Description
Solid copper handles, engraved by hand, on a Damascus balisong that comes in at 7.23 ounces. Copper is a strange thing to build a knife handle from, and that is precisely the reason this one exists.
| 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 | Copper Handle |
Chosen by: people who want an object rather than a tool. Open, it measures eight inches, and the blade is 3.5 of them, which is a comfortable everyday size, but the handles are what you are paying for.
Copper will change color, and should
Fresh copper is pink-orange and it does not stay that way. Handling drives it browner within weeks, and across the first year the engraved recesses go darker still because they hold skin oil and air where the raised surfaces get rubbed clean. The effect is that the pattern becomes more legible the longer you own it, not less. If you would rather have the bright finish back, any copper polish returns it, though you will lose that contrast and it will start again.
Engraving that is cut, not pressed
The scrollwork is chased into the metal with a graver, which is why the lines have varying depth and why the two handles are close but not identical. Copper is soft enough to cut cleanly and soft enough to show a slip, so the work is unforgiving. A pressed or cast pattern would be uniform and shallow, and it would wear away at the contact points instead of deepening.
An eight inch balisong in the hand
Eight inches is the size most people settle on. Long enough that the rotation is readable and a missed catch is recoverable, short enough for a pocket. The copper puts the weight in the handles rather than the blade, which makes the knife feel planted through a rollover. It also makes it noisier than a wood-handled balisong, which some owners like.
Living with copper: Two different materials, two different habits. The blade is pattern-welded carbon steel: dry it, oil it, do not store it wet. The copper needs no protection at all — the tarnish is the finish — but keep metal polish away from the etched blade, since it will strip the pattern contrast. Wash your hands after long handling sessions; copper leaves a smell and a faint green mark on skin, which is normal and harmless.
Patina and care questions
Can I stop it tarnishing? Not really, and lacquering it tends to look worse than the patina does. Polish it back whenever you want it bright.
Is copper heavy enough to matter? Yes. At 7.23 ounces this is a dense knife for its length, and you feel it in the handles rather than the tip.
How does it compare to the brass-handled version? Brass stays closer to gold and tarnishes more slowly. The engraved-handle Damascus balisong is the other approach. Whether the premium is worth it at all is the subject of are Damascus knives worth it.
Model: BMK-2020
Benjamin D. (verified owner) –
“I’m very happy with my purchase from this website. The knife I received is beautifully made, and it’s a standout piece in my collection.”
Mia M. (verified owner) –
“The knife I bought from this store is absolutely stunning. The level of detail in the design is impressive, and it’s a pleasure to own.”
Oliver R. (verified owner) –
“I’m thoroughly impressed with the quality of the knife I received. It’s clear that the makers put a lot of effort into creating these exceptional pieces.”