Description
Cream bone panels between hand-engraved metal bolsters, on an eight-inch traditional Filipino frame carrying a forge-welded blade with a swept belly. The BMK-2016 is our Ultra Line answer for a collector who wants a handle that stays exactly as it is, year after year, with no patina and no movement. Made on our benches in Memphis.
| Overall length | 8 inches |
| Blade length | 3.5 inches |
| Handle length | 4.5 inches |
| Steel | 1095 + 15N20 Damascus, 352 layers |
| Hardness | 58–60 HRC, oil tempered |
| Weight | 7.23 oz |
| Handle | Brass Engraved With Camel Bone Handle |
Why camel and not cattle
Camel bone is denser and less porous than the cattle bone used on most budget folders, which is the practical reason it is worth cutting into knife scales at all. It polishes to a low waxy sheen rather than the glassy shine plastic gives, and it holds the pale cream-to-tan color you see in the photographs naturally, with no dye involved. The grain is a fine speckle instead of a figure, so it stays quiet next to the engraved metal rather than competing with it for attention.
The honest drawback
Bone is brittle in a way neither horn nor wood is. Drop this onto tile and a corner can chip. There is no springing back, and a chip is a repair job rather than a polishing job. That is the trade you accept in exchange for a material that will never warp, never absorb oil, and never shift against its pins through a humid summer. If maximum durability under abuse is the priority, look elsewhere in the range. If you want a handle that looks the same in twenty years as it does the day the box arrives, bone is the only material we offer that genuinely delivers it.
What the Ultra Line designation buys
Bench time after the knife already works. Pin heads dressed flush, the bone brought level with the metal by hand so the seam vanishes under a fingertip, and the engraving cut after fitting rather than before it. Run a thumb across the joint between bone and metal: on a standard build you can feel where one stops and the other starts, and here you should not. For the same bone paired with black horn bolsters on a D2 blade, there is an 11-inch alternative, and for horn instead of bone at a much lower price the brass and buffalo horn balisong is the one to compare.
The blade profile
The blade is ground with a deep belly and a raised swell along the spine, which is a hunting shape rather than a spear point, and it changes how the knife feels rolling closed — the weight is a fraction further forward on the blade side than a straight profile puts it. The steel is 1095 laminated with 15N20, oil quenched and tempered into the high fifties, then etched to bring the layering up. Sharp on arrival and easily brought back on a stone.
Care in three lines
Dry the steel and keep a thin film of oil on it, because none of this billet is stainless. Leave the bone alone; it wants nothing, absorbs nothing and dislikes nothing except impact. Keep abrasive polish away from the engraved metal, where the cuts are only thousandths deep and every polish takes a little of them away.
From our shop in Tennessee
Forged, ground, heat treated, engraved and assembled here, then shipped in a protective box with a lifetime warranty. This is a collection and display piece, not a working tool, and ownership rules for balisongs vary by state and country — please confirm yours first.
Model: BMK-2016
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William S. (verified owner) –
“I received my package today, and I’m thrilled with my purchase. The quality of the knife I got is outstanding. It’s a functional piece of art that I’m proud to own.”
Natalie G. (verified owner) –
“I’m a collector of unique blades, and I must say, the one I got from here is a standout piece. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are remarkable. A must-visit store for knife enthusiasts!”
Michael P. (verified owner) –
“I’m very satisfied with my recent purchase from this website. The knife I received is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. It’s a testament to the skill of the makers.”
Carol Sanchez –
This turned out to be way better than I thought it would be. Blade came shaving sharp straight out of the box. Can’t say enough good things about this purchase.
Deborah Jefferson –
My brother was speechless when I showed them this balisong. Bushings feel buttery smooth after just a bit of use. This shop clearly takes pride in their work.
Alexander Gomez –
This balisong punches way above its price point. Ordered from Black Mamba Knives before and the quality stays consistent every time. 10/10 would buy again. Made in the USA and shipped worldwide with no issues on my end.
Nathan Wright –
Didn’t think a balisong at this price could feel this premium.
Jerry Parker –
Ordered late at night on a whim and woke up glad I did. Handles have a great grip even during fast flips. Blade came shaving sharp straight out of the box. This flips cleaner than knives twice the price. Exactly the kind of quality that keeps me coming back.
Patricia Myers –
This is the kind of balisong you show off without even meaning to. Bushings feel buttery smooth after just a bit of use. Telling everyone I know to check this seller out.