Traditional Balisongs
Traditional balisong knives trace their roots to Batangas, Philippines, where the butterfly knife was perfected generations ago. Every knife in this collection is handmade by Filipino artisans using high carbon or D2 tool steel blades with classic horn, bone, or hardwood handles. Traditional models can be ordered in bulk through wholesale, or specified piece by piece in the balisong builder.
Showing all 10 results
Filipino Traditional D2 Steel Beautiful Dagger Blade Butterfly Balisong Knife USA Made Gift For Him With Rose Wood Handle BF-111
Filipino Traditional Series D2 Steel Beautiful Butterfly Balisong Knife USA Made With Rose Wood Handle BF-99
Liger High Carbon Steel Original Filipino Balisong butterfly Knife BF-70
Lizard High Carbon Steel Original Filipino Balisong butterfly Knife BF-71
Long-Eared High Carbon Steel Original Filipino Balisong butterfly Knife BF-72
Magpie High Carbon Steel Original Filipino Balisong butterfly Knife BF-73
Malayan Civet High Carbon Steel Original Filipino Balisong butterfly Knife BF-74
Masked Palm High Carbon Steel Original Filipino Balisong butterfly Knife BF-75
Mayfly High Carbon Steel Original Filipino Balisong butterfly Knife BF-76
Millipede High Carbon Steel Original Filipino Balisong butterfly Knife BF-77
Traditional Balisongs
10 traditional balisong knives, $132.00 to $209.00. This is the shelf for the classic Batangas pattern in its plainest, most honest form: the shape the knife had before anyone thought to market it.
A traditional Filipino balisong is defined by proportion rather than decoration: a slim, slightly recurved blade, handles cut to a length that lets the knife close flush, a single latch, and pins rather than bearings. Rosewood or horn handles. No lettering, no finish that would not have existed in Batangas seventy years ago.
What "Traditional" Actually Means Here
Modern flipping balisongs are built around bearings, thick channel handles and heavy zen pins. Knives designed to spin fast and take abuse. Traditional balisongs were made as working knives and everyday tools, and they handle differently: lighter, quieter, quicker in the wrist and less forgiving of sloppy technique.
If you want the knife the Filipino makers were actually making, this is it. If you want a competition flipper, our D2 and Prime shelves will suit you better.
What Is on This Shelf
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Knives available | 10 |
| Price range | $132.00 – $209.00 |
| Steels | D2 tool steel, high carbon |
| Blade shapes | Classic Batangas, dagger, kris |
| Handles | Rosewood, horn, stag |
| Trainer option | Free on every knife |
Common Questions
What makes a balisong traditional? The Batangas proportions. Slim blade, flush-closing handles, single latch, pinned construction, natural handle material. It is about geometry and materials, not about age.
Are traditional balisongs good for flipping? They flip well but differently. They are lighter and faster than modern bearing knives and less tolerant of rough technique. Many flippers prefer them once past the beginner stage.
Where does the traditional balisong come from? Batangas province in the Philippines, where the pattern was made and refined by hand for generations. Our knives are made by Filipino makers in that tradition and shipped from the USA.
Should a traditional balisong have bearings? No. Traditional construction is pinned, not bearing-mounted. Bearings are a modern flipping feature. Good at what they do, but not part of this pattern.
Can I order a traditional balisong as a trainer? Yes, free on every knife on this shelf.
The traditional shelf, cheapest first
These are the Batangas patterns made the way they were made before anyone put a bearing in a balisong. Pinned, hand fitted, and a little heavier in the hand than the modern stuff. If you want the knife your grandfather would recognise, start here. Fitted leather sheath included, trainer or live blade at the same price, 58-60 HRC.
About our balisongs
The balisong began in Batangas, in the Philippines, and every knife in this collection is made in that tradition. Our knives are made by Filipino artisans and metalworkers, many from families with generations of experience, now working in the United States.
Blades are ground in 440C stainless, D2 tool steel, VG10, high carbon and Damascus steel. Handles are fitted in kamagong ebony, carabao horn, Philippine deer horn and bone, and every knife ships with a fitted leather sheath. Both live blades and trainers are offered.
Before a knife leaves the bench it passes a four-step quality process: detailed hand inspection, smoothness and pivot testing, blade alignment checks, and durability and finish quality control. If a knife doesn't meet our standards, it never reaches our customers.
Most orders ship in 1 to 3 business days and arrive in 4 to 8 business days across the USA, or 8 to 14 business days internationally. Out of stock knives are handcrafted to order in 2 to 3 weeks, and every order ships worldwide with tracking.