Description
Walnut burl gives you figure without the price of exotic timber, on a D2 blade that asks very little of you.
| Overall length | 9.1 inches |
| Blade length | 4.4 inches |
| Handle length | 4.7 inches |
| Steel | D2 tool steel |
| Handle | – Stainless Steel with walnut burl wood Inserts |
Sits well with: someone who likes visible grain but does not want a knife that needs managing. Burl answers that. It is figured, it is domestic, and once stabilized it behaves better than most straight-grained hardwoods do.
What burl actually is
A burl is a growth abnormality, a mass of dormant buds that never became branches, growing in every direction at once. That is why the figure swirls instead of running in lines. It is also why untreated burl is unstable, since grain heading in all directions moves in all directions with humidity. Stabilized burl has resin drawn into the cell structure under vacuum, which locks it and makes it effectively waterproof. On a knife handle that is the only version worth having.
How it wears
Because the resin goes through the wood rather than sitting on top of it, a scratch does not break a finish and expose raw timber. There is no finish to break. Wear on stabilized burl looks like polishing rather than like damage. The color deepens a little with light exposure over years, and the figure becomes slightly more pronounced as the surrounding surface burnishes.
Choosing between the steels
No hardness figure is quoted for this model and it needs none to be judged. D2 is a die steel, chosen for abrasion resistance, and it will outlast a carbon blade between sharpenings by a wide margin. If you want to see where it lands against everything else we use, the knife steel chart puts the numbers in one place.
Care: stabilized wood is the least demanding handle material on this page. Wash it, wet it, ignore it, because the resin already fills the space water would occupy. Do not apply oil or wax, since nothing will go in and it will only sit on top. Attention belongs on the steel instead, and not much of it: dry it after use, put a light film of oil on it before storage, and leave it alone.
FAQs
Is stabilized wood still real wood? Yes. The grain and figure belong to the tree, and the resin only fills the voids between cells.
What are the darker or denser wood options? The brass and kamagong wood balisong uses one of the densest timbers going. For horn instead of wood on a patterned blade, the black horn and engraved brass balisong is worth a look.
Does burl weaken the handle? Not in an insert this size, and stabilization removes the question entirely.
Model: BMK-470
Still comparing? Our full range of butterfly knives for sale is one click away.
Olivia S. (verified owner) –
I recently added a steel butterfly knife from this shop to my collection, and it’s quickly become one of my prized possessions. The design and quality are exceptional.
Sophia D. (verified owner) –
I’m impressed with the attention to detail on the steel butterfly knife I got from this shop. It’s not just a tool; it’s a piece of art that I’m proud to own.
Samuel K. (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 treasured item in my collection.
Benjamin J. (verified owner) –
The steel butterfly knife I received from this store is visually stunning and incredibly functional. It’s now my go-to tool for various tasks. Highly recommended!
Liam R. (verified owner) –
The steel butterfly knife I purchased here is visually stunning and incredibly functional. It’s now my go-to tool for various tasks. Highly recommended!
Carol Perez –
My whole family passed this balisong around at dinner just to look at it. Handles have a great grip even during fast flips. Worth every penny.
Jeffrey Chavez –
Ordering again from this shop the second I finish writing this review. Handles have a great grip even during fast flips. Comes with a nice pouch which is a nice touch. Happy customer here, through and through.
Wayne Hernandez –
This balisong looks even better in person than in the listing photos. Handles have a great grip even during fast flips. Definitely bookmarking this shop for future orders.
Justin Adams –
This balisong completely won me over the moment I picked it up. Nice to support a Memphis based knife maker, shipping was fast even internationally.
Jerry Gutierrez –
Best balisong I’ve ever owned. Hands down. Every piece I’ve gotten from Black Mamba Knives has been solid. Action is smooth right out of the box, no break in needed. Exactly the kind of quality that keeps me coming back.
Laura Cruz –
Did not expect this level of quality for the price. Pivots feel dialed in with zero blade play. This one’s a keeper for sure.
Caleb Miller –
Set my expectations low going in and this blew right past them. Weight is perfectly balanced for flipping. Beyond happy with how this turned out.