Pinoy Steel.
The best handforged Filipino blades right to your door.
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September.
Balisongs 1, 3 and 4 are sold.
These beauties are from the latest batch of balisongs I got in and all of them are great pieces you definitely will not find anywhere else. These are all firsts in their own way. I like to keep pushing the envelope and keep the makers on their toes. I think they enjoy it too.
From top to bottom:
1. This balisong measures in at exactly 29 cm, what I like to call a textbook bente nueve. There is normally some variation in length due to the handmade nature of classic Batangas balisongs. The grinding will determine the exact length of the balisong when it is done, so getting a precise length is not always possible. No water jetting or CNC-machining is used on these babies like on factory knives. Even some so called ‘custom’ makers take these shortcuts. No shortcuts are taken with these.
This balisong features beautiful Indian buffalo horn with great color and figuring. This is some of the nicest horn I’ve seen from my supplier and it looks amazing. The bolsters, liners and latch are all 300-series stainless, as is the housing. This one was made by the younger brother of the craftsman who makes most of my balisongs. I think he did a very nice job on the pieces he made for me, and I am glad he got an opportunity to shine, even if his older brothers are currently working blue-collar jobs. I hope to be able to provide them both with a good amount of work, but for that, I need to get more balisongs moving!
This bali obviously features a carbon steel kris blade with an eagle tang. There are some pits on the blade, unfortunately, due to the very humid conditions prevalent in the Philippines during the summer. Without air conditioning, dew settles on the knives every morning, and some light rust is inevitable, sometimes even if the blades are heavily oiled. Fortunately it’s not too bad and I buffed all of the pits clean, which was a painstaking job with my limited equipment. The blade was further hand polished to a mirror finish.
The blade features two extra thick tang pins: even thicker than usual for a Pinoy Steel piece. This is great, because it means the blade will not hit the housing. You can flip this baby if you want to! The top bolsters are double pinned for extra durability.
There really is great color and transparency in the horn on this knife.
You can see the small pits on the blade better in this picture.
The latch is nice and thick and fileworked. The younger maker tried to filework it the same way as his older brother, but his filework is much bolder and deeper than what we’re used to seeing. There is a fissure in the horn here, but it is naturally occurring and is only on the surface. It is definitely not a result of the pinning.
There are a few more pits on the ricasso and blade on this side too, but they are all relatively minor. I always buff, wax and oil the blades as soon as I can after completion, and again before shipment, so you’ll get exactly what you see here.
The horn on this side is even nicer. It looks like dark caramel to me, and because of the buffing, even has a nice gloss like caramel.
The eagle was nicely executed. The maker has learned how to make an eagle from another craftsman who works with them, but is not part of the family. This is exciting news for me, since his older brothers don’t do eagles!
This is a top notch balisong, despite the pits, and one I would absolutely love to keep. 6.7 oz. Discounted at $159.
2. This buffalo horn bente nueve measures in at 28.8 cm, a little shorter than its sibling which I am also offering today. Making balisongs the traditional way often means there is a little variation in length. This one comes from the youngest of the master craftsmen I work with, and I’m very happy and surprised to see he attempted the eagles himself! His older brothers do not do eagles. He was taught how to do this by the best of the agila makers in his neighborhood, who they often work side by side with.
This balisong features beautiful, hand polished Indian buffalo horn with great color. The bolsters are solid 300-series stainless, as is the latch. The housing is also hand formed from 300-series stainless sheet. The blade is hand forged carbon steel from recycled automotive leaf springs (5160). This is truly excellent blade steel as it is very tough and can take a mean edge. Kris balisongs are never sharpened, however, as they are pure stabbers.
The blade has some minor surface pits due to storage in a non-airconditioned environment during the hot and humid Philippines summer. I have buffed all of these pits clean to stop the rust and also waxed and oiled the blade to protect it.
The top bolsters are double pinned for durability, and this balisong features two extra thick tang pins (a Pinoy Steel hallmark).
You may be able to make some of the pits out near the ricasso here.
The horn on this balisong is exceptional. As with it’s sister, the horn looks like dark caramel candy.
The eagle on this one was nicely executed.
Another beautiful balisong from a craftsman who is finally getting an opportunity to shine here at Pinoy Steel! 6.2 oz. Discounted at $159.
3. This bente nueve is from the youngest of the best makers. It measures in at 28.7 cm and features some of the last of the European red stag I was able to source from a UK dealer a few years ago. The stag on this knife is beautiful, as is the craftsmanship.
This balisong features extra-long bolsters, which some love and others dislike. I personally quite like it as it offsets the stag very nicely! The stag has great color and figuring and is also relatively flat. Stag inserts on Filipino balisongs often swell out greatly to fill up your palm, but the swell on these is much more subtle due to the uniformity of the antler used. The texture and color of the stag on this knife is really very nice.
The bolsters, housing and latch are all 300-series stainless steel, and formed and shaped entirely by hand.
Due to the humidity of the Philippines summer, there are one or two blade pits on this kris, as well as some ricasso pits. The hand forged carbon steel used for FHMs is excellent steel, but is also very rust prone if not cared for. I have buffed all the pits clean by hand, giving the blade a mirror polish, before waxing and oiling the blade to seal it from the elements. Regular upkeep is key if you want to keep your blades pristine.
All the bolsters on this knife are double pinned for durability.
This knife really is a very nice piece, and I’m very pleased with the maker’s work. The grind is almost perfect and his brother did an excellent job on the handles and selected very nice pieces of antler.
As you can see, the swell is very subtle. The fit and finish of this balisong is really very, very good. The latch is nice and thick and fileworked too.
6.1 oz. $165.
4. This kris measures in at 28.9 cm, just under textbook bente nueve length. It features extra-long stainless bolsters and beautiful European red stag: you won’t find anything like this one anywhere else.
Each of the solid stainless bolsters is double pinned. The thick latch and housing are also 300-series stainless.
The stag has great color and texture, which provide great contrast from the white of the bone and the cold, clinical look of the stainless.
The blade has a few pits near the edge and on the ricasso due to humidity during storage in the Philippines. I have buffed all the active rust out of the pits and waxed and oiled the blade to protect it.
You should be able to see two of the pits here. There is also a hairline crack in the blade. This should not cause any issues since the blade is very thick, but if desired, I can flood the crack with steel epoxy to help seal it. Just let me know!
The stag on the other side is just as nice! The top bolsters are really exceptionally long.
You can see the ricasso pit here.
The texture and color of the stag are really beautiful.
The hairline crack in the blade on this balisong only became evident after buffing and polishing. It should not pose an issue, but regardless, this balisong is discounted. Forging carbon steel the traditional way is far from a precise process. 6.6 oz. $155.
5. This dimunitive (but very capable) little balisong measures in at only 18.6 cm long. It features black acrylic inserts and a carbon steel spearpoint blade. The pivots are screwable, but do not have grooves to insert a driver into, so you can add your own! This means you don’t have to worry about a Torx driver in the field. This would make a great user: at this shorter length, there is less stress on the tang pins. FHM balisongs use softer tang pins which deform over time, but also cause less damage to the brass and stainless bolsters and liners used in their construction. Pins are a lot easier to replace than bolsters. The makers could very well use harder pins, but I believe the choice of softer pins is intentional.
This balisong features a very thick brass latch. The housing is stainless. The top bolsters are double pinned for increased durability. The blade also features two extra thick tang pins for better lockup in both the open and closed positions. The blade will, however, hit the inside of the housing if flipped closed, so I do not recommend doing this. Flipping it open to put it to use is of course just fine, and it is ready to flip! There is a little handle play, but if you file in a groove/grooves for a screwdriver, you should be able to adjust it out.
There is a small crack in the acrylic that I would be happy to flood with JB Weld (steel epoxy) to prevent it from spreading if desired.
The carbon steel spearpoint blade is not edge sharp, but could be sharpened up relatively easily to a razor edge.
There are some tiny pits near the edges that I have buffed clean.
This is a great little balisong, and nice and light at only 3.9 oz. $85.
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Heavy Duty Karambits.
All sold.
These karambits are always popular: I’ve offered around a dozen styles from this forge. These particular karambits are Javanese-inspired, but made much thicker, heavier and larger than their West Javanese counterparts. They are all ground from hand forged carbon spring steel, which is excellent blade steel and used throughout Southeast Asia. This is my steel of choice for fighting blades because of its excellent toughness and ability to take a hair splitting edge.
These karambits are great for those of us with larger hands who don’t mind a little extra weight.
1. This karambit measures in at 8 7/8” straight across from the end of the ring to the tip. The ring on this karambit is slightly larger than many of the other karambits from this forge I have offered in the past: it measures in at 1.25” in diameter.
The handle slabs are beautiful and solid Philippines kamagong ebony. The handle is a full 3/4” thick and very nicely executed. The wood had some beautiful spalting. The scales are secured through the thick 3/16” tang with a total of five aluminum pins.
The blade is extremely sharp on both edges. The size of the handle and the choils allow you to use the ring or choke up on the blade without it, and the extension in the center of the handle slips between my fingers comfortably in both grips without getting in the way at all. The main edge is 3 5/32” long. The choil is 1.25” long. The back edge is 3 7/8” measured straight across, the the choil on top is 1 3/16”.
There is some minor pitting and patina on the blade: most of the pits are tiny. I buffed them clean of active rust before waxing and oiling the blade.
The sheath for this karambit is solid Northern Philippines molave with great figuring: the combination of kamagong and molave used by this forge is both beautiful and practical. The karambit is held securely by the sheath.
The thick leather loop is held in place through an aluminum plate with four rivets, which will hold it securely.
There are two small holes in the kamagong.
There is some very mild patina and pitting on both sides of the tang: I hand polished most of it off before the pictures were taken.
In reverse grip with my finger through the hole, this karambit fits in my hand very comfortably. The balance point on this karambit is 3 3/4” from the end of the ring.
The karambit is equally comfortable in forward grip with my pinky through the ring.
Prefer more precise control? You can choke up on the very nicely ground choil without using the ring: this greatly increases the versatility of this beast of a karambit.
There is a hairline crack in the kamagong near the top and also a hairline one in the ring. Both can be flooded with JB Weld (two-part steel epoxy) to prevent the cracks from spreading: just let me know if you’d like me to do this for you.
This beautiful (and very solid) karambit weighs in at 13.2 oz, or 17 oz with the sheath. This is by far the heaviest karambit I’ve ever offered. Discounted at $89.
2. This karambit measures in at around 8 3/4” straight across from the end of the ring to the tip. The ring on this karambit is slightly larger than the other karambits from this forge I have offered in the past: it measures in at 1.25” in diameter.
The handle is 6” long and the slabs are beautiful and solid Philippines kamagong ebony. The handle is a full 7/8” thick and very nicely executed. The grain on this wood is absolutely top notch heartwood. The scales are secured through the thick 5/32” tang with a total of five aluminum pins.
The blade is extremely sharp on both edges. The size of the handle and the choils allow you to use the ring or choke up on the blade without it, and the extension in the center of the handle slips between my fingers comfortably in both grips without getting in the way at all. The main edge is 3 1/8” long. The choil is 1.25” long.
The back edge is 4” measured straight across with a 1 3/16” choil.
The sheath for this karambit is solid Northern Philippines molave with great figuring: the combination of kamagong and molave used by this forge is both beautiful and practical. The karambit is held securely by the sheath.
The thick leather loop is held in place through an aluminum plate with four rivets, which will hold it securely.
Please note there is some very minor patina and light pitting: all of it was buffed and hand polished clean to remove any active rust.
There is some visible epoxy between the ring and wood, and patina on the steel in the ring.
There is also some light patina and surface pitting on both sides of the tang, which I of course buffed and hand polished clean as best as I could.
The thick leather loop is held in place through an aluminum plate with four rivets, which will hold it securely.
In reverse grip with my finger through the hole, this karambit fits in my hand very comfortably.
If you prefer more precise control, you can choke up on the very nicely ground choil without using the ring: this greatly increases the versatility of this beast of a karambit.
The karambit is equally comfortable in forward grip with or without my pinky through the ring.
This big, solid karambit weighs in at 10.1 oz, or 13.6 oz with the sheath. $89.
3. This little karambit was heavily inspired by the classic ‘eagle’ karambits made in West Java, Indonesia, of which I have several. The blade on this karambit is wider and thicker and the molave slabs are significantly thicker too. It measures in at 6 3/4” overall from the end of the ring to the tip.
There are some tiny flecks of surface pitting on the blade that didn’t show up in the pics. The handle is around 7/8” thick, going all the way up to just under 1” thick.
The back edge is almost sharpened, and measures in at 1 11/16”.
The tang is a solid 5/32” thick, and the scales are pinned through with thick aluminum pins that are peened and epoxied in place.
The thick molave sheath has an aluminum clip for belt or waistband carry. It holds the karambit very tightly: reinserting the karambit takes a fair amount of force, but drawing is smoother. It should break in over time, or you can adjust the fit with a little sandpaper.
The main edge is 3 1/4”. The choil is 15/16”. The back of the eagle’s head can be used for trapping blades.
There is some minor patina and surface pitting on both sides of the ring.
The front spine of the karambit looks great.
There is, however, more pitting and patina visible on the rear of the karambit. Again, I have buffed and hand polished this as best as I could.
This karambit is a great size, even for my large hands, and the slabs really fill your palm up.
It can be used without the ring if desired, but the rear of the blade may dig into your palm.
Like Javanese karambits, this one is much better suited to use with your finger in the ring.
Please note there is a hairline crack in the molave on one side. I could of course fill this for you with JB Weld (two-part steel epoxy) if desired. Just let me know!
The ring has an internal diameter of 1”. It is 1/4” wide all around. The molave slabs are 3 7/16” long. This karambit weighs in at 6 oz, or 7.9 oz with the sheath. $75.
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Brass and Bone.
Balisongs 1, 3, 4 and 5 are sold.
These pictures were taken at 6:30 am on a rainy morning. The table is a simple folding one I use for finishing and packaging balisongs. I think the pictures came out quite well. I normally use a traditional woven fan or rattan mat, but since these pictures were taken at a different time and location than usual, the balisongs can be seen in a whole different light (literally)!
These are classic brass and jigged bone balisongs from Batangas’ best craftsmen. Every balisong dealer in Batangas carries knives in this simple combination, but the quality varies widely. These are made much, much better than the standard tourist-grade FHM. They aren’t made with quite as much care as my finest offerings, but they are still excellent balisongs.
On the streets of Manila, these are the FHM balisongs I see carried by PNP (Philippines National Police) most often. Many of the policemen in Manila are from Batangas and surrounding provinces, and much like their fathers, they carry simple 12 cm (closed) brass and bone balisongs. Sadly, many in law enforcement, including Batanguenyos, now carry cheap Chinese balisongs in lieu of the traditional Batanguenyo kind since they think ‘stainless’ is better than traditional forged carbon steel, which will of course rust if it is not cared for.
From top to bottom:
1. This little buyod (bowie) is about as close as you can get to the first balisongs ever made in Batangas. Jigged bone was used as a substitute for stag in the 40s, and perhaps even earlier. When European butterfly knives were introduced to Batangas under Spanish rule, they started off as exact copies of the European kind: folded brass channels, hand ground bowie-style blades and pinned stag inserts. There were no bolsters in the early days. Perhaps due to a lack of suitable stag, buffalo horn and bone were also used.
Jigged bone provides all the benefits of stag without putting pressure on the forests of Southern Luzon and Mindoro and the very limited number of deer left in the Philippines today. Without checks, all species of deer will probably be extinct in the wild within the next decade. Horse bone is also substantially cheaper, which is why it remains such a popular choice today.
This balisong is shorter than normal for this class at 22.9 cm. It is still absolutely usable, of course, even for those of us with larger hands. The bolsters are single pinned and hand shaped and ground out of solid brass. The housing is stainless and the blade is well-hardened carbon spring steel. The bowie is the classic fighting knife of the Spanish, who in turn got it from the Arabs, and in the early days of balisong history in Batangas, the buyod was the only profile to be taken seriously in duels to the death.
The horse bone on this balisong is excellent and flawless. The darker areas are from buffing compound trapped in the grooves. You could remove almost all of this with detergent and a toothbrush if desired, but I never do on my own jigged bone balisongs. In my opinion, they more closely mimic stag this way, and the contrast is quite attractive.
The swedge is long and subtle. The tip of the balisong is left thick to allow for effortless penetration without any tip deformation.
Being a working man’s balisong, the latch is simple. It is hand shaped from solid brass, but is thinner than on some of the fancier balisongs I offer. I actually find the thinner latches substantially easier to get open in practice, so depending on how you look at it, this may be an advantage. I don’t look at latch thickness when choosing balisongs for my own use as the thin ones work just fine.
The bone swells outward to fill up your hands. Some of the cheaper brass and bone balisongs from less skilled craftsmen have much thicker bone slabs, but they definitely are not made with this degree of skill. The bone tapers down to the bolsters perfectly.
Another hallmark of a good balisong is thickness: this blade is just under 3/16” thick and the spine remains thick all the way to the tip.
There is a touch of patina on the ricasso. I buffed this off as best as I could, but it’s not easy working around the bolsters and tang pin as there is very little room.
This classic beauty weighs in at 4.9 oz. $85.
2. This classic brass and jigged bone buyod is a diminutive 22.7 cm. This makes it a great choice for someone with smaller hands or someone who prefers a shorter, faster balisong. My first balisongs were in this size range and even with my large hands, I never felt like they were too short. Now, however, I tend to carry much longer bente nueves, and the smaller balisongs feel tiny in comparison, so your mileage may vary!
Each of the brass bolsters is pinned once. The housing is stainless steel. The blade itself is hand forged carbon spring steel with the buyod grind. The jigged horse bone inserts have beautiful color under the jigging and dark streaks of buffing compound.
The thin brass latch is no frills, but perfectly serviceable. In my experience, the thinner latches are much easier to get open and out of the way before use.
The blade is well ground with a long, thin and subtle swedge.
There is a tiny bit of patina visible around the top of the bolsters here. I removed it as best as I could before polishing, waxing and oiling the blade.
The bone swells outward in the center, making for a much more comfortable hold. The tang end of the blade is well ground and fits into the housing very evenly. This is another indicator of a top quality balisong. While this is a no-frills piece for the working man, it is made by the best craftsmen around, bar none.
There is also some patina and a few tiny forge marks visible on the tang end when the balisong is latched closed.
This classic beauty weighs in at 5 oz. Discounted at $79.
3. This little buyod measures in at 22.9 cm. This is the ‘medium’ size as far as balisongs go, and in my opinion is the most common kind encountered on the street today. The larger bente neuve at 29 cm (11.5”) is really too big for many and is harder to conceal. Getting caught carrying a balisong in the Philippines, even in Batangas, normally means you will be arrested and charged unless you can afford to bribe your way out or milk your connections! I started off with balisongs in this size range and never felt they were too small. In fact, I believe they are easier to get open and faster too. Now that I carry 29s, they do feel too small, but you always feel most comfortable with what you’re used to.
Each of the solid brass bolsters is pinned once (as is most common). The housing is 300-series stainless steel sheet that has been hand formed, and the blade is hand forged carbon spring steel.
The jigged horse bone is nicely done and provides excellent grip.
The blade was well ground and the temper was carefully preserved. the tip is nice and thick for effortless penetration of tissue and bone. There are some tiny pits on the blade that I have buffed clean as best as I can.
There is also a small hole in one of the bone scales. This is very minor, and I only noticed it by chance.
There is also a small hole in the latch (it doesn’t go all the way through).
This little buyod is 5 oz. Discounted at $79.
4. This brass and bone buyod is 22.7 cm long, a great size for those with smaller hands or those who prefer a shorter or more concealable balisong.
The brass bolsters are pinned once and the housing is stainless steel. The bone is nicely and evenly jigged by the best makers in Batangas. This is a simple balisong that is a great way to get into FHMs without buying a top shelf piece, and it is just as usable and durable as the fancier ones. These simple brass and bone balisongs are the most popular kind in the Philippines today.
The hand forged carbon spring steel blade is tough and has a thick point for easy penetration of bone and tissue. Please note there are some tiny pits on the ricasso and on the tang end.
There is also a ring of patination around the top bolsters. I buffed this as best as I could with a nylon brush and buffing compound before waxing and oiling the blade.
The bone swells outward to fill up your hands. It tapers perfectly to meet the bolsters.
This is a great little balisong for those who want a reasonable ‘beater’ from the best makers. These go for $95 elsewhere, and you get much faster shipping and a full description and pictures here at Pinoy Steel. 5 oz. Discounted at $79.
5. This beautifully simple brass and jigged bone tari is one I’d like to keep, although I’d prefer it in 29 cm. This one measures in at a tidy 22.8 cm. It is more concealable and faster to get open than the longer balisongs many (including myself) are fond of. I started off with balisongs in this size range and never felt they were diminutive at all.
The bolsters are solid brass, the housing is stainless steel and the jigged bone provides for excellent grip that is as good or better than stag.
The tari (cockfighting spur) blade is nicely hollowground. Traditionally, hollowground blades did not have tips thick enough for stabbing: this tari has a thicker tip to allow for easy penetration without tip deformation. Definitely a nice touch.
In my notes, I marked down that there was an area of darker bone (naturally occuring), but I don’t seem to be able to find it in the pictures. Nevertheless, this balisong is discounted.
The blade is just under 3/16” thick at the tang end with a nice distal taper. The thick tip allows for both slicing and penetration. The tari makes an excellent slicer, but as with most FHMs, sharpening is reserved for the end user, who can get it as sharp as they want.
There are some minor forge marks on the tang end here.
This balisong weighs in at 4.2 oz. Discounted at $79.
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Lancetas.
Balisong 1 and 4 are sold.
Balisongs are still known as lancetas, Spanish for daggers, in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. To me, this indicates that the French/German fan knife was introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish, or by a Filipino returning from Europe. The term ‘balisong’ was adapted much later, when Barrio Balisong became the official capital of lanceta making. It has remained so ever since. A famous American knife company once tried to patent the name (and failed).
These balisongs, made in the heart of Balisong by the youngest of the best balisong makers alive today, aren’t CNC-machined pieces with no soul. Each and every part of these knives is shaped by hand and generations of experience go into their making. These men have lived around these knives their entire lives.
From top to bottom:
1. This 30.2 cm balisong is a little longer than usual. I really like this balisong for a number of reasons. It features beautiful, dark kamagong ebony heartwood and a hollowground tari blade, one of my favorite profiles. The tari is a cockfighting spur used throughout the Malay world (which includes the Philippines), and it goes by similar names as far west as Java, where it is known as a taji.
This one wasn’t made exclusively for Pinoy Steel, but it is a beauty nonetheless. The top bolsters are double pinned for increased durability. All of the handle hardware (the bolsters, housing and latch) are 300-series stainless steel, always the most durable choice. The kamagong was cleaned up, hand finished to 1000 grit and waxed by yours truly. This really brings the best out of the wood and significantly improves the fit and finish of the inserts to the housing and bolsters. I also softened the sharp corners on the handles with a small file.
The wood is truly beautiful and is lovely and dark.
The blade is a real beauty. It isn’t quite razor sharp, but it wouldn’t take much to get it there! The tari is a more aggressive form of the hollowground labaha (straight razor profile). I really like the upswept point.
There was a tiny bit of rust on the ricasso that I buffed clean by hand. A little pitting remains as you can see.
There were also a few very minor spots on the blade: again, some very light pits remain.
This is an exceptionally nice balisong with just one tang pin: I’d love one of these! I don’t think I’ve offered a bente nueve in this combination of inserts, materials and blade grind before. 5.2 oz. $135.
2. This beauty measures in at 28.4 cm. It was made by the younger brother of a craftsman who has made the majority of the balisongs for sale here at Pinoy Steel.
The inserts on this one are European red stag. I personally imported this material to take the strain off Philippines’ wildlife. All species of Philippines deer are endangered in the wild, so I choose not to support the trade. I’ve seen skulls (complete with antlers) offered for sale, and I’m pretty sure the deer involved didn’t die natural deaths! Kamagong and narra are also being harvested at an alarming rate, but the government is cracking down. Also, the number of balisongs that can be made from a single log of kamagong and narra is considerably greater than the number that could be made with a pair of small deer antlers (all Philippines deer species are significantly smaller than those found in Europe and the US).
The inserts on this side of the balisong are thick and swell outward: great for filling up your palm. There is an area on the uppermost insert that is ground and polished flat. The stainless bolsters on this balisong are exceptionally long and take a lot more work to get right.
The blade is a modified buyod with no break on the flat: it goes all the way to the ricasso. This is a very nice piece.
The stag on this side of the knife is actually slightly concave. It has excellent color and texture. There is a naturally occurring darker area in the insert on the bottom.
Each of the bolsters is double pinned. There is a little patina and pitting in the pins. I buffed them clean as best as I could. The housing and latch are also stainless steel. The latch is thick and fileworked. The maker attempted to filework the latch the same way as his older brother, but his craftsmanship definitely has its own character.
You can make the darker area out better here. This is very nice red stag. It is often used as a substitute for sambar stag in Europe. I actually think it is very nice stag and doesn’t get as much appreciation as it deserves.
This balisong weighs in at a very solid 7.2 oz because of the longer bolsters. Please note there is some pitting on the end of the tang (only visible when closed) that I buffed clean. Discounted at $159.
3. This beauty measures in at 28.7 cm. It is one of two I had made up for a buyer. He ordered one, but I asked the craftsman to make two so I could ensure my buyer got a good piece. Both turned out very nicely indeed. The blade, bolsters, housing and latch are all 300-series stainless steel. 300-series stainless cannot be hardened. It is more commonly used for jewelry, vehicle bodies and even surgical implants. It is, however, highly corrosion resistant, and more than tough enough to be used for a self defense piece. It will not hold an edge long, but there is no need for edge holding on a classic Batanguenyo buyod since they are meant to be used as daggers. This makes this bali an excellent EDC piece (where legal, of course).
Each of the bolsters is double pinned for extra durability: this was requested by the buyer and it ensures the bolsters stay put, even if dropped on concrete during a fight. If one of the pins does start to work loose, a dab of two-part steel epoxy around the pin will hold it in place even better than before.
The kamagong heartwood on this piece is exceptional. I hand finished the wood to 1000 grit before oiling and waxing it. You have to see and feel it to appreciate just how nice the wood is and if you own a kamagong-handled bente nueve from another dealer, there is really no comparison in the feel and appearance of a standard balisong to one of my hand finished pieces.
The latch is thick and fileworked.
The blade is beautifully ground with a nice, long swedge. The extra tang pin is a Pinoy Steel touch that ensures the blade won’t rattle around when closed. It also takes some stress off the housing if the knife is flipped closed. The blade will still hit the housing, however, so flipping it closed is not recommended.
This beauty of a bali weighs in at a very nice 5.7 oz. We ship faster than the competition and at this price, you get an hour of my time in hand finishing alone! $145.
4. This beauty measures in at 27.7 cm: right around what I personally consider the best overall length for a balisong. It has a little more handle length than the standard 12 cm (closed) balisongs, which measure around 9.5” open, but it isn’t as long as the standard bente nueves, which are too long for many. I see a lot more of the smaller ones carried by law enforcement.
The bente nueve, of course, is the classic length, but is perhaps seen as too much for everyday carry in 2012! There are those of us who much prefer this length, however, and I personally always carry a bente nueve (around 11.5” open). This one falls right between the two sizes.
The bolsters, housing and latch are all solid brass, as is traditional. There is no stainless steel anywhere on this knife. The blade is classic hand forged carbon spring steel. It is a broad, leaf-shaped spearpoint that typifies what an FHM is for: efficient threat elimination in a slim, compact package.
The blade is beautifully ground, but is not razor sharp. It could of course be sharpened to a mean edge if desired, but much like a bayonet or Fairbairn-Sykes dagger, that is not what these knives are made for. The extra tang pin provides better lockup in the closed position.
The white Indian camel bone inserts are beautiful. Unfortunately, this brittle material does sometimes crack when pinned, and there is a thin hairline crack visible below. I could flood the crack with steel epoxy for you if desired. Fortunately, since the crack stops at the pin, It will not progress any further.
There is some slight patina around the top of the handles that I buffed as best as I could. There were also a few spots on the blade that I also buffed clean by hand.
There is also a tiny chip near the pins in the lowermost insert in the picture below. The maker pinned the insert twice in this spot to ensure a good hold. The chip is really very minor indeed, but I have to point it out.
This beautiful bente nueve is a solid 7 oz. It is slightly thicker than usual and the brass housing adds an ounce or two to the package. $145.
5. This balisong is the smallest of the ones I’m offering today, but it’s a beauty nonetheless. It features a very nicely ground buyod blade with a deep swedge. The bolsters are solid stainless steel, and the housing and latch are also hand formed from 300-series stainless. The inserts are purpleheart with great color. I hand finished this wood all the way to 2000 grit before oiling and waxing it. Purpleheart, being a softer, looser-grained wood, loads up with buffing compound very easily, so it was no easy task cleaning this wood up. Each of the inserts is triple pinned, which is unusual for a smaller balisong like this one. It measures in at 23.9 cm.
The top bolsters are double pinned for durability.
This wood really has great color, and the contrast between the deep purple, the glow of the copper and the pristine white stainless really works beautifully.
The second extra thick tang pin aids durability and lockup in the closed position. As an added bonus, the blade will not hit the liners on this one, so it can be flipped closed!
This is a beautiful balisong I spent a lot of time on. 4.9 oz. $169.
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Batangas Beauties.
All of the live balisongs in this post are now sold.
Four more balisongs from the heart of Batangas: each one special in its own way as you’ll see!
From top to bottom:
1. This 31.6 cm balisong is a very special piece. Slightly longer than the classic bente nueve, it is a play on the classic brass and buffalo horn pieces that were prevalent prior to and during World War II. The oldest balisongs in my personal collection were all made in this combination, but without bolsters and with much thinner handles and blades. The forged blades were also ground to shape on benchstones.
This bali, however, features the more-modern U-shaped brass housing, a hand forged carbon spring steel blade that was shaped on a belt-driven grinder, raw Indian buffalo horn scales and American-made pivot hardware. There is definitely nothing else quite like this piece in the FHM world!
Most housings nowadays are made of stainless for durability and the lighter weight. Classic brass is not as commonly seen nowadays, especially from Batangas’ top craftsmen. I supplied the Indian buffalo horn you see here as it is much less prone to cracking and splitting than the kalabaw horn commonly available in Batangas. The craftsmen were so impressed with how this unpolished horn turned out that they attempted to produce a couple more pieces using local horn, but, as expected, splits occurred.
The inserts were left flat on top and were only finished near the bolsters and sides for a flush appearance. There are some naturally occurring fissures in the horn that I can flood with steel epoxy if desired. This will stabilize them and prevent the fissures from widening in low humidity, or alternatively, you could keep the horn moist and seal it with oil or wax. Horn doesn’t dry out here in Southeast Asia, but it may be an issue in less humid climates.
This bali has a brass clip for waistband carry. This is the preferred mode of carry for most Filipinos who carry knives, and is how I carry my own balisongs.
The contrast between the black of the horn and the natural, rough exterior is beautiful. The top bolsters are double pinned for durability.
The blade is a classic spearpoint. It is quite sharp, but not razor sharp. It could of course be sharpened to a razor edge if desired! The blade will hit the liners if flipped closed, so flipping this balisong closed hard should definitely be avoided as it can lead to liner damage. There are a few minor pits on the blade that I have buffed clean.
The All-American pivot hardware was done beautifully and there are four phosphor bronze washers on this balisong. The handles move very smoothly indeed and there is very little handle play.
The texture of the horn is both attractive and great for ensuring a secure hold. I hear buffalo horn provides an even more secure hold when wet (or bloody)!
The other side of the pivots are recessed into the handles. The extra thick tang pins ensure good positive lockup in both the open and closed positions.
You can see the naturally occurring fissures and the beautiful shaping of the horn here.
The latch was beautifully fileworked too: sadly the craftsman who made this balisong is not currently producing any now, and may not be in the foreseeable future. This is an absolute heirloom grade piece.
This balisong weighs in at 7.2 oz. $189.
2. This balisong measures in at 30.7 cm, a little longer than usual for the bente nueve class. This was one of the first pieces the makers attempted to put pivot hardware on, and since they didn’t have a Torx driver, one of the screws went missing during final buffing. I have replaced the pivot hardware on both handles. The new hardware works fine, but the new pivots don’t sit flush in the handles. This doesn’t affect performance at all, however.
This balisong features a beautifully executed hand forged carbon spring steel buyod (bowie) blade with a deep swedge. The bolsters, housing and latch are all 300-series stainless, and the inserts are classic Batangas horse bone. This is some of the nicest bone you’ll find, and it was selected especially for Pinoy Steel by the craftsmen. There are no dark areas whatsoever.
The color and natural figuring in the bone is incredible. Aside from being attractive, horse bone is a good, durable material that will easily last a lifetime.
You can see the raised pivots here. There are no washers on this balisong, but it still flips as good or better than a broken in FHM, and will continue to smooth out over time.
There are some pits on the blade from storage in the Philippines: I have buffed them out as best as I can. There is also a tiny amount of forge scale on the spine near the ricasso.
Two extra tang pins on this one: definitely a Pinoy Steel piece through and through.
The white and caramel tones of the bone make me think of a caramel sundae.
The screws lie flush within the handles. The top bolsters are double pinned for increased durability. Please note the pit on the ricasso, which I buffed clean with a felt wheel and rouge.
There is a hairline crack in the bone from pinning. This does occur when pinning bone, but being a durable material, it will not spread any further unless the knife is dropped hard. I would be happy to flood and seal the crack with steel epoxy for you if desired.
This balisong weighs in at a solid 7 oz. Great deal at $135.
3. This is perhaps the nicest all brass balisong I’ve ever offered. It measures in at 27.7 cm long. The only non-brass parts on this balisong are the pins. Brass balisongs are believed to have talismanic properties and to protect the bearer against malevolent beings. Similar beliefs about brass knives are found throughout Southeast Asia. Whether or not you believe this, this is a pretty cool balisong!
The handles are channel construction with brass pinned on top. Each handle is held together with three copper pins and a pivot pin at the top.
The blade on this brass balisong is exceptionally thick: normally the blades are kept thin to cut costs. This one has a solid 3/16” thick blade, which substantially increases durability since the housing doesn’t have to be bent downward to hold the 1/8” blades normally found on cheaper balisongs. While this balisong isn’t from the best makers, it is an exceptionally nice piece. The blade is a spearpoint and is sharp (but not shaving sharp). Brass blades won’t hold an edge for long, but this balisong is perfectly suitable for its intended role. It is a folding dagger through and through.
The liners are nice and thick.
This balisong also has an exceptionally thick brass latch with beveled edges.
Being all brass with a 3/16” blade, this balisong weighs in at a solid 9.6 oz. $115.
4. Here is a balicomb from Batangas’ best balisong makers. It measures in at 23.3 cm (around 9.5”). The comb, bolsters, housings and latch are all 300-series stainless and all of them were shaped and formed by hand. The comb is particularly difficult to craft as the tooth are sawed in entirely by hand. One slip up and the stainless bar ends up in the scrap pile! The comb is a solid 3/16” thick. The cheaper balicombs offered in Batangas only have 1/8” blades, which greatly affect durability since they don’t fill up the handles correctly.
The top bolsters are double pinned for durability.
The comb was beautifully done. These combs are actually great for use and many of my buyers use them daily.
The Indian camel bone used is very popular and is a nice, clean white.
There is a hairline crack near the top pin in this picture: as always, I would be happy to flood the crack with steel epoxy to seal it.
This comb also has a tight latch that you may have trouble engaging. 5 oz. Discounted at $145.
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Ebony.
The sibat (fancy spearpoint) and balisong comb are sold.
These beauties were all made by the handful of balisong craftsmen still producing top notch bente nueves deep in the heart of Batangas. All four feature beautiful kamagong, aka Philippines ebony. Kamagong is indigenous to the Philippines and while you can find ebony in many tropical countries in the world, kamagong is uniquely Filipino. Overharvesting in the wild has lead to habitat loss and erosion, and the Philippines government is clamping down hard on illegal logging, which I am very grateful for. Soon the only kamagong available with be from legal sources. I have seen the quality of kamagong available fall drastically over the last few years. The wood on these knives, however, is absolutely exceptional.
From top to bottom:
1. This spearpoint measures in at exactly 29 cm. These have been made for decades, and this beauty was very well ground. The blade is classic hand forged carbon leaf spring steel. The bolsters, housing and latch are 300-series stainless. This is a classic-style piece with just one tang pin and single-pinned bolsters.
The wood on this balisong has been cleaned up to remove the excess buffing compound before oiling and waxing. The sharp edges have also been taken down with a fine file. No other Batangas balisong dealer takes the time to do this.
There is some nice black and milk chocolate contrast in this wood.
As with most Filipino balisongs, this one is not edge sharp. It could of course be sharpened to an absolute razor edge if desired, although being a dedicated thruster that you flip to get open, it may be better to keep it less than razor sharp to protect your hands in the heat of the moment. The craftsmen are very capable of getting their blades hair popping sharp, but seldom do with balisongs. I didn’t understand why at first, but it now makes complete sense.
The inserts on this side are quite uniformly dark, except for a lighter area near the edge of the housing.
This baby weighs in at a very comfortable 5.4 oz. $119.
2. This bayonet bente nueve is now a classic grind. Inspired by the American bayonets that were used prior to and during World War II, this is a popular grind. This bali measures in at 28.9 cm. The blade is classic hand forged carbon spring steel, my absolute favorite. It is tough, takes a mean edge and is easy to sharpen. Sure, the modern stainless steels have better corrosion resistance and hold an edge forever, but they are a pain to sharpen and are often quite brittle. Recycled 5160 does the job just fine in my book!
The bolsters, housing and latch are all hand formed from 300-series stainless steel. The top bolsters are double pinned for increased durability, and the blade features two extra-thick tang pins. This ensures better lockup in both the open and closed positions, and as an added bonus, if your primary tang pin works loose, you always have a spare.
The inserts are beautiful dark kamagong ebony: kamagong is native to the Philippines and is absolutely beautiful wood. It is getting harder and harder to source every day due to the insatiable demand for it within the Philippines, and the quality of what is available is falling quickly. This is absolutely top notch kamagong. I personally cleaned up the wood before oiling and waxing it, which really brings out the subtle beauty of this Filipino ebony.
The blade is nicely ground. This is one factor that separates the best balisongs from the rest. Nowadays the vast majority of balisongs produced in Batangas are junk. This is not the craftsmen’s fault: sadly the majority of Filipino buyers simply will not spend the money necessary to buy the best of the best, so the industry is slowly but surely dying.
This bad boy won’t need much breaking in. 5.6 oz. $115.
3. This piece features a spearpoint design that reminds me a lot of Northern Philippines spears. This is one of the first pieces to ever offer this grind, and it also features special eight-sided inserts (flat on the top, sides and bottom: two per side = eight sides).
The blade is classic hand forged carbon spring steel, and the bolsters, liners and latch are 300-series stainless. Everything is ground and shaped entirely by hand as they have always been.
This is a classic-style balisong with only one tang pin. The top bolsters, however, are double pinned.
The kamagong ebony on this knife has been cleaned up before oiling and waxing, which really brings out its beauty.
All of the metal on this beauty has been hand polished to a mirror shine.
The ebony heartwood on this knife is uniformly dark and flawless.
This is an exceptionally nice bente nueve that was spoken for before I posted it here! 5.4 oz. $125.
4. This brass and kamagong balicomb measures in at exactly 19 cm. This comb was previously listed here at Pinoy Steel, and is now sold, but I am posting it anyway since I went to the trouble of taking pictures of it.
The comb is hand ground from a solid bar of 300-series stainless steel: each and every tooth is always sawed into the bar by hand. The bolsters are solid brass, and each one features two copper pins. The inserts are beautiful Philippines kamagong ebony. The latch is extra thick brass, and the housing is hand formed from stainless steel (like you find on most bente nueves today).
The figuring in the kamagong on this comb is particularly beautiful, and there is even a touch of chatoyancy in the wood. 4 oz. $105.
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A Very Special Kamagong Spearpoint.
SOLD.
This little balisong has US-made phosphor bronze washers and stainless pivot hardware: it flips like greased lightning with virtually no handle play!
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“Balisong is Dying.”
Those were the words I was greeted with when I arrived in Batangas on Thursday last week. I didn’t know if he was just making conversation, but then I realized the slowdown in balisong sales I’ve experienced recently has been mirrored in Batangas. Customers have been few and far between there, perhaps because of the global economic downturn. The balisong knife has been made since the early 1900s, when it was introduced to the sleepy barrio Balisong as the lanceta, or dagger. This is why all Batanguenyo balisongs are made for piercing first and foremost, as they always have been.
The balisong maker who has made most of the finest bente nueves seen here at Pinoy Steel (many of which have made it to your homes and hearts) has had to step away from the balisong game due to a lack of orders. I asked where he was, since I’d brought him a ring as a present, and I couldn’t believe he wasn’t around. He has a wife and kids to support, so he is currently working as a welder in one of the larger cities in Batangas. His brother is working in the Middle East as an OFW (Overseas Foreign Worker) and remitting money home to support his family. Out of the four brothers in his family, three of which are among the five or six best balisong makers left today, only two are still in the game at this time. The youngest brother made many of the balisongs I will be offering soon, and the remaining brother only makes handles and cuts wood and other materials down to size.
This is an extremely sad state of affairs, and one I am having a great deal of trouble accepting. I am going to drop prices on all of my Batangas balisongs to stimulate sales and I will also happily accept donations which will go directly to the manggagawa and their families if anyone is interested in helping them through these difficult times. I am also going to auction off balisong combs and trainers with 100% of the proceeds going to their families: I’ll swallow the associated costs.
I have some exciting new products coming up, and great plans for the future, so please continue to support us through these difficult times or they may not come to fruition. After this generation of balisong makers retire, there probably won’t be anyone left who is able to make balisongs with the degree of skill these men have, and the fate of Barangay Balisong, the home of the balisong, will be sealed.
Thank you for reading this and for supporting the Batangas balisong industry.
This picture of me was taken in a backyard in the heart of Batangas: the man who made my bente nueve is welding metal an hour’s commute from home right now, instead of doing what his father and grandfather would have been doing. -
Sundangs and Plamingkos.
Knives one, three and four are now sold.
This is a Cebuano native bolo. This kind of bolo was around before the arrival of the Spanish on the island and is still in use today, with good reason. This is the nicest example of a classic Cebuano bolo you’re likely to find today, and these aren’t available anywhere else. The curve, chisel ground edge and weight forward balance make these very efficient choppers that bite nice and deep.
The handle and scabbard are both crafted from native wood and were traditionally wrapped in rattan up in the mountains of Cebu before being shellacked for increased durability. The handle is 5 7/8” long. The 1.5” of rattan wrap allows for fast indexing and also provides grip where you need it most. The traditionally shaped handle is excellent for preventing the bolo from slipping out of your grip during heavy chopping. The pointed end would also be excellent for punyo strikes.
The blade is 12.5” long. The balance point is 3.5” in front of the handle. You have to hold this in your hands to really feel the chopping potential in this bolo. The blade is 2.25” wide at its widest point.
The scabbard has a hole drilled through it to allow it to be attached to a belt in the field.
This bolo fits my hands very well indeed.
This bolo was made at one of Jun Silva’s forges in Cebu.
There is a 1 1/8” lowered portion on the spine of the bolo to allow you to creep up on the blade.
This bolo weighs in at 1 lb 4.2, or 1 lb 9.7 oz in the scabbard. SOLD.
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 5/8” overall. The handle is 5 1/8”, 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. 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 8.5” 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 1” 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 6/32” thick and epoxied into the hilt, which ensures a secure hold.
There are a few epoxy fills on the handle. This will not affect durability. You could of course replace the handle if desired, or wrap it, e.g., with gutted paracord.
There is another fill on the end of the handle.
The main knot is quite large.
This is a light, fast knife that is really very nicely made. The balance point is only 1.5” 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. 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 knife with a few flaws, so it is discounted. 8.8 oz, or 11 oz in the sheath. $89 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 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 12 3/4” overall. The handle is 5 3/16”, 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. 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 7 9/16” 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 7/8” 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 6/32” thick and epoxied into the hilt, which ensures a secure hold. There is one small nick in the edge that you could of course sharpen out.
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. 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 be tightened up by lining the mouth of the sheath with cardboard or leather.
There is one small pit on the ricasso. 7 oz, or 8.9 oz with the sheath. $89.
4. This small kutsilyo is from the same forge as the small plamingko bowies I offer. This is a truly excellent little knife that really fits my hand like a glove: I am very fond of it. Both the handle and sheath are gmelina. The handle is grooves and shaped like the combat handles on Leyte sansibars. This would make a great daga or concealable fixed blade for personal protection. I would very much like to keep this knife, but I can’t keep them all. I may have another one made up in molave later this year for my own use.
This kutsilo measures in at a comfortable 9 7/8”. The handle is really very nicely executed and comfortable. It is only 4 9/16” but doesn’t feel short at all for my large hands. The choil allows you to creep up on the blade if need be: the choil is 15/16” long.
The blade is well hardened and mirror polished 5160 spring steel. It measures in at 7 9/16”.
The simple sheath is light and fits the knife perfectly. Nothing fancy here: just a good quality blade made with wood that doesn’t promote illegal logging practices.
The handle is perfect for pakal grip: it just locks into my hand perfectly, and the curved end is very comfortable.
It is of course equally good in forward grip.
This knife just feels great no matter how I hold it.
This is a great (and rare) modern Cebuano blade with lots of historical influence, but with a modern flair. The blade is hollowground for optimum slicing ability. The balance point is right at the start of the edge. This is one knife I’d love to keep, and I just may. 4 oz, or 5 oz in the sheath. SOLD.
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Aluminum and Kamagong Bayonets.
The first, second and fourth balisongs in this picture are extra thick (1/2”) with nice palm swells in the kamagong ebony inserts. These aren’t from my usual makers, who are the best of the best. These are heavy duty overbuilt pieces made for the locals, who usually aren’t willing to spend more for better quality. These aren’t ground and finished as nicely as the finest pieces, but I have picked the best pieces I could get my hands on.
The third balisong is my current EDC. It is shown for comparison purposes.
These were previously offered here on Tumblr. I just refinished them and they’re ready to go back up! Since I’ve learned a thing or two since they first went up, they now look and feel much better than they did before I decided to give them some much needed TLC.
1. This bali measures in at 28.4 cm. This puts it in the bente nueve class of balisongs (which are traditionally around 11.5”). This one is closer to 11”, but is much thicker than usual. It features a hand forged carbon steel bayonet blade with a nice, thin swedge. The bolsters are solid aluminum, as is the latch. The housing is stainless steel, and the inserts are thick kamagong ebony I hand finished to 1000 grit before oiling and waxing it. The kamagong swells nicely in the middle to fill up your hand well.
The beauty of these balisongs is they feel nice and solid in the hand without the associated weight. The latch is solid aluminum too, which makes for very smooth opening once broken in, since aluminum is much slicker than brass and stainless. Aluminum is less durable and more prone to scratches, so this balisong’s role would definitely be as a carry piece. Flipping it extensively will cause it to loosen up much faster than a brass or stainless bente nueve, so this is best reserved for self defense carry.
The copper pins in the inserts aren’t perfectly lined up since this is a commercial grade piece: less care is taken in their construction.
The blade is quite well ground for this grade of balisong, but is a little rough around the edges. Those of you who own the top grade pieces will see what I mean if you look closely.
There are some tiny forging marks on the ricasso and some very, very light pitting on the blade that is barely visible.
The swell on the inserts is definitely a very nice feature.
This is an excellent balisong for the money. 5.9 oz. $115.
2. This second balisong is 28.3 cm long, which is a great size for most people. This overbuilt balisong is a solid 1/2” thick at the center of the inserts, which are much thicker than usual. This balisong is an EDC special for those who like a balisong that fills their hands up well. This is a commercial grade piece for Batangas locals who aren’t willing (or able) to spend more for the best quality pieces. It is, however, much more solid feeling, which is something a lot of locals look for.
The bolsters are solid aluminum, which is a lighter alternative to stainless and brass. It is, however, less durable, but breaks in easier and makes for smoother operation. This is absolutely an EDC balisong for those who value ease of carry over durability. I wouldn’t flip one of these extensively as they will loosen up quickly.
The blade is hand forged carbon steel and is around 5/32” thick, exceptionally thick for a commercial grade piece.
The pins on this balisong are quite uneven (the best craftsmen wouldn’t let one like this slip through the gaps), but it features beautiful, thick, hand finished kamagong inserts that will fill your hand up beautifully. I took the wood to 1000 grit before oiling and waxing it, which makes it feel and look substantially better than it originally did. This takes hours of work. Please note there are some minor forge marks on the ricasso and some extremely light (virtually undetectable) pitting on the blade. 5.5 oz. $109.
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Overbuilt kamagong and aluminum balisongs from the early days of Pinoy Steel: now hand finished for 2012.
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Old School Japanese Balisong “Pens.”
This Japanese balisong was made in Seki City, the city famous for samurai sword making. This design is from 1984 and it still says 1984 on the tang. These are excellent old school balisongs that were modeled after the classic Batangas FHM balisong pens that were around in the late 70s and early 80s. The Filipino kind were much slimmer and looked like a single pen when closed. These obviously look like a pair of pens, but are much easier to handle and perhaps more durable than the original Batanguenyo kind.
The blade is 2.5” long from the top of the handles to the tip. It is ground from 1/8” 440 stainless that is perfectly heat treated and razor sharp. The blade is hollowground, which makes it a great slicer, and it also has a perfect tip. The old school Japanese balisongs were pinned loose and there is more play in them than a broken in FHM, which are pinned tighter so they stay relatively tight even after breaking in.
The handles appear to be brass with chrome plating. The clips are stainless steel.
Closed it measures in at 5 9/16”. Overall length is 7 15/16”. The nylon belt sheath is included.
You can absolutely see the FHM heritage in the way the tang pin and pockets were made.
The inside of the handles also scream Batangas.
These are a great collectible and well worth adding to any collection of old school balisongs or sneaky blades. 3.8 oz. $85.
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A Kamagong Karambit and a Hong Kong Chef’s Knife.
The karambit is now sold. The chef’s knife is available: I will personally hand pick one for you upon purchase.
Two nice offerings for you today, both of which I am very fond of! These are both really excellent knives which, like almost all of my offerings, I personally handled and inspected before choosing to purchase them for Pinoy Steel.
This karambit measures in at just under 9” straight across from the end of the ring to the tip. The ring on this karambit is slightly larger than the other karambits from this forge I have offered in the past: it measures in at 1.25” in diameter.
The handle is 5 1/8” and the slabs are beautiful and solid Philippines kamagong ebony. The handle is a full 1” thick and very nicely executed. The grain on this wood is absolutely top notch and the wood even has some chatoyancy. The wood is flawless. The scales are secured through the thick 3/16” tang with a total of five aluminum pins.
The blade is extremely sharp on both edges, and there is jimping on both the top and bottom choils. The size of the handle and the choils allow you to use the ring or choke up on the blade without it, and the extension in the center of the handle slips between my fingers comfortably in both grips without getting in the way at all. The main edge is 2.75” long with a 1/2” unsharpened portion at the base of the blade. The choil is 3/4” long and fully jimped.
The top edge is 4.5” long and preceded by a total of 1.5” of jimping.
The sheath for this karambit is solid Northern Philippines molave with great figuring: the combination of kamagong and molave used by this forge is both beautiful and practical. The karambit is held securely by the sheath.
The thick leather loop is held in place through an aluminum plate with four rivets, which will hold it securely.
This wood is really some of the nicest kamagong I’ve ever seen!
In reverse grip with my finger through the hole, this karambit fits in my hand very comfortably.
There is some very mild patina on the tang: I hand polished most of it off before the pictures were taken.
The karambit is equally comfortable in forward grip with my pinky through the ring.
If you prefer more precise control, you can choke up on the very nicely ground choil without using the ring: this greatly increases the versatility of this beast of a karambit.
The karambit fits in the sheath very nicely indeed.
This is a top notch karambit and the only one like it I have: I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get another one like it. Please do not hesitate if you would like to add this one to your collection! 10.7 oz, or 13.5 oz with the sheath. $89.
This is a very nicely made chef’s knife from Hong Kong. Nowadays, most knives of this type are made in China due to the high cost of production in Hong Kong: there are only two places still making traditional kitchen knives here that I know of. Anthony Bourdain made one of them famous when he visited Hong Kong a few years ago. This knife is from a much smaller local business that makes knives just as nice as Chan Chi Kee’s, but with some minor differences. If you are a fan of the best genuine Hong Kong choppers, here’s one you simply will not find anywhere but in Hong Kong.
This chopper was forged and ground near the once infamous Kowloon Walled City. Where this sprawling slum once existed, you can now find a beautiful park. The area around it is now full of some of the best Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants in town, and European gourmet stores specializing in pastries and pate and even the odd French bakery are sprouting up. Through it all, however, this small firm in the heart of Kowloon City has been producing top notch kitchen knives (and nothing else) for some of the city’s top chefs.
The blade on this chopper is excellent quality carbon steel. The forge scale has been left on the top of the blade, as is traditional. The blade is 8 5/32” long, or 20.72 cm. It is 3 5/8” wide at its center (9.2 cm). This means it falls between size #2 and #3 on Chan Chi Kee’s slicer chart. It is 1/8” thick at the base of the spine with a perfect distal taper. This allows the tip to be used for more precision slicing: the rear of these choppers is usually used for anchoring the blade in wood chopping blocks. I have grown up watching chefs all over Hong Kong use these choppers in this manner.
The handle is only 3 7/16” long and appears to be oak. The reason for the short handle is that Chinese slicers like this one are held with three fingers on the handle and the blade is held between the index and thumb finger. Sometimes the middle finger is also extended along the side of the blade. Apparently this works very well indeed, as some American chefs who swear by Hong Kong choppers have said they can work all day in this grip without fatigue.
The blade is very slightly convex ground and is hand honed to a very keen edge: it could be stropped to an absolute razor edge with very little work. Many chefs in the US swear Hong Kong choppers rival the best American and Japanese knives for pure cutting performance.
The bolster is stainless steel: the rings in the handle aid in positive grip, even when the handle is wet or greasy. This is a tool through and through, but even chefs in China hold Hong Kong-made choppers in the highest regard.
The balance point is 3” in front of the bolster, meaning this is a nicely balanced slicer for general kitchen use. This style of knife is not intended for chopping bone, which will cause the edge to roll. Chinese kitchen knives are softer than American or Japanese knives to increase their durability. They are sharpened on carbide stones regularly to keep the edges as keen as possible. Even with frequent sharpening, this knife is capable of lasting a lifetime.
I took this picture before I knew the correct manner for holding one of these choppers, even though I have seen them used all over Hong Kong hundreds of times. I will definitely be paying more attention in future!
The tang is peened over at the end of the handle. The handle is also filled with glue to protect the tang and for increased security.
This is an excellent kitchen tool for both home chefs and those who take their kitchen hardware seriously. These are definitely not something you will find anywhere else. 12.9 oz. $75 including shipping to your door.
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Buyods and Taris.
Both kamagong bowies are sold.
Four beautiful, top quality Batangas balisongs and a carbon steel balisong trainer for the martial artists out there! These balisongs have outstanding grinds by anyone’s standards, and no expense was spared on the wood and mammoth ivory used.
From top to bottom:
1. This beautiful bente nueve measures in at exactly 29 cm, the textbook length for this size and what many consider the classic balisong, although the earliest ones were the shorter 9.5” size. This bente nueve was made by one of the handful of truly gifted balisong makers that are still around today.
This balisong features a hand forged 5160 carbon spring steel blade with the tari or cockfighting spur grind. This grind has the hollowground blade of a straight razor combined with an upswept point, which gives it great piercing and slicing ability. The tari is perhaps my favorite grind of all.
The inserts on this knife are jet black Philippines kamagong. Kamagong heartwood this uniformly black is the most desirable of all and is not something you see very often nowadays, as it is reserved for the best quality products. This is from the very heart of a kamagong tree.
The craftsman who cut the kamagong to size selected the best wood for this piece since the kamagong was used to set off select Siberian mammoth ivory. There are a few naturally occurring fissures in the ivory, but this is inevitable for a material that has been buried for over 10,000 years! The fit of each of the individual inserts on this knife is perfect: it rivals the best craftsmanship anywhere in the world.
There is a tiny amount of buffing compound trapped in the mammoth ivory, but I removed the vast majority of it before the pictures. I cleaned up the wood and mammoth ivory and waxed both with Renaissance Wax to protect them from the elements.
Each of the individual inserts is double pinned for durability: each of the solid stainless bolsters is only pinned once (the classic way). The latch and housing are also 300-series stainless steel, and the blade features two extra thick tang pins for better lockup and durability than you’ll find on standard balisongs.
The first inch of this blade is absolutely hair popping sharp: the steel is tough and well hardened and will take an absolute razor edge.
There are two tiny pits on the blade that the camera couldn’t pick up.
This is a top notch bente nueve that I personally would be very proud to own and carry. It weighs in at a very reasonable 4.9 oz. I would be happy to hand finish the mammoth ivory and/or kamagong for you, which would significantly improve its appearance and further improve the fit of the inserts to the bolsters and liners. $179.
Please add $15 if you’d like me to refinish the mammoth ivory, $25 if you’d like me to refinish the kamagong, or $35 for both.
2. While the picture shows two balisongs, only one knife is on offer here: if you look closely, both knives are identical. This bente nueve (at exactly 29 cm in length, or around 11.5”) is an absolute beauty in every way. It features a hand forged carbon steel blade with the tari grind. What makes this grind different from standard is the presence of a shallow, long swedge, which is subtle but a very nice touch that really works. It will also allow for easer penetration into soft tissue if need be.
The swedge on this knife is absolutely beautifully executed. As with most of my top notch FHM balisongs, this one features two extra thick tang pins to aid durability and lockup in both the open and closed positions.
The inserts are Brazilain rosewood, also known as morado: this wood is very uniform and has subtle lengthwise figuring. This is from exceptional timber and is some of the nicest morado you’ll find anywhere! I have cleaned up, oiled and waxed the wood, which substantially improves its appearance, but I would be happy to refinish this wood by hand if you’d like. Hand finishing would take this balisong beyond anything available in Batangas today and takes up to three hours per knife!
The bolsters, liners and latch are 300-series stainless steel. Each of the bolsters on this knife is riveted twice for increased durability: even if one pin fails from a hard drop, the bolsters will still be anchored in place.
There is one tiny pit on this blade that the camera couldn’t pick up. Please note this balisong is almost ready to flip, straight from the makers! 4.5 oz. $155. Please add $25 if you’d like me to hand finish the wood for you: you can select any finishing grit from 600 up to 2000 before the top coat of oil, wax or varnish (your choice).
3. Only one balisong for sale here, and it’s a beaut: it measures in at exactly 29 cm long (around 11.5”). The blade is hand forged carbon spring steel in the classic bowie grind with a twist. This bowie has a long, deep swedge that is extremely attractive and relatively rare. The scales are beautiful black kamagong ebony.
The wood has been cleaned, oiled and waxed, which substantially improves its appearance over the kamagong found on balisongs available from other dealers. This knife was made by one of the best craftsmen currently producing balisongs, and it shows. Each of the bolsters is solid stainless steel with a single rivet. The housing and latch are also 300-series stainless steel.
There is one tiny pit near the ricasso on this knife, as well as a few tiny pits on the blade. All of the pits have been buffed and hand polished clean.
This knife only features a single tang pin (like most classic Filipino balisongs).
There is some beautiful and bold dark brown figuring on this side of the knife.
This is a nice, simple balisong that has it all: all stainless handles, a tough, durable carbon steel blade, top notch kamagong inserts and a beautifully ground modern buyod blade. 5.5 oz. $115.
Please add $20 if you would like me to hand finish the wood for you, which will really take it up a notch in terms of appearance, as well as overall fit and finish.
4. This balisong measures in at a very portable 23.1 cm in length (around 9”). You’re not seeing triples here: there’s only one balisong for sale, and it’s a beauty! This would go very well with its bigger brother, which is built just like it, but in 29 cm.
The inserts are beautiful Philippines kamagong ebony: this is without a doubt some of the nicest kamagong you’ll see anywhere. The bolsters are solid 300-series stainless steel and each one is riveted in place with a traditional iron pin. The housing and latch are also stainless steel.
The blade is the classic Spanish bowie grind, but with a very modern twist: it features a very subtle and gradual swedge. It is long and deeply ground and extremely attractive in my book. The blade is classic carbon spring steel: expertly forged and hardened for effective penetration and good durability, even if you glance off bone.
There are some tiny pits on the blade from storage, but nothing that the camera could pick up: I have buffed them all clean. The blade and wood have both been oiled and waxed for protection.
This is a great little balisong and a very durable choice. $105, or $125 with hand finishing to 2000 grit.
5. This trainer is not from the same makers as the vast majority of my offerings: it is from makers who produce significantly cheaper balisongs for the commercial market. This trainer was handpicked from a small batch of trainers and was one of the few that I accepted for Pinoy Steel. It measures in at 27.9 cm, which is a size many are fond of. It is built thicker and larger than the balisongs made by the best craftsmen, but the hand forged carbon steel ‘blade’ is thinner.
The inserts are classic jigged horse bone, which has been in use for about a century. It was initially used as a replacement for stag, which was found on the first balisongs.
The trainer is ground to resemble a buyod or bowie. These trainers are not for general flipping: they are for martial artists who want to practice openings and techniques with or without a partner. I do not recommend flipping this style of trainer closed as the blade will hit the stainless liners, which will damage them over time.
The bolsters and latch are solid brass.
This is a simple trainer and ideally suited to Filipino martial artists who want to incorporate FHM work into their training. 7 oz. $79.
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Kamagong and Stainless.
The first two trainers and both balicombs are sold. The third trainer is still available.
My apologies for taking so long adding the information to this post: it was a hectic week!
All of the kamagong and stainless items you see here are from some of the best balisong makers still producing balisongs today. The stainless one is from a group of makers who produce larger quantities on a commercial level. The quality of these makers’ balisongs is nowhere near as good in most cases, but this comb turned out exceptionally well. It is the only one like it which I accepted for Pinoy Steel.
From top to bottom:
1. This balisong trainer measures in at 28.5 cm: a little shorter than the textbook bente nueve length of 29 cm. Each of the solid stainless bolsters is double pinned for extra durability. These trainers will get dropped if used for sparring or for practicing openings. I recommend training with them on a padded floor as drops on hard surfaces will damage the trainer, and in the case of wood floors, damage the floor too!
FHM balisongs are not designed for fun flipping, so please do not purchase this balisong if this is your intended use. These are for those who choose to carry or own a balisong for protection and want to practice openings and even spar with partners with them to improve their skills. Flipping these trainers closed repeatedly will damage the housings.
The scales on this balisong are beautiful kamagong ebony heartwood. I have discovered a method of removing the buffing compound and finishing the wood that does not require sanding on my part: this substantially improves the wood’s appearance over balisongs offered by other Batangas balisong dealers while keeping the cost down. I will still continue to offer hand finishing, but I have no choice but to charge more for it due to the time, effort and materials required. It takes around three hours per knife for certain materials.
The blade on this trainer is 3/16” 300-series stainless steel. This makes the trainers feel slightly blade heavy, even though they balance right at the pivots, but the stainless blades will not corrode and do not require maintenance. The thicker blades are also more durable to ensure they hold up to repeated drops.
The housing on this balisong is also hand formed stainless steel, which is lighter and more durable than the traditional brass. The blade features two tang pins to help reduce impact on the liners when the balisong is closed. The blade will still hit the liners when flipped closed, but the pin will reduce some of the shock and will also prevent the blade from rattling in the liners in the closed position.
Please note there are some minor grind marks on the blade. This trainer will not require much breaking in. 6.9 oz. $119. Please add $25 for hand finishing to 1000 grit if desired, which will substantially improve the fit and finish of the wood inserts to the bolsters and liners.
2. This balisong trainer is just under textbook bente nueve length at 28.9 cm. Each of the solid brass bolsters is double pinned for extra durability. These trainers will get dropped if used for sparring or for practicing openings. I recommend training with them on a padded floor as drops on hard surfaces will damage the trainer, and in the case of wood floors, damage the floor too!
FHM balisongs are not designed for fun flipping, so please do not purchase this balisong if this is your intended use. These are for those who choose to carry or own a balisong for protection and want to practice openings and even spar with partners with them to improve their skills. Flipping these trainers closed repeatedly will damage the housings.
The scales on this balisong are beautiful kamagong ebony heartwood. I have discovered a method of removing the buffing compound and finishing the wood that does not require sanding on my part: this substantially improves the wood’s appearance over balisongs offered by other Batangas balisong dealers while keeping the cost down. I will still continue to offer hand finishing, but I have no choice but to charge more for it due to the time, effort and materials required. It takes around three hours per knife for certain materials.
The blade on this trainer is 3/16” 300-series stainless steel. This makes the trainers feel slightly blade heavy, even though they balance right at the pivots, but the stainless blades will not corrode and do not require maintenance. The thicker blades are also more durable to ensure they hold up to repeated drops. The blade on this trainer has been ground to resemble a labaha profile.
The wood on this knife is dark brown and has beautiful figuring and even some chatoyancy.
The housing on this balisong is also hand formed stainless steel, which is lighter and more durable than the traditional brass. The blade features two tang pins to help reduce impact on the liners when the balisong is closed. The blade will still hit the liners when flipped closed, but the pin will reduce some of the shock and will also prevent the blade from rattling in the liners in the closed position.
This trainer weighs in at 6 oz. $109. Please add $25 for hand finishing to 1000 grit if desired, which will substantially improve the fit and finish of the wood inserts to the bolsters and liners.
3.This trainer is in the popular 9.5” size. It measures in at exactly 23.9 cm. Many prefer this size of balisong for ease of carry and faster opening: I personally like both the 12 cm and 15 cm (closed) balisongs.
Each of the solid stainless bolsters is double pinned for extra durability. These trainers will get dropped if used for sparring or for practicing openings. I recommend training with them on a padded floor as drops on hard surfaces will damage the trainer, and in the case of wood floors, damage the floor too!
FHM balisongs are not designed for fun flipping, so please do not purchase this balisong if this is your intended use. These are for those who choose to carry or own a balisong for protection and want to practice openings and even spar with partners with them to improve their skills. Flipping these trainers closed repeatedly will damage the housings.
The scales on this balisong are beautiful kamagong ebony heartwood with lighter color and figuring. I have discovered a method of removing the buffing compound and finishing the wood that does not require sanding on my part: this substantially improves the wood’s appearance over balisongs offered by other Batangas balisong dealers while keeping the cost down. I will still continue to offer hand finishing, but I have no choice but to charge more for it due to the time, effort and materials required. It takes around three hours per knife for certain materials.
The blade on this trainer is 3/16” 300-series stainless steel. This makes the trainers feel slightly blade heavy, even though they balance right at the pivots, but the stainless blades will not corrode and do not require maintenance. The thicker blades are also more durable to ensure they hold up to repeated drops.
The housing on this balisong is also hand formed stainless steel, which is lighter and more durable than the traditional brass. The blade features two tang pins to help reduce impact on the liners when the balisong is closed. The blade will still hit the liners when flipped closed, but the pin will reduce some of the shock and will also prevent the blade from rattling in the liners in the closed position.
This trainer tips the scales at 5.4 oz. $109. Please add $19 for hand finishing to 1000 grit if desired, which will substantially improve the fit and finish of the wood inserts to the bolsters and liners.
4. This comb is not from the same makers are the vast majority of balisongs I offer: I usually only offer the best FHM balisongs made today, but occasionally I will offer carefully selected items from other craftsmen. Quality from these craftsmen is often spotty as they produce balisongs for the commercial trade: the highest grade balisongs cost much more and sadly, most buyers in the Philippines will not pay extra for better quality bente nueves.
This comb features sandwich construction handles, like a classic FHM, but with skeletonized handles. I believe the now common skeletonized handles were actually first offered on an FHM balisong! Aside from the iron pins and the aluminum latch, everything on this comb is pure 300-series stainless steel. It measures in at an easily pocketable 22.7 cm (open). Each of the scales is pinned to the bolsters in three places, which makes for a more durable design.
This is the only comb of this type I accepted for Pinoy Steel.
The combs on the best balisongs are 3/16” thick, which makes for better fit between the liners. This comb is thinner at a little over 1/8” thick. These craftsmen use thinner stainless steel to keep the price down.
The latch has a visible flaw when opened: it looks like someone started drilling through the aluminum and then chose not to. The latch looks just fine on the other side, however. Aluminum’s natural slickness makes for the smoothest deploying latches in my opinion.
Like an FHM balisong, I do not recommend flipping this comb closed as the comb will hit the liners and damage it over time.
The latch to housing fit on this comb is exceptional, which is a hallmark of a well crafted balisong. None of the other combs in this batch met my needs in this regard.
When closed, there is a slight gap visible between the scales and the housing.
This is a unique and rare item and one well worth adding to the collection if you’re an FHM aficionado! 6.1 oz. $95.
5. Here’s a kamagong and stainless balicomb in the smaller 7.5” size. These combs are always popular and you can’t go wrong with stainless steel. It measures in at precisely 19.1 cm. Each of the solid stainless bolsters is double pinned for extra durability.
FHM balisongs are not designed for fun flipping, so please do not purchase this balisong if this is your intended use. Flipping these comb closed repeatedly will damage the housings, so I strongly suggest only flipping them open for use and then closing them with both hands.
The scales on this comb are beautiful kamagong ebony heartwood. I have discovered a method of removing the buffing compound and finishing the wood that does not require sanding on my part: this substantially improves the wood’s appearance over balisongs offered by other Batangas balisong dealers while keeping the cost down. I will still continue to offer hand finishing, but I have no choice but to charge more for it due to the time, effort and materials required. It takes around three hours per knife for certain materials.
The comb is 3/16” stainless with two extra thick tang pins. Each and every tooth on this comb is sawed into a stainless steel bar by hand: Batangas balisong combs take much longer to make than knives.
The housing on this comb is also hand formed stainless steel, which is lighter and more durable than the traditional brass. The blade features two tang pins to help reduce impact on the liners when the balisong is closed. The blade will still hit the liners when flipped closed, but the pin will reduce some of the shock and will also prevent the blade from rattling in the liners in the closed position.
This comb weighs in at 4.1 oz. There is a minor ding in one of the bolsters. $115. Please add $19 for hand finishing to 1000 grit if desired, which will substantially improve the fit and finish of the wood inserts to the bolsters and liners.
