Balisong Butterfly
New Member
We’ve been getting a few questions lately about where our balisongs come from, so here’s the short version.
Balisong Butterfly is a small shop based in Austin, Texas, working with makers whose background comes from the traditional Batangas balisong trade. That part of the story matters to us because a Filipino balisong is more than just two handles and a blade. There is a particular way these knives are built, fitted and finished that has been passed down through generations.
Our current collection includes 440C, D2, VG10, high-carbon and pattern-welded blades, with handle materials ranging from carabao horn and kamagong ebony to deer horn, buffalo bone and mother of pearl.
One thing we’ve kept simple is the live-blade versus trainer choice. Every model can be ordered either way at the same price, so someone interested in the design and construction doesn't have to choose a completely different model just to get a trainer.
We also make some less traditional variations, including karambit balisongs and kitchen knives built around the butterfly format.
If anyone is curious about the history behind the Filipino balisong or how the traditional construction differs from modern production butterfly knives, we put together a longer explanation here:
https://balisongbutterfly.com/history-of-the-balisong/
The full collection is here:
https://balisongbutterfly.com/
And yes, we’re always adding different pieces, so there are usually a few interesting ones hiding in the catalogue.
Happy to answer questions about the steels, handle materials or the traditional Batangas construction.