A Byrd Bali???

[smcfalls13]

Sorry that this is a double post but I thought of the slogan for the Byrd balisong earlier today.

"Now anyone can flip the Byrd!"

Now that is funny stuff :D

[Jordan]

If such a thing, in almost any incarnation were concieved and produced, the Glesser family will be the exact amount of currency necessary to purchase at least two such knives richer from my pocket, that much I can surely say.

[Nilaman]

I'd buy one or two to beat around.

Also, Szbofly pleeeeeeease!

[rycen]

Is the spyderfly not cheap enough?

[smcfalls13]

Is the spyderfly not cheap enough?

The Spyderfly is a mid range Bali, in price. Around $70ish.

The most common question about Balis is "where do I get a good cheap Bali for like $20"

And the answer is "there isn't one". Most people starting with Balis don't want to spend a lot of money to see if they like it. There are NO good Balis in that low price range, so personally I think it's a niche that could be easily filled.

[Bayoublaster]

The Spyderfly is a mid range Bali, in price. Around $70ish.

The most common question about Balis is "where do I get a good cheap Bali for like $20"

And the answer is "there isn't one". Most people starting with Balis don't want to spend a lot of money to see if they like it. There are NO good Balis in that low price range, so personally I think it's a niche that could be easily filled.

SMC has this right. This question comes up on balisong forums all the time.

[BlackNinja]

My first thought's were along the same as Deacons. I'm not huge into bali's, as I can't carry one (not sure if I can even own one.) Without a doubt, I would buy a good quality bali, for a decent price. I think you have something here, Scott!

[cobrajoe]

Here's annother idea: A bali that's actually useable for cutting!

Before you claim that every sharp object can cut, let me explain. Balis are great carry knives, always ready and easy to open with one hand, and the only way the lock can fail is for one of the handles to break. I would love to see a balisong with thin handles and a blade with a fat profile with around a 3 inch blade. My favorite knife for the longest time was modified cheapo butterfly. After I broke the origional handles, I took the blade and cut it to 3 inches and reground it making a nice drop point with a bit of recurve. For the handles, I just took some old stock of approx 1/8 inch thick steel and folded it over. I carried this knife for a year and a half and basically beat the **** out of it, but I lost it and miss it dearly.

I'd love to see something like this from a company that actually knows about knife building. A small and slim knife that is easy to carry not too scary for those who are afraid that is in a decent price range. I think that Byrd could do all of this easily, and I'd definatly buy one for all my friends and 3 for me :D

[para-force]

Here's annother idea: A bali that's actually useable for cutting!

Before you claim that every sharp object can cut, let me explain. Balis are great carry knives, always ready and easy to open with one hand, and the only way the lock can fail is for one of the handles to break. I would love to see a balisong with thin handles and a blade with a fat profile with around a 3 inch blade. My favorite knife for the longest time was modified cheapo butterfly. After I broke the origional handles, I took the blade and cut it to 3 inches and reground it making a nice drop point with a bit of recurve. For the handles, I just took some old stock of approx 1/8 inch thick steel and folded it over. I carried this knife for a year and a half and basically beat the **** out of it, but I lost it and miss it dearly.

I'd love to see something like this from a company that actually knows about knife building. A small and slim knife that is easy to carry not too scary for those who are afraid that is in a decent price range. I think that Byrd could do all of this easily, and I'd definatly buy one for all my friends and 3 for me :D

I see your point, but balisongs are strictly novelties for most of us. I'm just curious, but where do live where it's legal to carry one?

[smcfalls13]

I would love to see a balisong with thin handles and a blade with a fat profile with around a 3 inch blade.

What do you mean by "thin" handles? Most sandwich construction handle slabs are roughly the same thickness as the blade. That seems to provide the best balance. If the slabs are too thin, the Bali will flip poorly. For a user Bali, I'd actually prefer thicker handles. The only Bali I'd feel comfortable using on a daily basis is my Roton Monarch. The handles are FAT. The whole package is about 1/2" thick, which is fairly massive compared to most Balis.

[smcfalls13]

I see your point, but balisongs are strictly novelties for most of us. I'm just curious, but where do live where it's legal to carry one?

Despite my states harsh view on weapons, I am about 60% sure that Balis are legal to carry here as long as you do so openly.

I'm not sure enough to carry mine though, only occasionally do I carry any.

[cobrajoe]

I live in Nebraska. I'm not exactly sure on the laws for balisongs, but all I could find is that any knife over 3.5 inch blade can be considered a concealed weapon, and since most balis are 4 inch blade...

Also, around here, it has more to do with what you do with it. If you are always bringing it out and playing with it or intentionally scaring people, I'm sure you could easily get in trouble. But, then again, a friend of mine had is kershaw confiscated because the police were convinced it was a switchblade.

And by "thin", I mean thin on edge, so that the knife would not show when in your pocket, and you wouldn't notice it. The handles can be fat in profile so that you can still get a good "handle" on the knife
This is pretty much the design of the little worker bali I made. Granted, it wasn't the most comfortable to cut with, but most of the time it melted into my pocket and forgotten about by the non-knifers.

[BlackNinja]

Here's annother idea: A bali that's actually useable for cutting!

Before you claim that every sharp object can cut, let me explain. Balis are great carry knives, always ready and easy to open with one hand, and the only way the lock can fail is for one of the handles to break. I would love to see a balisong with thin handles and a blade with a fat profile with around a 3 inch blade.

I think that thinning the handles would mess up the balance, which is very important on a bali.
Also. I don't know of ANY :spyder: that can't be opened easily (the Spyder hole is by far the best, IMO) with one hand.

[BlackNinja]

But, then again, a friend of mine had is kershaw confiscated because the police were convinced it was a switchblade.

I'm willing to bet that it was an assisted opening Kershaw, which basically is a switchblade.

[cobrajoe]

The thin handles on my little frankenstien didn't mess up balance too much, but since they are shorter, along with the blade, it did kinda screw up my timing (smaller and lighter makes for faster flipping).
Also, good point, most knives made nowadays are one-handers, but a balisong you can open and close without touching the blade (but I guess it does make the spydie hole kinda pointless)

And yes, it was assisted opening, but there is a big difference between a switchblade and an assisted opening. In a switchblade, the spring only wants to open the blade, and you can deploy the blade without touching it. An assisted opening knife is designed so that the spring also holds the knife closed, and you must initiate the blade movement before the spring takes over. Not to mention that the traditional stiletto switchblade design is basically only good for stabbing.

[inzane]

I'm willing to bet that it was an assisted opening Kershaw, which basically is a switchblade.

an assited opener is very different than a switchblade and is legal in most places were a switchblade is not

[BlackNinja]

an assited opener is very different than a switchblade and is legal in most places were a switchblade is not

They both open with springs, no? They unfortunately won't be legal for long. An LEO told me that if it opens using a spring, it's illegal.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Scott. :o This will be my last post regarding AO's.

[smcfalls13]

I see what you're saying Cobrajoe, and actually I agree to a point.

"Thin" handle slabs(approx. 1/8" thick) are in my opinion the optimum thickness for both flipping and utility. Anything thinner, and they're too flimsy for flipping, and too uncomfortable for use. Anything thicker, and they're awkward to flip, but much more comfortable to use.

[smcfalls13]

They both open with springs, no? They unfortunately won't be legal for long. An LEO told me that if it opens using a spring, it's illegal.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Scott. :o This will be my last post regarding AO's.

No problem bro, I can see points on both sides.

It really depends on the wording of the state's statute. If it defines switchblades as a knife that opens at the push of a button, than AOs are perfectly fine, because there's no button on an AO. If it defines a switchblade as a knife that has springs which open the blade, than an AO could easily be lumped in with autos.

To the average non knife person, there's no difference, and that's a problem. The non knife people are the ones who demand laws be passed, and since they outnumber us significantly, apart from AKTI and Kershaw(the dominant AO manufacturer) getting involved and lobbying, there is a good chance AOs will be categorized as Autos in the future.

[zenheretic]

A Byrd Bali kit would be a lot of fun especially with blade options/trainer.