Balisong flipping: getting started

in this discussion I will go over the basics of starting to flip with a balisong.


1) What knife should the beginner buy?

It all depends on how much money you want to spend. The more you want to spend, the better the knife. Brandless cheap balisongs,CCC(charming chinese cheapie) are very cheap, but are very poor quality. Being dangerous for the flipper as they are unreliable, it is the worst option for a flipper.

here's a list of the most popular balisongs.

Bear cutlery balisongs(30-35$:
cheap knives, but better than the average CCC, this one might be a good option for people who don't know if flipping is their cup of tea, and want to try out without spending much money.
I don't have any personal experience wth these knives. lachs a latch gate

Jaguar balisong25-35$:
great beginners knife. good balance, a strong construction for it's price.
I flipped those a couple of times, and they do feel right in my hands(keep in mind that these knives are still in the low end section, and some models are better than others). Lacks a latch gate

Herbertz balisongs30$:
My personal recommendation for a $30- knife. solid stainless steel handles and 420 steel blade make this knife very strong. This heavy knife big downside are the pivot pins: very hard to tighten them(you need to hammer them to prevent too puch handle play).
It was my first balisong, and it never failed on me, even tho I dropped it constantly on concrete floors. Lacks a Latch gate.

knifekit: Typhoon/Tsunami 65-80$:
these knife kits are a great way to practice knife assembly. These knives require more than eassembly tho: if you just assemble these knives, you'll get a mediocre balisong. It's all up to you to customize these knives. the better you are with tools, the better the knife will be.

Bradley Kimura80-100$:
one of the latest designs in balisong models, the bradley kimura might be the one of the best balisong for it's price.
they cost around 85-90$, have the same balance as the benchmade model 42, has pivot screws and appears to be very popular in the balisong community.
I have a kimura on the way, and haven't handled it yet, but I think I can spot two drawbacks:
the sandwich construction of the handles. I don't like sandwich constructions: they're not as strong as solid handles, the less parts, the better.
The other drawback is the grip: the shape of the handles don't allow the optimal grip you need fr some tricks(this probably is personal preference tho).

Spyderco Spyderfly120-140$:
discontinued balisong by spyderco. Heavy and odd describe this knife. It's a great flipper, and the heavy handles make tricks like the Helix or the charlie chaplin rolls a breeze. Because of the weird handle shape(which doesn't allow the latch to touch the blade), its does have a distinctive feel you eventually get used to. the knife is pretty much indestructible, except for the pivot screws. Mine broke while doing the suicide drop, which is known to kill pivot screws. Spyderco will replace them for free. I learned all the basics with this knife.

Cold Steel arc-angel:
this knife is a great flipper. It's on the heavy side, but it's a great workhorse. very strong balisong, certainly a good option.

Benchmade model 32 morpho(190-200$):
this beautiful little balisong is more of an EDC knife. because of the short handles, it doesn't flip very good. it's very smooth, and has a couple of innovative features(such as the latch).

Benchmade model 4X(190-250$,depending which model):
The standard balisong for flippers. Light, but not too light, optimal balance, strong pivot screws, spring latch, latch gate,solid titanium handles...
most popular model is the BM42, which is the only one still in production, is the best option.
it's"the cheapest" of all the models, and te easiest to find. All the other models flip pretty much the same, except for the tanto version (47). You can feel the difference inbtetween all models though: you even notice the difference between the 42 145cm model and th 42 440c model.
most recommended knife.

Microtech tachyon($300+)
Discontinued balisong. In my opinion one of the most beautiful balisongs, this is more a collector's item. It is a great flipper, but the BM42 is better. the sandwich construction is very strong(titantium), but as I mentioned before, I don't really like that.the handles are shorter than the Benchmade 42's, but longer than the morpho's. If you only flip balisongs, this is not what you are looking for.

(I did not list any trainers,since they are not knives. The bear trainer and benchmade trainer share the qualities as their other models, just no blade)


2) Safety

Keep in mind that you are playing with a knife. You will get cut. Keep some bandaids and a bottle of alcohol near you to disinfect and patch up your cuts.
you can also tape you blade. Keep in mind though, that the point can always stick through tape.(double layer it)

Don't flip when there are any pets around.
Make sure that if the knife slips out of your hand, it can't possibly harm anything around you.
....
another part of knife safety is, the safety of the knife: you don't want to damage you balisong.
The best option is flip outside over some grass, and keep a piece of cloth near you to wipe off the dirt when you drop your knife. If flipping outside is no option, flip inside over your bed. Put a piece of cardboard on you matress to avoid cuts in it.

3) Things every flipper needs
-knife
-bandaids
-oil(to oil up your knife)
-loctite( to make sure your screw stay tightened)
-a bit set
-inspiration


4) The manipulation

The best place to find tutorials is youtube and balisongXtreme (might be down).
keep in mind that some tricks require finger strength, momentum, muscle memory,... Things you only learn while flipping regularly.

feel free to add your own tips and idea's