Valentine Gift

Can you buy a matching pair of balisongs for the two of you?

A matching pair is one of the nicer Valentine's ideas we get asked about, usually from couples who both flip, or where one flips and the other has started borrowing the knife. The honest answer is yes, with a caveat that is really a compliment. Handmade knives never match perfectly. Wood grain moves, stag varies, and a Damascus pattern does not repeat at all. So the real question is how close a match you want, and there are several ways to get there from the 32 knives on this page.

Five ways to pair them

Every combination below uses knives currently in this tag. The sizes quoted come from the published specs on each product page.

Why the size pairing is the one we like most

Couples rarely have the same size hands, and a balisong is less forgiving about fit than most things you might buy in twos. The standard 29cm frame is comfortable for most adults. The 22cm frame on BF-159 is shorter, quicker in the hand and easier to carry, and it suits a smaller grip or someone who wants the knife in a pocket rather than on a desk. Putting one of each in the same box gives you a pair that looks deliberate and handles properly for both of you. Our balisong sizes guide explains what those seven centimetres change.

The Damascus route suits a different kind of couple. If you both like the idea that no two things are the same, then two black horn Damascus knives with unrepeatable patterns say that rather better than a card does.

When one of you does not flip

This is common, and it has a neat answer. Order the pair with one sharp and one trainer. The trainer is the same knife with the final sharpening pass left off, it costs the same, and it means the partner who is new to this can learn on a knife that matches the other one exactly without collecting plasters along the way. The trainer page shows where to choose it on the product page.

If the idea is to put both names or a shared date on the pair, the engraved gift guide covers wording, what fits on a handle and which surfaces take engraving best. Remember that each knife is a separate order line, so allow for any engraving time on both before 14 February. If you would rather design a pair from scratch, the custom balisong builder lets you choose the parts yourself.

Matching pair questions