D2 Tool Steel Balisong Butterfly Knife – Tanto Blade, Mother of Pearl Handle | Authentic Filipino Balisong BF-141

Mother of Pearl Balisong Knife (BF-141)

The BF-141 mother of pearl balisong knife is hand-forged in D2 Tool Steel on the traditional Batangas pattern in the Philippines, by smiths working the way balisongs have been made for generations. Part of Balisong Prime — the upper tier of this catalogue, where the fit and finish, the handle materials and the hand-stitched leather sheath are all a step above the standard line.

Blade & Steel

D2 tool steel makes up the blade. Originally a die steel, D2 carries a heavy carbide load that translates directly into edge retention — this is the alloy to pick if you want to sharpen as rarely as possible. At 58–62 HRC it is hard, it is abrasion-resistant, and at roughly 12% chromium it resists staining without being fully stainless.

The tanto blade puts a reinforced angular tip on the knife — far more material behind the point than a drop point carries, which makes it the strongest tip geometry for piercing work. The flat primary edge also makes sharpening straightforward.

Handle, Bolsters & Balance

The handle is set with mother of pearl — genuine nacre, cut and inlaid by hand. It shifts colour as the knife moves through light, which is precisely why it belongs on a display piece. Handle it with the care any natural shell inlay deserves. Engraved steel bolsters finish each handle — hand-cut scrollwork that catches light differently at every angle.

How It Flips

At 7.23 oz (205 g) this is a substantial knife, and it flips like one. The extra mass smooths the arc and makes openings feel deliberate rather than snappy — you are steering momentum instead of generating it. Flippers who like a knife with presence in the hand tend to prefer exactly this range.

Open, this is a full-size Batangas pattern. Long handles mean a longer arc and more leverage, which flippers describe as the knife ‘doing the work’ — it is the traditional proportion, and the one that photographs best on a display stand.

Specifications

Every knife is finished by hand, so dimensions and weight may vary by roughly 3–5%, and natural handle materials differ piece to piece. Yours will not be an exact twin of the photograph.

Who This Balisong Is For

The BF-141 suits collectors and serious flippers. It is a working knife rather than a wall piece — it can be carried, flipped and sharpened — but the fit and the handle material make it a legitimate display piece too. If you are buying a gift, this is the price bracket where a balisong stops feeling like a novelty.

What’s Included

• 1 × Mother of Pearl Balisong Knife
• Hand-stitched leather sheath
• A handmade wooden presentation box is included with every order over $170.
• Care card with oiling and pivot-tuning notes

Care & Tuning

Keep a light film of mineral oil on the blade, wipe it dry after every session, and never store a carbon blade in a leather sheath long-term — leather holds moisture. If the handles develop play, seat the knife closed and tighten the pivot screws a quarter turn at a time until the play disappears without the action binding. Zen pins and tang pins can be dressed with a fine file if the handles start to strike the blade — do this a few strokes at a time.

Live blade, sold to adults 18 and over. Customers are responsible for knowing and complying with the knife laws that apply where they live.

Frequently Asked Questions