Description
Water buffalo horn against polished brass, which is the entire visual idea of this knife and the reason it keeps selling. The panels are near-black with a little tan marbling in the relief, the bolsters are bright, and the satin blade carries jimping filed into the spine ahead of the pivot with two holes bored through the flat.
| Overall length | 9.1 inches |
| Blade length | 4.4 inches |
| Handle length | 4.7 inches |
| Steel | D2 tool steel |
| Handle | – Brass with buffalo Horn Inserts |
Near-black, and evenly so
Buffalo is the darkest horn fitted anywhere in this line. Where antler and ram horn show streaking and grooves that draw the eye, buffalo tends toward a solid near-black broken only by occasional lighter marbling, so from a few feet away it simply reads as a dark handle and only gives up its grain when you bring it close. Set beside brass that has been polished bright, that flat darkness is what makes the contrast work. A busier panel would fight the metal instead of framing it.
An old format, not a new idea
Horn set into metal handles is close to what smiths in Batangas were genuinely building: local, durable, unglamorous materials chosen because they lasted and because they were there, not because they photographed well. The blade sitting slightly shorter than the handles that carry it comes out of the same practical tradition, since a blade that overshoots gets damaged and a blade that hides is safe to carry closed. Where the balisong came from fills in the background if the shape interests you more than the specification does.
Keeping it dark
Horn dries out. Carried through a winter in a dry-heated house it can shrink very slightly against its brass surround, which shows up as a hairline at the edge of a panel rather than as a crack across it. Oiling two or three times a year prevents that outright, and which oils are appropriate is worth reading before you reach for whatever is under the sink, because a few common household products will haze horn permanently.
The brass will age unless you stop it
Left alone, polished brass goes honey and then brown, and a lot of owners deliberately let it, because aged brass beside black horn looks older than it is in a way that suits the knife. Metal polish on a soft cloth takes it back to bright whenever you want, provided you keep the compound clear of the horn and out of the pin heads.
Ground and fitted in Tennessee
Profile, drilling, heat treat, panel fitting, pinning, sharpening and the final open-and-close test all happen in our Memphis shop, and the knife leaves with a black leather belt carrier, stitched and riveted by hand. For the same buffalo horn against a plain high carbon blade at a similar price, there is the high carbon buffalo horn balisong. Please satisfy yourself about local law ahead of ordering. The guarantee has no end date.
Model: BMK-465
Mia L. (verified owner) –
This store is a must-visit for butterfly knife enthusiasts. The knife I received is a masterpiece in steel, and it has quickly become a cherished item in my collection.
Daniel S. (verified owner) –
I recently added a steel butterfly knife from this shop to my collection, and it has quickly become one of my most cherished pieces. The design and quality are exceptional.
Emily W. (verified owner) –
The steel butterfly knife I received from this store is visually captivating and incredibly functional. It’s now my go-to tool for various tasks. Highly recommended!
Ruth Foster –
Was nervous ordering something like this online but so glad I did. This flips cleaner than knives twice the price. Handles have a great grip even during fast flips. Blade came shaving sharp straight out of the box. Exactly the kind of quality that keeps me coming back.
Logan Kelly –
This balisong completely won me over the moment I picked it up. Pivots feel dialed in with zero blade play. Already thinking about what to order next from this seller.
Devin Williams –
Couldn’t ask for a better balisong honestly. This maker just earned a repeat customer.
Brandon Bishop –
This showed up faster than expected and looked incredible. Pivots feel dialed in with zero blade play. Proud to support American made goods out of Memphis with this purchase. Can’t say enough good things about this purchase.
Linda Peterson –
Can’t stop showing this off to everyone who comes over. Weight is perfectly balanced for flipping. Black Mamba Knives keeps setting the bar higher with each order. Would not hesitate to order again.
Douglas Nguyen –
This showed up faster than expected and looked incredible. Zero complaints from me on this purchase.
Andrew Rodriguez –
This balisong is stellar. No question about it. Handles have a great grip even during fast flips. Bushings feel buttery smooth after just a bit of use. This is my new favorite in the collection.
Stephanie Ross –
Middle of the road experience with this one. Blade needed some sharpening once it arrived. Could go either way on recommending this.