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Butterfly Knives

Butterfly knives are a type of folding knife that is also called a balisong or a batangas knife. They have a blade that can be as small as an inch or two while the largest have blades that are over three feet long when opened and are called baliswords. They have two handles with pivots that are attached to the tang, or end of the blade which allows them to conceal the blade as well as allow it to be easily and quickly opened.

Butterfly knives became popular in America after World War Two, when many soldiers from the Pacific campaign returned home with balisongs, believed to be a traditional Filipino weapon. They often have a latch at the bottom which keeps the blade securely opened or closed. The blade is sharpened on one side, but cut to look like a dagger which is sharpened on both sides.

Butterfly knives are often used for knife tricks called flipping. When one handle is held the blade and other handle can be variously flipped and twisted to provide interesting and sometimes intimidating maneuvers without harming the flipper. It is probably this aspect to the knife that has made it illegal in many countries, including the United States. Cheap, unsharpened versions can still be found however.

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