Butterfly Knives, or as they are sometimes known, balisong knives are pocket knives with two handles that rotate counter to each other around a tang. When closed, the blade is hidden in grooves that run down each of the handles. When swung open, the blade is fully extended and the handles are held together. See the pictures to the side to get a great idea of what a butterfly knife is.

This Hub is dedicated to featuring a couple of the all time best butterfly knives. If you have others you would like added to the list--mention it in the notes below and I will consider adding your favorites also--as long as they make the grade!

A quick note:  Is it really a balisong?  Balisong (all one word) is a generic term for a knife with two handles that rotate around a tang.  Bali-Song (with the hyphen) is a registered trademark of Benchmade Corporation of Oregon City, Oregon.  They generally use it in connection with their unique line of butterfly or balisong knives.

Benchmade is known for there absolutely amazing auto knives. They also make a mean set of butterfly knives. Of the balisongs they make, my favorite is the 42. They also make the 32, or the Morpho, as it is commonly known. I like the 42 for a couple of reasons. First, it has incredible action. When you take it in your hand, the grip is solid and the weight is about perfect. As you squeeze the two handles together, the latch springs open. This is great because it solves the problem of what the heck to do about the darn latch. Then, as you start to move the handles, you can tell they are perfectly balanced. The handles are skeletonized,which is my favorite look in a butterfly knife. The "fit and finish" are definitely up to Benchmade standards. This is one of the best, if not one of the top two butterfly knives of all time. The only drawback to this knife is the MSRP of $280.00. Look around, you may find it cheaper.

Critical Stats on the 42 (Bali-Song):

Blade Length:  4.20"

Blade Thickness:  .125"

Blade Material: 154 CM Stainless Steel

Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC

Weight: 4.10oz.

Quite likely my favorite butterfly knife of all, the Spyderfly was designed by Eric Glesser.  This not so traditional design uses a clip poiint spear tip recurved blade made of VG10 and beadblasted skeletonized handles.  Two, very long, torpedo shaped cutouts run the length of the handles and at the base of each handle is the traditional Spyderco hole.  The Spyderfly comes with a removable belt clip.   This is nice, because some people like them and others don't.  It also has a spring latch. The newer Spyderfly 02 compensates for some of the shortcomings of its older brother.  It is much lighter and a little shorter.  I like this quite a bit.  You can get it in a couple of variations of handles.  I like this knife for a bunch of reasons--most of all I like it because of it's weight distribution.  A little different than many butterfly knives, the wide blade pushes the balance point behind the pivots.  I like this.  The MSRP on the 02  is $304.00 but you can generally find it for about $179.00

Critical Stats for the Spyderfly BM02:

• Length Open:  7 3/32"
• Length Closed:  4 9/16"
• Blade Length:  3"
• Blade Thickness:  .125"
• Weight 3.1 Ounces
• Blade Material:  VG10
• Handle Material:  Cast Stainless Steel