Description
A shaped D2 blade on black horn and brass. The profile is swept and recurved through the belly, carries a run of three drilled holes near the spine, and opens into a fluted fan at the ricasso that gives the knife its eagle name. Against that, the handle is deliberately quiet.
| Overall length | 9.1 inches |
| Blade length | 4.4 inches |
| Handle length | 4.7 inches |
| Steel | D2 tool steel |
| Handle | – Black Horn and Brass Bolsters |
A shaped blade, and what that costs you
This blade is cut to a curved, swept profile rather than a plain clip, and the sweep of it is clear in the photographs. Know what a shaped blade asks of you before buying one. A curved edge is slower to bring back than a flat one because you have to roll the steel across the stone to hold a constant angle along the sweep, and a fine point is something you can bend if you treat it as a pry bar. This shape was chosen to be looked at.
Black horn against brass bolsters
Black horn is the plainest material fitted to any handle in this range, and that is exactly right for a blade already carrying a lot of visual interest. The brass bolsters at either end pick up a warm tone without introducing any pattern of their own. The result is a loud blade on a quiet handle, which is the more restful way round.
Cleaning and sharpening the curves
A profiled blade traps grime in its curves the way a straight one does not, particularly at the transition into the point. Use a soft brush there rather than a cloth; the method in the cleaning walkthrough still applies, with that one addition. For sharpening you want a small round or half-round stone rather than a flat bench stone. D2’s position on the steel chart explains both halves of the bargain: slow to dull, and slow to sharpen. If the black horn appeals but you prefer steel bolsters to brass, that is the black horn balisong with engraved steel bolsters at $237.
The holes and the fluting
The drilled holes near the spine are not only decoration. They pull a small amount of weight out of the far end of the blade, which brings the balance back toward the pivots and makes the knife turn more willingly than a solid blade of the same length. The fluted section behind them is cut by hand, one groove at a time, and it is the part of this knife that will not be identical to the next one off the bench.
Fit and finish
Panels are set flush with the brass and pinned so there is no lip for a finger to catch during a rotation. The pivots are set by hand to a tension that swings freely without rattling, and can be adjusted later as the knife wears in. The blade is finished satin, which is the sensible choice on a shape with this many curves, because a mirror polish would show every wipe mark.
Sheath, law and origin
A brown leather belt sheath with a stamped border comes with it. Confirm what your state or country allows regarding balisong ownership before you place an order. Profiling, fluting, heat treatment, handle fitting and the final edge are all carried out in Memphis, Tennessee, and the knife is covered for life against defects in the way we made it.
Model: BMK-737
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