A balisong is a folding knife with two handles that rotate around the tang, so the blade sits hidden between them when closed and swings free with a flick of the wrist. It is the Filipino butterfly knife – and the name comes from Batangas province, where smiths have been making them by hand for well over a century. Every balisong on this page is forged in our own Memphis workshop, not stamped out of a machine.
We build them the way they were meant to be built: layered high-carbon Damascus, hammer-folded to 352 layers, oil tempered to 58-60 HRC, then acid etched so the pattern reads down the whole blade. Handles are cut from stag antler, buffalo horn, camel bone, rosewood, olive wood, micarta, brass and pearl shell, with hand-fitted pins and a latch that closes with a clean click. Because the Damascus pattern is created in the fire, no two of these knives look alike.
What is a balisong? A butterfly knife – a folder with two counter-rotating handles and a free-swinging blade. Closed, the blade is fully enclosed. Opened, the handles lock together to form a single solid grip. There is no spring and no lock bar; the geometry does the work.
Balisong or butterfly knife – is there a difference? No. They are the same knife. “Balisong” is the Filipino name and the older one; “butterfly knife” is the English description of how it opens. Collectors tend to say balisong, and traditionalists reserve it for the Batangas pattern.
How do I choose one? Three things decide how a balisong feels. Blade length – 3 to 4 inches is the practical everyday size; longer blades look dramatic but are slower in the hand. Handle material – brass and horn are heavy and swing with momentum, wood and bone are lighter and quicker. Balance – a blade-heavy knife opens fast, a handle-heavy one is easier to control. If you are buying your first, pick a mid-weight 3.5 inch with a horn or wood handle.
Are these trainers or live blades? Live blades. Every balisong we sell is sharpened and heat treated for real cutting. We do not make blunt trainers, so if you are learning to flip, learn on a trainer first and keep these for carry and collection.
Are butterfly knives legal? Rules vary by state and country – please check your local law before ordering.
How do I look after one? Damascus is high-carbon, not stainless. Wipe the blade dry after handling, put a light film of mineral oil on it every few weeks, and add a drop of oil to the pivots so the action stays smooth. Store it outside the leather sheath so no moisture gets trapped.
What comes with it? A hand-stitched leather sheath, a certificate of authenticity, care instructions, free expedited shipping inside the US and a lifetime warranty on our workmanship.
Browse by handle material: brass balisongs, wood handle balisongs, stainless steel balisongs.
