The Butterfly Knife- Balisong

The Butterfly knife can be unfolded using both hands or with only just one. Of course, anybody could do it using both hands but its obviously not practical and totally uncool. However, unfolding it with one hand is hard to master, but once you do, its really cool. Learning to unfold the knife with only one hand is hard work and often painful. There will be many cuts and blood loss along the way, but as they say,"no pain, no gain".

Butterfly knifes are relatively simple to use once you have learned just how to use them safely and properly. The fact there are so many varying ways to use a butterfly knife, is what is so time consuming when learning how to use one. For starters, you must first know that the butterfly knife has two different sided handle; one side is called the safe side, while the other side is called the dangerous side. This is because if you open the butterfly knife holding onto the wrong side of the handle (this being the dangerous side) you can in fact quite well cut yourself. So in learning how to use a butterfly knife, you must be aware of which side is which in order to open it the correctly and safely.

To open a butterfly knife, you have to place your thumb on the side of the safe handle and then make sure you have pressed the safe side between your thumb and index finger. While doing this, you can now uncurl your other fingers and as your other hand begins to drop, so will the other side of the handle, which will therefore make the blade follow suit. You will then curl your fingers back around the safe handle side of the handle to the butterfly knife. Now that you have your fingers safely secure around the safe side of the handle, you can now move your thumb upwards and out of the way. Give the dangerous side of the handle a slight help and it will flick up and rest on top of the safe handle side to the butterfly knife. The blade of the knife will simply follow and a specific pin in the butterfly knife will stop the blade at the correct position.

This is basic way of unfolding a butterfly knife. There are of course many other ways to do it but words can only teach you this much, thus I have provided you with a video which can better help you understand the steps and hopefully help you master the knife.

Is it okay to buy a cheap one?
Answer is NO. Quality and safety needs to be brought into consideration when buying something that is potentially dangerous. The last thing you want happening is getting someone or yourself hurt because your knife broke or isn't working as its suppose to be.

I'm new, what should I start with?
If you wanna learn some of those really cool tricks, then its best to start off with a practice knife, or maybe a bottle opener balisong (no kidding, its a really cool bottle opener). If you're not hot on tricks and just wanna own one because its cool, then why spend a few extra bucks. However, it is recommended that you get a single-edged knife instead of a double-edged as beginners are prone to getting their fingers cut, and a double-edged knife is gonna double the likelihood.

Is it legal for me to own one?
Answer is...please refer below.

The Butterfly Knife has been outlawed in several U.S. States and some other Western and Eastern countries, due to its intimidating nature, rapid deployment, easy concealment, and potential for being used as a weapon. Thus it is important that you determine its legal status in your country before purchasing to avoid any trouble with the law.

Australia
Folding knives designed to be unfolded with only one hand, including the balisong, are considered to be Category M weapons, prohibited for possession or use by most citizens.

Canada
The possession of a butterfly knife is illegal. (Unless grandfathered in before prohibition)

United Kingdom
The Butterfly Knife has been legally classified as an offensive weapon since January 1989. Possession of one is not a criminal offence, but sale, lending, hiring, giving or importing is prohibited. Any imported are liable to be seized and prosecution may follow. The exception to this are knives of this type over 100 years old which are classed as antiques.

Germany
The butterfly knife was outlawed when the Waffengesetz (weapons law) was tightened in July 2003 in the aftermath of the Erfurt massacre. Thus buying, possessing, lending, using, carrying, crafting, altering and trading it is illegal and is prosecuted by up to five years imprisonment, confiscation of the knife and a fine of up to 10,000 Euros. Using a butterfly knife for crime of any kind - as any illegal weapon - is prosecuted by from 1 to 10 years imprisonment.

Lithuania
Balisongs among other knives are legal to posses and carry as they are not considered as weapons. This excludes switchblades.

Hong Kong
The sale of full-size butterfly knives is illegal, but miniature versions can be legally obtained.

Philippines
The sale of a 29-cm balisong is illegal.

Pennsylvania
The butterfly knife is legal for conceal and open carrying. See Commonwealth v. Miles.

*Butterfly knife trainers feature a special blunt and unsharpened "blade," and are legal in areas where butterfly knives are not.

In some U.S. states it is illegal to possess and/or carry such a knife in public. In certain jurisdictions, butterfly knives are categorized as a "gravity knife", "switchblade", or "dagger" although they are also occasionally outlawed by name ("butterfly knife"). The knife is illegal in California if blade length exceeds two inches. In a recent US Federal Court case, Spyderco, Inc. pleaded guilty and was fined $75,000 for sending butterfly knives through the United States Postal Service. Spyderco admitted that from June 2005 through January 2007, it had mailed butterfly knives, after importing the knife components from Taipei, Taiwan, through the Port of San Francisco and the Port of Oakland, to Golden, Colorado.

U.S. STATE LAWS REGARDING POSSESSION, CONCEALED AND NON-CONCEALED CARRY:

Alabama:
Possession-Legal
Carry-Legal [Allowed if not concealed]

Alaska:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Arizona:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal

Arkansas:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if blade is under 3.5 inches and not used as a weapon]

California:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if blade is 2 inches or less]

Colorado:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Connecticut:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Illegal [if blade is over 1.5 inches]

Delaware:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Florida:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal

Georgia:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [if carried openly]

Hawaii:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Idaho:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal

Illinois:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Indiana:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Iowa:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [if not concealed]

Kansas:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Kentucky:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal

Louisiana:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Maine:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Maryland:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Massachusetts:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Michigan:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Minnesota:
Possession- Illegal [exception made for collectors and/or possession as curios or antiques]
Carry- Illegal

Mississippi:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [if not concealed or intoxicated]

Missouri:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Montana:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Nebraska:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal

Nevada:
Possession- Legal [With permit]
Carry- Illegal

New Hampshire:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Illegal

New Jersey:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

New Mexico:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

New York:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

North Carolina:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if not concealed]

North Dakota:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if not concealed]

Ohio:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if not concealed; concealed carry allowed with permit or license]

Oklahoma:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Illegal

Oregon:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if not concealed]

Pennsylvania:
Possession- Illegal [exception made for collectors and/or possession as curios]
Carry- Illegal

Rhode Island:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal

South Carolina:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Illegal

South Dakota:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal

Tennessee:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Texas:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Utah:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if not concealed; concealed carry allowed with permit or license]

Vermont:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Virginia:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Illegal

Washington:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

West Virginia:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if not concealed; concealed carry allowed with permit or license]

Wisconsin:
Possession- Illegal
Carry- Illegal

Wyoming:
Possession- Legal
Carry- Legal [Allowed if not concealed]