Ever heard of a butterfly knife? Chances are you know what they are even if you don’t know the name (and they go by a few of these as well). Basically, a butterfly knife is a folding knife, but instead of having one pivot point and a fixed handle, a butterfly knife has two handle halves that open up to expose the blade, with two pivot points. They are exceptionally popular among collectors and among those that like to perform tricks. This post will answer some of the most basic questions associated with them.

Butterfly knives go by a few other names, most commonly balisongs. They are also known as Batangas knives and fan knives.

Butterfly knives are illegal in some jurisdictions because they are very quick to deploy. Make sure you consult a lawyer in your area if you have any questions about legality in your area.

One of the main reasons that these knives are so popular is because there are many tricks that can be performed with them. Some of the most popular tricks are:

• Rollouts
• Ricochets
• Rollovers
• Fans
• Twirls

There are also two other classes of tricks performed with these knives; aerials, in which the knife temporarily leaves the hand, and transfers in which the knife moves from one hand to the other.

A butterfly knife can be opened deliberately with two hands like any folding knife, but that’s hardly any fun. They can also be opened by holding one of the halves of the handle, spinning the knife so that the other half reveals the blade, and catching it as it comes back around to your hand. This is the most basic method for deploying a balisong, although it is far from the only one.

Fixed blades are large, generally heavy, and require you to carry a sheath. Butterfly knives, like other folders, are much more discreet and don’t require a sheath, making them much more convenient and easier to carry.

Butterfly knives are commonly carried because they are great for tricks and exhibition, but they are also as practical as any other folding knife. As an EDC knife, a balisong will be fidget-friendly and practical for opening packages, basic food prep, and any other daily chores requiring a blade.

Better is hard to qualify here, but there are definitely advantages that balisongs have over other folding knives. Like others, they are discreet and easy to carry; but the main advantage is that they have one of the strongest “lock” types of any folding knife, lock being in quotes here because it isn’t a lock in the conventional sense of the word. Since the knife is secured at its base to both halves of the knife handles, in order for the “lock” to fail, those pivot points would need to experience catastrophic failure. As a result, once opened and locked, balisongs are extremely secure. That being said, it should also be noted that there is a learning curve associated with deploying a balisong, so that should also be considered.

Unlike other folding knives, balisongs don’t have conventional locking mechanisms, and they also don’t have the same type of pivot points. In addition, balisongs also tend not to have picket clips.

There’s way more out there than a standard rainbow butterfly knife or a balisong with wood scales. There is also some variety in blade shapes as well, and in addition to single-edged balisongs, there are spear point, needle point and stiletto balisongs, and even karambit-style butterfly knives.

Care for a butterfly knife is not much different from care for any folding knife. Clean and dry the blade after each use and keep it sharp. You should also use compressed air to blast dust out from the inside of the handles and away from the pivot points, and also oil the pivot points periodically to keep them rotating smoothly. If your balisong does not have a stainless steel blade, periodically oil the blade as well. As with any knife, when not in use, store in a cool, dry place.

Interested in a new butterfly knife for your collection? Whether you’re here for a rainbow butterfly knife or something with wood scales, check out our collection. We have a lot of cool finds. Check them out and get in touch with us if you have any questions; we will be happy to help.