Hey everyone, today we are going to be taking
a look at some of the best beginner balisongs,
so you can learn to flip a butterfly knife
with the best of them, and you can snag them
all over at knifecenter.com.
Balisongs, more commonly referred to as butterfly
knives have been widely popular for some time
now, and it is easy to see the appeal.
They have their roots in the Filipino martial
arts, but nowadays most people use them to
perform tricks.
You can see folks showing off their skills
in movies and all over the internet.
You’ve probably even seen our Photographer,
Graham, a time or two in our videos.
Thing is, it can be an intimidating hobby
to get into.
Not only can the tricks be difficult to master,
but you also have to decide which butterfly
knife to buy to get started.
Experienced flippers have a lot of strong
opinions on what is good or not, and sometimes
it can be hard to sort through.
If you are a beginner or even a novice looking
to upgrade, we want to make it as easy as
possible to enjoy this fun hobby, so here
are a few options that range in price and
performance that you ought to check out.
The first pick is the budget option.
For those of you who what to see if the Bali
world is right for you but you don’t want
to make a big investment right away, we carry
a range of options from Bear and Son.
These aren’t going to flip like a high-end
knife, but there is simply no better way to
get started without emptying your wallet.
They come in a lot of different handle and
blade combinations, here we have our KnifeCenter
Exclusive Copper vein handled version with
a tanto blade.
The biggest drawback of these knives is that
they don’t quite have the adjustability
that some of the more pricey butterfly knives
on the market.
The pivots are pinned and the tolerances out
of the box can be a little tight.
They do take a little breaking in before they
smooth out, but once they do, these are great
for learning the fundamentals and to see if
it is something you want to keep pursuing.
If you’re a bit intimidated about learning
tricks on a live blade, another option is
to pick up a trainer that doesn’t feature
a sharpened edge.
Speaking of trainers there is no shortage
of those on the market either that mimic their
live bladed counterparts.
But there are also options if you want a trainer
with a little bit of added utility.
Boker Magnum especially has produced some
cool offerings that actually flip decently,
including this bali comb, bali forks and spoons,
and it wouldn’t be a proper list if we didn’t
have something with a bottle opener...
The pivots on these tools are even adjustable.
Not only are they a great way to learn the
tricks, but they are also a nice conversation
starter at parties.
Another great trainer that has become a fast
favorite here at the Knife Center is the ArtisanCutlery
Kinetic-Tool.
In addition to multi-tool elements, including
a bottle opener, this balisong has an added
feature that we’ve never seen before, and
that is a spring-loaded, automatic “blade”.
Even more than the previous bali-tools, this
one will really be a hit at your next gathering.
The auto function doesn’t interfere with
the flipping action, which is actually pretty
good.
It’s single action allows it to spring open
or closed depending on your handle position,
and you’ve got the hex wrenches, screwdriver/pry
bar, ruler, and cap lifter to make it useful
beyond the trainer aspect.
You can get it with a variety of different
colors and handle materials, including this
KnifeCenter exclusive black and orange G10
variation which you can only get from us.
So what if you are looking for something a
little bit nicer?
Something that is relatively affordable, but
that you aren’t going to grow out of as
you improve on your skills?
For that, we have the Bradley Kimura.
You’re getting solid features that typically
cost more, such as adjustable pivots riding
on bronze washers.
You also get a set of colored G10 scales that
are removable so if you prefer to have more
traction in the hand or slimmer profile you
can modify it to fit your preferences.
The blade is a graceful spear point made from
154CM steel which means it actually has performance
potential with capable edge retention.
We have found these Kimuras to be excellent
butterfly knives for the price and it’s
perfect for beginners or the novice looking
to take the next step, or even more advanced
flippers looking for a good extra practice
option.
It has all the key features that a good balisong
needs and it won’t make you cry when you
open your wallet.
Sometimes though, you don’t want to make
excuses and want to step right up to a higher
end knife, one that experienced flippers respect
and that won’t let you down.
We think the Benchmade 51 Morpho is perfect
as it has top-notch construction, precise
fit and finish, and smooth action.
Benchmade’s legacy is directly tied to butterfly
knives, they were the first knives the company
ever produced, and they make some of the best
production balis we’ve seen.
The 51 is on this list because it sits in
a really nice sweet spot as the most affordable
Benchmade balisong, and is built so well that
it really could be the only balisong you’ll
ever need.
The handles on this knife are made from beautiful
jeweled titanium with a blue finish and G10
overlays that help keep the weight down while
also providing plenty of traction.
It features a spring-loaded latch that is
a cinch to disengage so you can get to flipping
quickly.
The spine of the blade is even crowned for
comfort which is a nice touch when it comes
to the overall feel.
Speaking of the blade, it is made with stonewashed
D2 tool steel, meaning even though you’ll
primarily use this knife for flipping you
can do some decent work if you want to.
So these are just some of the great beginner
balisongs that we carry, and we hope you’re
inspired to take up this rewarding hobby.
As you grow in your skills and confidence,
Knife Center has everything you need when
you are ready to step up, from great brands
like Benchmade and BRS, and even high-end
custom made and collectibles knives.
If you’re still on the fence about flipping
we are going to give you a chance to get started
today.
First, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and
then comment below on which of these balisongs
we featured is your favorite, and you’ll
be entered to win one of our KnifeCenter Exclusive
ArtisanCutlery Kinetic-Tools with black and
orange G10 scales.
You can find the full list of rules in the
description below, but if you want to get
your hands on any of these great items right
now, click the link in the description below
to head over to KnifeCenter.com
