bone balisongs.
These brass and bone balisongs are both from the best makers around today and it shows. There are some minor imperfections on both of them, but being entirely handmade, this is inevitable. I never understood the beauty of handmade products when I was younger, but now that I often have to add the finishing touches to the products I carry and having seen how hard people have to work to put something like a balisong together, it never ceases to amaze me.
The first balisong on the top is 28.5 cm long and weighs 5.5 oz. It would be a great match for the knife I listed a few days ago. It has a handforged carbon steel kris blade with seven waves. Brass bolsters and latch. The inserts are beautiful pieces of smooth horse bone. This is an excellent knife I would be proud to own. I have one a lot like it in my personal collection that I carry on occasion. Please look at the third pic in this post. The makers drilled an extra hole in the base of the blade that wasn’t in the right place. It is only visible when the handles are perpendicular to the blade, and even then, it’s hard to make out. Either way, I’m taking $4 off. $95, or $85 if you’re taking the brass and bone kris from Feb. 20th too.
The second balisong is a classic. 23 cm long and it weighs in at 4.5 oz. If you only own one balisong, this would be a good one to go with. Jigged horse bone inserts and brass bolsters and latch. Handforged carbon steel blade in the tari (cockfighting blade) pattern. Tari blades are my favorite of all and they are sharply pointed with a sharp, hollowground edge. Great knife! Please note there are some forging marks visible on the tang when the knife is closed, so again, this knife is discounted. SOLD.
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Trainers and balicombs.
Finally, some FHMs that aren’t sharp and pointy!
From top to bottom:
1. 28 cm FHM balisong trainer. Beautifully figured kamagong inserts, brass bolsters and a 3/16” 300 series stainless blade. Solid and durable. This thick stainless blade is heavier than a standard carbon steel FHM blade, but we decided to go with stainless for corrosion resistance and durability. Still perfectly flippable, and this trainer’s balance point is right at the pivot pins. Only at Pinoy Steel. 7 oz. SOLD.
2. 23.5 cm narra (amboyna burl) trainer. Narra is the national tree of the Philippines, and this is a stunning example. Outstanding chatoyancy: some of the best I’ve ever seen on a balisong, and it’s a beautiful deep orange/red. Brass bolsters and a 3/16” stainless steel blade. 6.5 oz, $89.
3. 23 cm balicomb with stainless bolsters and liners. Beautifully figured kamagong inserts. This comb was previously listed on January 16th. Please note one of the bolsters has two copper pins in the same spot. 5 oz. Discounted at $119.
4. 23 cm balicomb with stainless bolsters and liners. The inserts are pristine white camel bone. There is some grain visible when you look at it close up. My camel bone combs and knives have been very popular. 5 oz. SOLD.
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Big, beautiful bente nueves.
These balisongs are all top quality pieces that will serve you very well. As always, I would be proud to own any of them!
From the top:
1. 33 cm FHM balisong with a carbon steel kris blade. Very nicely ground. 300 series stainless bolsters and liners. Nice, dark kamagong inserts with very subtle figuring. There is some very minor patination from where one of the makers touched the blade. It didn’t show up in the pictures. I have buffed almost all of it off, but there’s still a little work to be done. 6.5 oz. SOLD.
2. 29 cm bente nueve with stainless bolsters and liners. Carbon steel rambo blade with a bottle opener on the ricasso. Very nice looking knife! Lots of chatoyancy in the Mexican bocote inserts on this knife when the light hits it (see the last pic). 6 oz. $139.
3. 28 cm labaha (hollowground razor) blade in carbon steel. Very sharp. I like the way the jigged bone on this knife looks. Nice, solid knife in a classic combination. A few small spots of patination that will buff off. 6 oz. SOLD.
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Lupang Hinirang - “Chosen Land.” The National Anthem of the Philippines performed by the award-winning Loboc Children’s Choir.
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Indian damascus bente nueves.
These balisong blades were painstakingly ground from billets of the best damascus steel made in Rajasthan, India today. The damascus you see here is some of the best made in Asia today.
The damascus steel has over 200 layers and was forged from 1085 carbon steel and 15N20. It was ground to shape by hand using stock removal, which was extremely labor intensive and challenging for the makers. Then the blades were hardened to get the most out of the carbon steel used in their manufacture.
I went with a phosphate finish to bring out the pattern on this damascus for a number of reasons:
1. Filipino watered steel was never finished with strong industrial acids. The phosphate finish you see here is much more subtle and natural and does not etch the steel.
2. It also gives the carbon steel a degree of corrosion resistance.
3. Another advantage to using a phosphate finish is it can be restored at home quickly and easily. You don’t have to worry about scratching the etching off on these knives. They were meant to be flipped and used.
4. To stain a blade with harsher chemicals such as ferric chloride or hydrochloric acid would eat into the blade, and if one wished to restain their blade, they would have to unpin the balisong since the chemicals would eat into the brass and steel pins and liners and damage the inserts if they made contact with them.
The 28 cm kris balisong on top features premium pre-ban sambar stag inserts. Sambar stag are the largest deer on the planet and their antlers are now illegal to export from India. Sambar stag, to me, is the best stag around. This is truly an outstanding piece and there is no other balisong like this one anywhere else. Brass bolsters and steel liners. The first set of bolsters are longer than usual and were double pinned for extra durability. 6.5 oz. SOLD. ($239)
The 28 cm dibuyod (bowie) balisong below it has stainless bolsters, steel liners and Filipino karabaw inserts. There are two very fine hairline cracks in the inserts that are natural and found in virtually all Filipino karabaw horn. Occasionally wiping the horn inserts down with a damp cloth would keep it from contracting/cracking in dryer climates.
The karabaw is the national animal of the Philippines, and for most of the 20th century, karabaw horn was the most common material on Batangas FHM balisongs. You will never see a balisong with full-length karabaw inserts on the racks of stores in the Philippines nowadays. I have several that date back to the 1940s that have survived, even though abused, with only minor chips in the horn. One nice thing about karabaw horn is it can be used to stop bleeding and still provides excellent grip, even when highly polished and wet (or God forbid, bloody)! 5.5 oz. SOLD. ($209)
The 19 cm buyod below it also has stainless bolsters and steel liners with Filipino karabaw inserts. It was forged from the same billet as my personal carry knife (the kris with mammoth ivory inserts I posted a few days ago). The karabaw horn also has one or two hairline cracks. This is a beautiful little balisong that is still very solid and usable. 4.5 oz. $189.
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Siberian mammoth ivory and Indian damascus 29.
Beautiful mammoth ivory inserts and the best damascus steel made in Rajasthan, India today. Ground by some of the best balisong makers alive today.
Not for sale. I’m keeping this one. Sorry guys. :)
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Back to brass.
Some great knives for you tonight!
1. First off, we have a 23 cm labaha (hollowground razor-style) FHM balisong with brass bolsters, steel liners, American caribou inserts and a custom-grade latch (see the last pic). The caribou antler used for these inserts was difficult to source. I think it was worth the effort! 5 oz. $115.
2. Knife #2 has brass bolsters and a carbon steel ‘rambo’ blade with a bottle opener on the spine. 23 cm long. Custom-grade latch on this one too. American caribou inserts that look great set in between beautiful pieces of Filipino kamagong. The wood is dark and has subtle figuring. These inserts start off tapered and thicken in the middle (where the caribou is), so it will fill your hand nicely. Great knife! 4.8 oz. $120.
3. Cute little 18.5 cm Philippines eagle rambo without the sawback swedge. Bottle opener on the tang. Brass bolsters and liners. Brass overlay on red narra inserts. Great little knife and heavier than the other two at 5.75 oz. SOLD.
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Indian buffalo bente nueves.
Two more gorgeous 29 cm FHM balisongs before the weekend.
Karabaw (water buffalo) horn was the traditional material on Batangas balisongs prior to and in the 1940s. These knives feature imported Indian water buffalo horn, which is often used on high-end American custom knives. Indian buffalo horn is stronger and less prone to cracking when being pinned, and it shows some great natural figuring. Water buffalo horn is smooth and attractive, but still provides lots of grip, even when wet. You can use powdered buffalo horn to stop bleeding too!
1. 29 cm carbon steel buyod blade, stainless steel bolsters, steel liners and a custom-grade stainless latch (see the last pic). High-grade Indian buffalo bolsters. There is a natural surface fissure in one of the bolsters that doesn’t go all the way through (see the brown/white area in the second last pic). 6.5 oz. SOLD.
2. 29 cm carbon steel rambo blade. Aluminum bolsters and a brass latch. Steel liners. Very nice Indian buffalo horn inserts with lots of white figuring. This knife is already very smooth and would be completely flippable in a few hours. Great knife and very unique! 5.5 oz, SOLD TO DL.
