Buying first balisong

[Icepick]

I'm thinking of buying my first balisong knife. This one is at the top of my list right now. Bradley Kimura 2:
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Bradley-Kimura-II--4728

What do you think of this one for $90?

UPDATE 7/16/2012: Finally got one and went with the Kimura IV since I like its blade style the best.

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Bradley-Kimura-IV--5563

I actually like it although I managed to cut myself once about a week after receiving it. That was my own fault since I was showing off for someone and momentarily lost focus on which way the blade was facing. Luckily the blade is sharp and the cut healed very quickly. I'll have to be careful where I carry it since it's illegal in places like NYC and Canada.

It seems to be well-built with a nice, sturdy feel and heft to it. The blade is very sharp and there's not much play in the handles. I ended up getting it from knifecountryusa.com. It was cheaper on bladehq but, they wanted me to attest that I was an authorized procurer for the police or military and I didn't want to commit fraud to obtain it. At knifecountryusa it was "no questions asked."

Thanks for your coments.

 

[lxskllr]

I like the looks of it. It has my preferred blade style, but if you're getting a knife for defense, I prefer a fixed blade. If you're getting it cause it's a cool thing to have, that would be a cool thing to have :^D

 

[adairusmc]

I would buy a benchmade balisong if I were buying, but that one looks like a cool thing to have though.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I like the looks of it. It has my preferred blade style, but if you're getting a knife for defense, I prefer a fixed blade. If you're getting it cause it's a cool thing to have, that would be a cool thing to have :^D

If you're getting a knife for defense you're an idiot.

 

[Icepick]

I like the looks of it. It has my preferred blade style, but if you're getting a knife for defense, I prefer a fixed blade. If you're getting it cause it's a cool thing to have, that would be a cool thing to have :^D

Nah, I'm getting it because it would look cool to whip it out and twirl it around. - With the understanding that it will take me a while to get the hang of it. I'll get a trainer to use for a while or else tape up the blade to get started.

 

[Icepick]

I would buy a benchmade balisong if I were buying, but that one looks like a cool thing to have though.

Unfortunately, the model 42 is hard to find since Hitgirl anounced to the world that it was her weapon of choice. Are any of the newer models any good?

 

[paulney]

If you're getting a knife for defense you're an idiot.

Guns for show, knives for a pro.

 

[Nebor]

If you're getting a knife for defense you're an idiot.

Exactly. We've been through it in detail in this forum before, but I seriously doubt most people are mentally\psychologically prepared to stab another human being. It's an extremely visceral, gritty, gruesome experience. It's why our entire country finds knives scary enough to support the "slasher" horror genre, but not a "shooter" horror genre.

 

[deadlyapp]

+1 for a benchmade balisong. You pay for the quality but you'll never need another one.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Guns for show, knives for a pro.

You sir are not only an idiot, you're a monumental idiot and you'd likely shit your pants if you even saw somebody holding a knife. A knife is NOT a defense weapon. It loses to a gun, a baseball bat, a stun gun, a can of mace and a guy throwing rocks. And it's not even a proper defense against another person with a knife. A "pro" would drop his own knife and go empty hand against an attacker with a knife because that's the easiest way to disarm somebody with a knife. Knife fights are for movies.

 

[Icepick]

+1 for a benchmade balisong. You pay for the quality but you'll never need another one.

Which model would you recommend of what's available now?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You sir are not only an idiot, you're a monumental idiot and you'd likely shit your pants if you even saw somebody holding a knife. A knife is NOT a defense weapon. It loses to a gun, a baseball bat, a stun gun, a can of mace and a guy throwing rocks. And it's not even a proper defense against another person with a knife. A "pro" would drop his own knife and go empty hand against an attacker with a knife because that's the easiest way to disarm somebody with a knife. Knife fights are for movies.

It's VERY clear you have never fought anyone with a knife. The ONLY correct thing you said was "A knife is NOT a defense weapon." I would counter with "the best defense is a good offense."

 

[adairusmc]

Which model would you recommend of what's available now?

I would have a hard time choosing between these two, but I would probably go with the first one. I like the shorter blade.

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchmade-32BK-Morpho--1458

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchmade-51SBK-Balisong-Butterfly--9262

 

[alkemyst]

If you're getting a knife for defense you're an idiot.

Actually 9 times out of 10 a knife is way better for defense up close and personal...providing you know how to use one.

 

[Raduque]

I thought butterfly knives were illegal in most parts of the US.

 

[alkemyst]

I thought butterfly knives were illegal in most parts of the US.

Outside laws against all knives in certain areas, only the double-edged balisong was made illegal.

 

[Nebor]

It's VERY clear you have never fought anyone with a knife. The ONLY correct thing you said was "A knife is NOT a defense weapon." I would counter with "the best defense is a good offense."

Yeah, he lost me when he said you're better off fighting without a knife. The knife carries with it the opportunity for one strike to kill or disable your opponent. If they have a knife, you'd be a fool to abandon yours.

FWIW I've never been in a real knife fight. I've done simulations in martial arts and police department classes. The biggest lesson I've taken from those classes about knife fights: You don't want to get into a knife fight.

 

[Nebor]

I thought butterfly knives were illegal in most parts of the US.

Most places prohibit the carrying of the knives, not the possession.

 

[Icepick]

I thought butterfly knives were illegal in most parts of the US.

Good news. In NY they're legal. http://www.mcacp.org/issue53.htm

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Yeah, he lost me when he said you're better off fighting without a knife. The knife carries with it the opportunity for one strike to kill or disable your opponent. If they have a knife, you'd be a fool to abandon yours.

FWIW I've never been in a real knife fight. I've done simulations in martial arts and police department classes. The biggest lesson I've taken from those classes about knife fights: You don't want to get into a knife fight.

Most people have no idea how to use a knife either intellectually or, by training. Using a knife in a direct confrontation is as much about psychology as disabling/killing. Of course, it depends on your intent. A severed tendon instantly immobilizes no matter what kind of drugs a combatant is on.

 

[Nebor]

Most people have no idea how to use a knife either intellectually or, by training. Using a knife in a direct confrontation is as much about psychology as disabling/killing. Of course, it depends on your intent. A severed tendon instantly immobilizes no matter what kind of drugs a combatant is on.

Like I said, I know enough about knife fighting to know I don't want to be in a knife fight. I carry one of these every day to open boxes from Amazon and packets of vitamins. In the event that a knife fight breaks out, I carry one of these. :thumbsup:

 

[paulney]

guns for show, knives for a pro

You sir are not only an idiot, you're a monumental idiot and you'd likely shit your pants if you even saw somebody holding a knife. A knife is NOT a defense weapon. It loses to a gun, a baseball bat, a stun gun, a can of mace and a guy throwing rocks. And it's not even a proper defense against another person with a knife. A "pro" would drop his own knife and go empty hand against an attacker with a knife because that's the easiest way to disarm somebody with a knife. Knife fights are for movies.

WHOOOOOOOSH

That was the sound of the movie reference going over your head.

Edit: don't be a retard next time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfX3aXtRbLI

 

[alkemyst]

Like I said, I know enough about knife fighting to know I don't want to be in a knife fight. I carry one of these every day to open boxes from Amazon and packets of vitamins. In the event that a knife fight breaks out, I carry one of these. :thumbsup:

IMHO a knife is better than a gun in a real knife fight (within arm distance of your assailant). I have seen many guys walk away when a gun has been pulled on them unscathed. I have never seen any guy walk away without some kind of cut when a knife has been pulled (except by some retard that was afraid to use it). Before anyone says otherwise, yeah some dudes were shot and not successful in the defense.

You need to update your gun pic to show the knife you carry.

A box cutter is a lot better to open boxes. I wouldn't want tape all over my knife nor the dulling effect of cardboard. Plus it's easier to set the depth so you don't scar the box contents.

My daily carry is a Huntsman Lite Victorinox. I have a Kabar in my nightstand though + Fox 5.3 + tactical flashlight. My wife is almost on board for me getting a handgun. Her main fear is so far I haven't had one and have just got by. If I have had a gun, a few times I'd have put someone down (not necessarily killing them, but I'd have definitely shot them).

I am getting older, just passed 40. A fist fight is becoming more and more risky to me. I am looking into carrying a locking knife for self-defense actually now.

 

[Nebor]

I have seen many guys walk away when a gun has been pulled on them unscathed. I have never seen any guy walk away without some kind of cut when a knife has been pulled (except by some retard that was afraid to use it). Before anyone says otherwise, yeah some dudes were shot and not successful in the defense..

How many knife fights escalating to guns being drawn type situations have you seen?

Yeah, we all know that in close distance, you're unlikely to be able to draw a handgun and shoot an assailant armed with a knife before he can cut you. However the person who would see an assailant coming at them and decide to pull their own knife as opposed to a gun would be a fool. There's a reason they make us do hip fire drills.

 

[alkemyst]

How many knife fights escalating to guns being drawn type situations have you seen?

Yeah, we all know that in close distance, you're unlikely to be able to draw a handgun and shoot an assailant armed with a knife before he can cut you. However the person who would see an assailant coming at them and decide to pull their own knife as opposed to a gun would be a fool. There's a reason they make us do hip fire drills.

Your point is moot, I already qualified mine with striking distance.

I have seen two. The gun toters didn't work it out in the end.