Balisong Knife Is Something You Must Experience At Least Once In Your Lifetime

Balisong knives are uniquely Filipino, so much so that the country's national flag features a stylized representation of this butterfly knife. It is also known by its Spanish name, Filibusús or "flying bird". These complicated and elegant blades that appear in many cultures across the world can be found not just in modern Philippine culture but also in ancient and medieval Southeast Asian culture. In fact, the knife is an ancient craft but it has been reinvented by Filipino artisans of the modern era.

Historically, Balisongs Are Derived From

Although it is difficult to pinpoint precisely when balisong knives first appeared, there are historical records that agree with the idea that these knives dated back several centuries at least to their original time in Southeast Asia.

 

In 1816, the first written record of a Balisong knife appeared in an account by Frederick Courteau de Grimaud, a French officer and spy who was stationed in the Philippines at the time. Later, Filipino craftsmen and artists began making and using these knives as early as the 1860s. Some national heroines of the Philippines, including former first lady Imelda Marcos, also displayed a particular fondness for these lethal and beautiful blades. The history of butterfly knives and their Filipino people is a rich and layered one.  Although they were not always available to the public, their creation and use was an important pocket knife for Filipinos living in the early 20th century.  Some balisong knives were created in the early years of the 20th century.  Others, however, were made during the 1970s.  They are now an interesting subject for collectors to maintain as they are an important part of Philippine history.

 

Construction Of Balisong

A typical design has one handle on each end of an elongated blade and it is possible to grasp both handles at once to hold the knife steady. The balisong knife was originally used as a simple manual farm implement and general-purpose cutting tool by Filipino laborers and farmers who may not have had access to other types of modern knives. The term comes from the Tagalog words "bang" (meaning side or blade) and "ilong" (meaning flip or to flip).

 

The balisong knife is a pocket knife marked with a single pivot point and two handles, one on each end of the blade. This feature is often used to disarm an attacker by flipping or twirling the knife in his or her hand. Balisongs are typically about wide and long, but their sizes vary depending on usage, style, and design. The knife can be used to cut small objects such as rope, fruit, vegetables, or meat.

 

The balisong knife was evolved by traditional Filipino farmers who also worked with machetes and other weapons whose handles were made of wood. This type of knife was used by Filipino farmers for many tasks, including cutting down palm trees, felling coconuts for coco wine, digging tubers and yams, skinning game and fish, carving canes, skinning cow hides to make bags and mats.

 

The butterfly knife is mainly used as a utility knife by farmers. If the blade were to be damaged or lost there would only be the handle which could still be easily turned over to access the blade's serrated edge.

 

Historical And Modern Uses Of Balisong Knives:

Balisong knives are multi-purpose folding pocket knives that can be opened by manually or by retracting them into the handle with one hand. The most famous example comes from the Philippines, where it's called an 'antok' in Tagalog and 'karambit' in Malay. A close relative to this knife is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei.

How Were Balisongs Used?

  

In ancient times, people used the 'antok' blade as both a weapon and as an agricultural tool. Although today's balisong knives are almost exclusively decorative pieces, some people still use their 'antoks' for self-defense. This knife could be inserted into the other hand before attacking or pulled out of the sheath after successfully defending against an attacker. It's also possible that people carried these as protection or as tools for hunting and for cutting branches.

 

The Modern-Day Use Of Balisongs 

The modern day uses of the balisong knives range from novelty items to functional ones. There is a wide variety of balisongs that can be found on the internet and several novelty stores. These may be one-handed or two-handed, made from ABS plastic with no metal parts, and sold in sets along with a sheath. Some households may have one or more novelty knives as decorations.

 

Other Uses,

 

Apart from its use as a weapon, the balisong knife is also used as an ordinary tool for various purposes such as cutting string or opening cans. Some people use it to carve wood or practice magic tricks.