High Carbon Steel Filipino Balisongs Butterfly Stainless Steel with Walnut Burl Wood Inserts Black Mamba Knives World Class Knives | BMK-446

Description

Brass handles with walnut burl set into them, and a high carbon blade that takes a genuinely keen edge.

Who buys this one: flippers who have outgrown a trainer, and collectors who want a piece that works rather than one that only poses. The hand fitting is the point. Pivots are set by hand, and the action carries a weight and rhythm that stamped production balisongs never quite find.

Brass, and what it does to the flip

Brass is heavy for its size. Putting it in the handles moves mass away from the pivot, which slows the rotation and makes the swing feel deliberate instead of twitchy. Most beginners find that easier to learn on. Against 4.4 inches of blade and 9.1 inches overall, the balance sits close to the pivot, so the handles fall through the arc rather than needing to be thrown. How a balisong is built explains what changes when the handle material changes.

Walnut burl

Burl is the figured wood that forms where a tree has grown around an injury, so the grain swirls instead of running straight. It is prized precisely because it is unpredictable, and the inserts on your knife will not match anyone else’s. Walnut is also lighter than the dense exotics, which stops the handles becoming heavy at the wrong end.

Care

This blade is high carbon steel, so it does want looking after. Dry it every time it gets wet, including from your own hands, and give the flats a thin smear of oil every few weeks, more often in a humid climate. Left alone the steel will darken into a grey patina, which is protective and perfectly normal. Orange rust is the thing to head off. Brass dulls to a warm tone by itself, and you can either leave it or bring it back with metal polish. Keep polish and oil off the wood. Which oil to use is worth two minutes if you have never owned a carbon blade.

Questions about this balisong

How does it compare to a tool steel version? The D2 walnut burl balisong gives up a little of that easy edge in return for far less upkeep.

Can the pivots be tightened? Yes. A quarter turn usually removes any play that develops after heavy flipping.

Is it legal where I live? Rules on these differ by state and by country, so please confirm yours ahead of ordering.

Does it arrive sharp? Yes, sharpened before it leaves the bench. If you are learning tricks, most people practice on a dull trainer first.

Made in Memphis, Tennessee. A blunt edge and a patina count as wear rather than faults, and everything else is covered for life.

Model: BMK-446