There is one question that I have asked to many knife enthusiasts. “Which is the most interesting / unique knife they have ever owned? To a few, it was a karambit. But, to most of them, including me, it is the butterfly knife. It is one of the exotic blades that have certain interesting stories associated with them. Famous for their quick concealment and deployment, these knives worth being added to your knife collection. But, are they really effective as a weapon? I am presenting a brief review of the balisong in this article by revealing both its advantages and drawbacks. But, first let me disclose what exactly a butterfly knife is.
What is a Butterfly Knife?
Butterfly knife, also called a balisong, is one of the notable blades in the modern days. These butterfly knives were originated during the 18th century. However, there is a slight controversy regarding the place of origin because both Philippines and French claim that they invented this knife. What special about this knife is its unique design. In fact, there is no other knife with a design similar to that of a balisong.
There are a couple of counter rotating handles that conceal the blade inside and expose it when opened. The steel made blade is usually sharpened from one end. The handles are also often made of steel, but consist of several other materials based on the style of the knife. Brass and wood are the other renowned materials used for constructing the handles of this knife. A latch is often found at the end of the handles that assists in keeping the handles locked and avoiding any unnecessary opening.
Reviewing the Butterfly Knife
When we conduct a review of something, we tend to see both the positive and negative sides of it. However, in case of a weapon, we should also perform some comparison of the weapon with other weapons. So, as we are reviewing the butterfly knife, we would first compare it with other bladed weapons to figure out how it differs from them.
When compared to other knives and bladed weapons, butterfly knife comes as a completely different blade. There is no other knife that features two handles. Also, no other knife can conceal the blade with that efficiency that a balisong does. For example, a pocket knife may conceal the blade inside the handle, but one can identify that the handle includes a knife. The balisong, when closed, seems like an ordinary stick. So, one can’t identify the blade. Therefore, the blade is well concealed in the two handles.
So, it’s the shape, deployment mechanism, and design that differ a butterfly knife from other types of knives. But, as we are reviewing this knife, it is necessary to uncover its pros and cons.
Pros:-
- Easiest to carry knife. The overall size is reduced when closing the two handles and concealing the blade between them. So, absolutely no weight and size to carry.
- The blade can be quickly and easily concealed.
- A trainer butterfly knife with a blunt blade is also available for learning and training purpose.
- Quick deployment. Just flipping it with one hand would deploy the blade.
- No need to carry a protective sheath because the blade is locked inside the handles with a very powerful locking mechanism.
- Some practice would enable you to deploy the blade with just one hand.
- Simplest and easy locking mechanism, usually a latch.
Cons:-
- One of the most dangerous knives to handle. If you are not proficient enough, you may drop the knife during a combat and suffer a serious accidental injury.
- To learn using a balisong, you need to undergo days of training.
- Hardest to use knife, and certainly not a beginner friendly like some folding knives.
- To get skilled with this type of knife, you need to spend your maximum time with the knife.
The Last Word
Like all other types of blades, butterfly knife has a share of pros and cons. However, concluding the review, I would suggest that it is a worthy addition to your collection of knives. To me, the advantages of this knife slightly overcome the drawbacks. With the lightning fast deployment and quick concealment, it can be an ideal choice as a self defense weapon.
However, one must be well-trained before getting his hands on this knife. It is easy to carry, but certainly not easy to use. You need to undergo a lot of training, which is essential to become an expert user. However, once you master the art of operating a butterfly knife, this would be the most spectacular weapon you would have ever carried. So, if you are interested in using this knife, make sure to undergo necessary training and establish some skills. Good luck with that though!
