Manila: A US-based Filipino surprised his colleagues when he bought a butterfly knife, called balisong, for his grandson in southern Philippines. The knife originated in the Philippines.
“I myself was surprised when my grandson Joshua asked for balisong from the US,” said Alfred Meneses. “My transnational gift has shown the world has become smaller.”
To satisfy his grandson, Meneses started surfing online chat rooms when not working in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He also considered asking a relative to get balisong — a 29-centimetre pocket knife with rotating handles that conceal the blade — from the Philippines; it is still made in Balisong village, Taal town, Batangas, 150km south of Manila.
Balisong also means “baling sungay” or broken horn — referring to inlays of water buffalo horn that adorn the utility knife’s rotating handles, said Meneses.
“From the internet’s chat room, a Frenchman sold me his second-hand butterfly knife made by Benchmade Balisong USA for $375 (Dh1,377). Benchmade’s first-hand models cost between $500 to $1,000.00 per piece,” said Meneses. He added: “The balisong ‘trainer’ with two blunt edges that I got for my grandson will help him perfect the art of flipping balisong.”
“I hope my gift will make him better,” said Meneses.
In early December, he received an email from his 11-year-old grandson with a video attachment showing the latter flipping the knife, from his left to his right hand.
Many Filipinos believe balisong flipping is an art. Actress Angelina Jolie, who is left-handed, posted a video of her flipping the blade on YouTube.
Meneses admitted being proud that outside the Philippines, the country’s original balisong has evolved, morphed and been perfected with titanium.
Filipino-American Jody Samson, a master knife-maker, is known for hand-grounding Benchmade’s balisongs. He became famous for hand-grounding the swords used in the 2011 movie Conan the Barbarian.
Oregon-based Benchmade, owned by Filipino-American Les de Asis, used to make balisong handles with ebony, ivory, and mother of pearl inlays.
Companies from China, France, Germany, Japan, Philippines, South Korea and Spain exported balisongs to the US from 1981 to 1984. Guttmann Cutlery Philippines exports “original balisongs” made of high carbon steel blades.
