Pinoy Steel.
The best handforged Filipino blades right to your door.
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Bringing you the finest Filipino blades from around the Archipelago! Balisongs and much, much more! Aluminum-handled balisong comb (sold out) and brass and bone labaha balisong NOW SOLD!
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From top to bottom:
1. Stainless bolsters, black all-weather matrix (made in North Carolina) inserts that look a lot like buffalo horn, but will never shrink or dry out, and a carbon steel ‘rambo’ blade. First time this material has ever been used on a FHM balisong. $120.
2. Brass bolsters, holly inserts from the US (the wood got stained with buffing compound, but it actually turned out looking pretty good!), and a hollowground ‘labaha’ (razor) blade. $75.
3. Brass bolsters, high-grade white holly inserts (again, from the US), and stainless steel comb. I’m the only one who has combs in the 9” size as they were my idea. If anyone else starts carrying them, you know who had them first. :) SOLD.
4. Absolutely beautiful 29. Stainless bolsters, zebrawood inserts (imported from Central Africa), carbon steel ‘dibuyod’ or cockfighting blade. If this one doesn’t sell within the next few days, I’m keeping it! SOLD.
5. Extra thick 29 balisong with brass bolsters, kamagong and jigged bone inserts and a double-edged dagger blade. Already a smooth flipper right from the makers. SOLD.
All prices include shipping and a free keychain of your choice! All of these items are unique and unavailable anywhere else with the exception of number 5, but as with all handmade items, it’s still one of a kind!
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New items for today (top to bottom):
1. 29 cm balisong trainer. One of the first for sale anywhere. Brass bolsters, jigged horse bone inserts and a 3/16” thick stainless steel ‘blade.’ SOLD.
2. Two firsts in one: 24 cm balisong trainer with stainless bolsters and blade, and micarta inserts. Nicest trainer made yet. SOLD.
3. 24 cm balisong trainer with brass bolsters and kamagong inserts. Beautiful combo and it’ll be a great flipper. SOLD.
4. 24 cm carbon steel rambo blade with stainless bolsters and American red elm inserts. Beautiful! $110.
5. Philippines eagle ‘Rambo’ blade in carbon steel with a bottle opener on the tang. Brass bolsters and kamagong inserts. SOLD.
6. Stainless balicomb, stainless bolsters and beautiful figured bubinga (imported from Africa) inserts. SOLD.
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A few months ago, I found the first balisong at the top for sale in the US. The seller didn’t know what it was, and honestly, I didn’t either. It had an extensive layer of rust on it and it looked pretty rough. I decided to take it off the seller’s hands. After looking at the picture of it some more, I realized there was a good chance it was an early FHM (Filipino hand-made) balisong.
Then I chanced upon the second and third balisongs. They were definitely FHMs, and I jumped at the chance to get older Batanguenyo balisongs as they are increasingly difficult to come across.
While they were on their way here from the US, I was in Batangas picking up the custom knives you’ve seen for sale over the last week. I got into a discussion with someone who’s been in the business for over thirty years. I asked him if he had any old—really old—balisongs, and he laughed, and said he didn’t have his lolo’s (grandfather’s) balisong, but he started looking for a pen. Being the EDC nut I’ve become, I whipped my Fisher Space Pen out of my Maxpedition M2 waistpack and he sketched out what his grandfather’s balisong looked like. Exactly like the balisong at the top.
The guy I was talking to was in his late 50s—his grandfather would have had his first balisong in his 20s, so his balisong would have been 80 years old at the very least. When I bought the balisong at the top, I had no idea I had chanced upon an antique Batangas balisong, but that’s exactly what I now have on my coffee table.
The second balisong has much thicker, all brass handles and a thick latch—it is from the 60s or 70s, I believe, and in outstanding condition. The horse bone has turned green with age, perhaps due to discoloration from the oxides in the brass.
The long 31 cm balisong under it is even older. It has flat bolsters (like the turn of the 20th century one at the top) and karabaw inserts with brass overlay, and an eagle tang. I had no idea that eagle tangs had been around that long. While the balisong is loose and there are cracks and pieces of the karabaw inserts are missing, it is still flippable, locks up tight and has no chips in the edge. It’s amazing how durable Filipino balisongs are, and these balisongs are a testament to their longevity!
The second last balisong is a recent custom I had made for myself. It has a bayonet blade and a pocket clip, and the inserts are smooth black karabaw horn.
The one on the bottom somewhat resembles the old 31 cm above it, although the overlay has changed and karabaw is far less common as a full-length insert than it once was. Also, the rambo blade is a relatively recent adaptation, as is the bottle opener on the tang.
I’ve been really lucky in terms of sourcing antique Pinoy blades recently. Before anyone asks: no, they’re not for sale. :)
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How balisong bolsters and latches have changed over the decades…
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New 24s for today:
1. Holly inserts that were accidentally stained with green buffing compound, brass bolsters and a RARE bayonet blade (carbon steel). $80.
2. Cocobolo, stainless bolsters and a bayonet blade (carbon steel). Definitely not a balisong you’ll see for sale in the Philippines! $120.
3. 24 cm balicomb with brass bolsters and figured bubinga inserts. As always, the comb is stainless steel. Another first right here at PinoySteel! SOLD. Up for grabs here before I put it on eBay.
4. Stainless bolsters, black all-weather matrix inserts that look and feel just like karabaw, but will not crack with age, and a carbon steel dibuyod pattern blade. $120.
5. This one’s special. Old school style balisong, but made about five years ago. Flat brass bolsters, all brass handles (no aluminum as is common on modern FHMs) and narra inserts and an early-to-mid 1900s style blade forged out of leaf spring steel. Filework on the tang and aluminum latch serve as a maker’s stamp. Aluminum latches are the smoothest opening of all and on this knife, provide some nice contrast to the brass. Some rust on the tang, but nothing major. I haven’t decided if I want to keep this one for my collection, but for now: $99.
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Filework on that last knife…
EDIT: Yes, I cut myself on a balisong, and I know my nails are dirty, but I’ve been polishing brass and steel all morning.
