Pinoy Steel.
The best handforged Filipino blades right to your door.
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Kamagong and stainless bente kwatros.
Two very attractive knives and a very solid trainer up for grabs!
From top to bottom:
1. Made by the best makers around. 23 cm long (just over 9”) with stainless bolsters and almost pitch black kamagong scales. Interesting bayonet-ground labaha blade. I’ve never seen a grind quite like this one and I like it! Carbon spring steel blade. This knife had a wire edge, but I sharpened it up on diamond rods and it is much better now. Some very minor forging marks on the ricasso. Edge grind is not quite perfect, but this is still a beautiful and unique knife that only weighs 4 oz. $99.
2. 23 cm mirror polished carbon steel kris blade. Stainless bolsters, liners and latch and dark brown kamagong scales. Very well ground. Again, some very minor forging marks on the tang. Very nice knife and one I’d be proud to own! Also by the best makers. 4 oz. SOLD.
3. Solid 28 cm balisong trainer. Built just like an FHM balisong (it can even be ground to shape). Slightly overheated tip (see the discoloration), which means the tip has lost temper, but for a trainer that will be dropped, this is a good thing as the steel will be softer. Nice, thick brass and bone handles and a thick carbon steel blade in the buyod (bowie) pattern. These trainers have been very popular with my buyers. Not made by the best makers, so it is perhaps a little less refined, but it is a good, solid trainer at a great price. 7.5 oz. $85.
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Training is everything.
Four items to start off the week with. I should be putting a lot of good balisongs and fixed blades up before the weekend, so stay tuned!
From top to bottom:
1. This beautiful bente nueve measures in at just over 29 cm. It has a well ground carbon spring steel bayonet blade. Please note there is a tiny forge mark on the ricasso that was an inevitable result of when the leaf spring used to make this tough blade was forged to shape by hand.
The bolsters, liners and latch are 300 series stainless steel (the type of surgical steel used for jewelry). The scales are lovely Philippines ebony, aka kamagong. There are some marks on the kamagong from storage in the Philippines, but nothing major. There is also some nice, bold figuring visible on the kamagong up close. Very nice knife. 5.5 oz. Discounted at $115.
2. This balisong trainer was not made the best makers in Batangas, but it is a solid, reliable trainer that would serve you well, even if it isn’t the prettiest. It measures in at 23 cm and has a hand forged carbon steel blade without an edge and point. It could, of course, have an edge put on it if so desired. The bolsters are classic brass, as is the latch, and the liners are stainless steel (the most common combination nowadays). The scales are traditional Batangas horse bone. There is a darker portion to one of the inserts that indicates it was cut from the end of a bone. This is purely aesthetic. This knife is ready to flip, straight from the makers. 6.7 oz. Discounted because of the darker area on the bone. $59.
3. This trainer was made by the best makers in Batangas and it shows. It measures in at 23 cm and has a 300-series stainless training blade. This blade is built thicker than usual to make it more durable. Stainless steel is not as durable as spring steel, so the extra thickness helps ensure it will stand up to the rigors of training. 300-series stainless is extremely corrosion resistant, so this trainer will only require minimal maintenance. Carbon steel will rust if it is not taken care of. Which steel to pick is ultimately your decision! The bolsters and latch on this knife are traditional brass. The scales are beautiful smooth horse bone. There is a small ding in one of the bolsters, so this knife is discounted. 6.5 oz. SOLD.
4. This last trainer was also made by the best makers around. It also measures in at 23 cm and has a 300-series stainless ‘blade.’ The bolsters and latch are brass, and the liners are stainless. The best FHM trainer you’ll find anywhere! 6.7 oz. SOLD.
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Buyods, Bayonets and Taris.
The first and third balisongs are still available. The rest are now sold.
I really like today’s selections! These took me longer than I thought they would to post, but I think they were worth the wait. I spent a lot of time on these knives, and I think they are all beautiful pieces. Let me know if you agree!
From top to bottom:
1. This balisong measures in at just a hair over 29 cm, making it a true bente nueve. It is built slightly slimmer than average (but only slightly). It features a carbon steel buyod blade with a central ridge. This is the navaja-style profile that was seen on the first balisongs. Of course, this blade wasn’t hand ground on a carbide stone the old fashioned way, but it strongly resembles the buyods of the ’60s and ’70s.
The inserts on this bali are beautifully figured Central American cocobolo with a more orange color. I hand finished this wood to 2000 grit, which really took it up several notches by drastically improving the appearance of the wood and the insert to bolster/stainless housing fit! Each of the stainless bolsters is pinned twice for durability.
This blade was very nicely ground.
The lengthwise figuring is bold and nicely matched on both inserts.
Two extra-thick tang pins aid durability and lockup.
The inserts on this side of the bente nueve match just as well as the inserts on the other side.
Decided to sneak my Southwestern fire agate ring into this picture: I felt the color of the agate complemented the reddish-orange of the cocobolo.
This is a great bali in every way, and one I’d be happy to own myself! 6.2 oz. $165.
2. This balisong measures in at 29.2 cm. It features beautiful brown Indian buffalo horn inserts and a carbon steel weehawk grind with a well executed guard.
This horn has beautiful light and burnt caramel tones: it looks like hard candy.
The top bolsters are double pinned.
The guard was very nicely ground.
There is a hairline crack near the top pins on one of the inserts on this side.
Also, the swedge isn’t ground as evenly as it could have been: unfortunately, no craftsman can execute grinds perfectly 100% of the time.
The edge was also ground slightly off center, but the pics make it look worse than it is!
The latch was fileworked by the maker. This is a beautiful balisong with a few issues, so it is discounted. 7 oz. $135.
3. This 28.7 cm bente nueve was refurbished: one of the liners split while one of my buyers was flipping it. I had the liner replaced with a thicker one. I do not recommend flipping this one, or most FHMs, closed. The impact of the blade on the liners will take a toll on both. Good FHMs have always been made with the goal of maximizing the size of blade within the handles, and this one definitely fits the bill. It has a beautifully executed carbon steel tari blade with a deep hollow grind.
These inserts are ivory G-10 that was hand finished to 2000 grit. You may not be able to make it out in the pictures, but there is subtle grain that looks almost organic: kind of like ivory in a way!
This blade is absolutely a work of art. I love the upswept tip on this tari. I wanted this knife when it first sold, and I may just keep this one!
Two extra thick tang pins on this one: definitely a Pinoy Steel bente nueve!
Each of the bolsters features a single steel rivet.
This is a beautiful balisong that has been restored and cleaned up: it is now in even better shape than before! 6.2 oz. $165.
4. This 22.8 cm balisong was built wider than usual: a lot of Batanguenyos prefer pieces like this one, and this one was made for the locals by the best makers. It therefore only features one tang pin and single pinned brass bolsters. Rest assured, however, that I have gone out of my way to get it looking even better than before!
The inserts are blood red narra: some of the darkest heartwood I’ve ever seen. I only see this narra on a select few balisongs. If it wasn’t for the fine grain, it would be hard to tell it apart from kamagong. Sandwiched between the narra is jigged horse bone I have carefully cleaned up.
Thi grind is a beauty. This buyod features a very attractive shallow swedge.
Hand finishing this wood to 2000 grit was no easy task, but it brought out color and figuring that would never have been visible otherwise!
There is a small forging mark on the ricasso on this side of the balisong.
This is a special piece: I don’t come across too many extra wide pieces in this combination and size from these makers. Definitely a great one for any FHM collection! 5.3 oz. A steal at only SOLD.
5. Here’s something I haven’t offered in a while: a carbon steel training balisong! This one is ground more like a blade. For you sport flippers out there: this one is not for you unless you intend on only flipping your bali open. These are made for martial artists who want to practice speed openings and work blade techniques with or without a partner. It measures in at 23.9 cm. It features double pinned brass bolsters and two extra thick tang pins.
This is a Pinoy Steel trainer, so it has been hand finished to 2000 grit. If you have a hand finished kamagong balisong from me that you carry for personal protection and you wish to practice balisong techniques with a partner, you need one of these!
There are a few pits on the blade that I have buffed clean: this was due to poor storage conditions in the Philippines. The holes drilled through the blade mean this trainer can be imported into Australia.
The hand forged carbon steel blade is as tough as the real blades. It is 3/16” thick at the ricasso. Since it is not ground thinner, the balance is slightly further forward than on a live balisong.
This trainer is a beauty with the hand finishing, and it features some of the nicest kamagong heartwood with subtle figuring. It also features a nice, thick brass latch. 6 oz. SOLD.
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12.6” Hand Forged Carbon Steel Dagger Trainer / Throwing Knife / Knife Blank from Cebu!
SOLD.
This piece was expertly forged in Cebu by blacksmiths who forge working tools every single day. This is a well hardened 5160 trainer. The forge does make aluminum trainers for the local arnis schools: I requested trainers in carbon steel since I much prefer the weight and feel of real steel myself. These are the first steel trainers they’ve ever made, so they’re not quite ready for use as trainers without a little modification.
This trainer is a whopping 1lb 1oz. It is 9/32” thick and has a rounded point and false edges. Due to its weight, I do not recommend using it for training unless the point and edges are ground down as the possibility of injury or death is pretty high: it wouldn’t take much to stab someone with one of these.
The handle is 16.5 cm long (6.5”). The balance point is 4.75” from the end of the handle.
The blade is pointed enough for it to be used as a weapon or even a throwing knife. Being solid (and thick) hand forged carbon steel, it is extremely durable. Alternatively, you could make a full tang knife with this by using it as a blank: it would make a very nice knife indeed.
1 lb 1 oz. SOLD.
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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.
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Bushings and springs.
China is changing rapidly. Chinese consumers now demand better quality products, and imports from the US to China are growing rapidly. There is even an active flipping scene with some very talented flippers. Like in the US, the Benchmade 42 is considered the best butterfly knife out there for artistic manipulation. Of course, it is well out of most Chinese flippers’ reach: prices in China for BM 42s are at least US$100 higher than on the American secondary market.
Enter the dragon: these Chinese-made butterfly knives are much better than any other balisongs I’ve ever seen coming out of China. In fact, in some ways, they’re better than the Benchmade 42.
From top to bottom:
1.This balisong measures in at 23 cm. It does not feature handle skeletonizing like the other knives from this small production facility, but it does feature a beautiful woven texture that I believe is CNC-machined into the handles. These knives are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. These knives also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The pattern looks almost organic (like a handwoven basket) and also provides excellent texture for manipulation.
The blade (like the handles) is 420 stainless steel. While the blade is not hardened for maximum cutting performance, it sharpens up easily and can take a good edge. It also takes a good polish and is highly corrosion resistant: perfect for the flippers. Of course, 420 steel can’t compare to the high carbon steel used on Filipino knives as far as toughness goes, but these knives are made for completely different uses.
The blade has a guard and very thick tang pins. The blade is hollowground with a thicker, rounded tip.
You can see the four screws used for assembly better in this picture. These knives really flip like lightning and are very, very smooth.
The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
This model weighs in at 4.4 oz. I have two in stock at this time. $75.
2. 1.This balisong measures in at 23 cm. It features the handle skeletonizing that many flippers are fond of, and it also features a beautiful woven texture that I believe is CNC-machined into the handles. These knives are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. These knives also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The pattern looks almost organic (like a handwoven basket) and also provides excellent texture for manipulation. The holes make for lighter handles and also provide texture for better grip, and some people just find the skeletonizing attractive.
The blade (like the handles) is 420 stainless steel. While the blade is not hardened for maximum cutting performance, it sharpens up easily and can take a good edge. It also takes a good polish and is highly corrosion resistant: perfect for the flippers. Of course, 420 steel can’t compare to the high carbon steel used on Filipino knives as far as toughness goes, but these knives are made for completely different uses.
The blade has a guard and very thick tang pins. The blade is hollowground with a thicker, rounded tip.
You can see the four screws used for assembly better in this picture. These knives really flip like lightning and are very, very smooth.
The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
With the skeletonizing, this model weighs in at a very nice 4 oz. I have two in stock at this time. $85.
3. This balisong measures in at 23 cm. It features the handle skeletonizing many flippers drool over. These knives are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. These knives also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The classic smooth handles and skeletonizing are very attractive and provide for just the right amount of texture for flipping. The screw heads are less visible on the handles since both the handles and the screw heads have been ground level and buffed.
The blade (like the handles) is 420 stainless steel. While the blade is not hardened for maximum cutting performance, it sharpens up easily and can take a good edge. It also takes a good polish and is highly corrosion resistant: perfect for the flippers. Of course, 420 steel can’t compare to the high carbon steel used on Filipino knives as far as toughness goes, but these knives are made for completely different uses.
The blade has a guard and very thick tang pins. The blade is hollowground with a thicker, rounded tip.
The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
This style weighs in at only 4 oz. I have one in stock at this time. $69.
4. This balisong measures in at 23.3 cm. It features the handle skeletonizing many flippers drool over. These knives are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. These knives also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The classic smooth handles and skeletonizing are very attractive and provide for just the right amount of texture for flipping. The screw heads are less visible on the handles since both the handles and the screw heads have been ground level and buffed.
The blade is a spearpoint (only sharpened on one side) and is very attractive. The entire knife is 420 stainless steel, which is a good, durable and corrosion resistant choice for the flippers out there.
The blade is nicely finished and features two extra thick tang pins for rock solid lockup. These have been proven to be very durable, but of course, no knife should be dropped on concrete or tile repeatedly!
The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
This style weighs in at 4.1 oz. Out of stock. $69.
5. This balisong trainer measures in at 22.6 cm. This one is from the same production facility as the live balisongs with bushings that I offer. It features the handle skeletonizing many flippers drool over. These knives, trainers and combs are sandwich construction, and the heads of the screws are locked tight and ground flat, so there are no worries about screws backing out. They also have bushings in the pivots, that pretty much alleviate all blade play, and they also have a unique spring latch design that works quite well.
The classic smooth handles and skeletonizing are very attractive and provide for just the right amount of texture for flipping. The screw heads are less visible on the handles since both the handles and the screw heads have been ground level and buffed.
The blade (like the handles) is 420 stainless steel. It takes a good polish and is highly corrosion resistant: perfect for the flippers. Of course, 420 steel can’t compare to the high carbon steel used on Filipino knives as far as toughness goes, but these trainers are made for completely different uses.
The blade has a guard and very thick tang pins. This a great trainer for martial artists and flippers alike.
The bushings in the pivots are a feature commonly only seen on high grade custom balisongs that cost $500 or more: they really work very well.
You can see the spring latch assembly here. I ensure the craftsmen check out each and every spring latch before shipment. In the early days, there were some issues, but every latch in this batch pops up well.
This trainer weighs in at 4.8 oz. I only have one of this model at this time. $65.
