Types of Balisong Construction

In the hobby of Balisong flipping, there are a few ways a Balisong can be constructed, which can change the way it sounds, flips and feels, as well as how much it weighs and how it is balanced. In this article, you will learn about each type so you can find out which you might prefer for your flipping needs!

Channel

Channel construction Balisongs are made with a single piece of material, which are machined out to make the handles. An example is linked here, which is the Squid Industries Krake Raken (Kraken).

This is made out of channel aluminum and as you can see, it is made of a single piece of material. This creates a much louder sound that has more depth and the sound tends to echo through the inside of the handle and causes a more deep and full sound signature. Channel Balisongs tend to be heavier due to there being more material in the handles, though this heavily depends on what material is being used.

Another con of channel Balisongs is the lack of customising ability that comes with channel handles, as everything is machined into one piece that cannot be taken apart. This usually means that there are no spacers to be changed around, though some makers have recently been very innovative with the way that they add customizability to their channel design Balisongs, such as the upcoming Konig by iamnotarealboy/NRB.

However, the main pro of channel construction is the sturdiness you can get from it, as there are less things to break or lose during maintenance. This makes it ideal for budget Balisongs and for beginners who are new to Balisongs. It can also be easier to make at a lower price as there is less hardware required for the Bali to be used. It also may be more comfortable for some people to flip with a channel Bali as it is smooth all around, especially across the length of the handle itself.

Sandwich

Sandwich construction Balisongs are made with two pieces of materials, known as slabs, to create the handle. They also have pieces called spacers in the bottom of the handle to keep the gap even on the handle. Spacers can be many shapes, sizes and materials to change the balance of the Balisong, such as the HOM Basilisk spacer kit.

There are also parts called scales, which can be put on top of the slabs to create a unique texture, look and weight balance for Balisongs that use them. These can be made of many materials, such as aluminium, titanium or G10 like the scales on these BRS Replicants.

The pros of a sandwich construction Balisong are the customising factor of the Bali, where there are many parts that can be interchanged and custom made to make the Bali truly your own. A famous example of this is the Benchmade 51, which has lots of support for custom blades, scales, spacers, handle extensions, pivot system mods and so on.

However, this can also be a downside as there are more parts that may be able to go wrong or be lost. Another factor is the grip of the open channel from sandwich Balis, which some people may find uncomfortable for flipping. In the end, that all comes down to the individual flipper’s preferences.

Special Types

There are also unique types of constructions from certain makers that utilise bits of both types of construction, which I will briefly cover below!

Faux Channels

Faux channels are usually made by spacers that mimic or fill a sandwich design Balisong’s liner gap, like these Faux Channel Replicant spacers made by @fox.fire.factory.

They can also be made of materials that aren’t the same as the slabs and therefore can make for a unique flipping experience with different sounds and weight balances. They can be made out of Titanium, G10 or even Carbon Fibre and can make a Balisong feel like a new knife entirely! They are worth looking into if you have a Balisong such as the BRS Replicant.

Speed Channels 

Speed channels are milled holes in the channel side of a channel construction Balisong that are meant to lighten it and change the weight balance. An example of which can be seen on JK Design’s Orca.

These change the sound signature and also make the weight distribution different by making the handles slightly lighter. Speed Channels also can help add grip to the channel, which can assist you in flipping.

Chanwich (Version 1)

There are two construction types which can be considered “chanwich”, which is a mix between channel and sandwich. The first kind is seen on the SvixCo Gale, as shown here.

The Gale is a channel Balisong that is then milled out at the top half to be a single piece of material but also has the open channel on half the handle to provide more grip and less weight on the handles. This has the sturdiness of a channel handle with the grip of a sandwich one, which helps the gale achieve its signature ringing sound, which can be seen in this post about my personal Gale!

Chanwich (Version 2)

The other kind of “chanwich” construction would be by Palethius. This is used on his Ronin Balisongs, which you can see here.

The Ronin is constructed of two separate pieces that have an extended channel on each side that, when constructed, creates a singular channel. This has the same weight, feel and sound of a channel construction Balisong with an easier time taking it apart and putting it together as there are two separate pieces. There are also special G10 inlays that are press fit into the handles to create a truly unique handle design

Scales on Channels

The final unique type of construction that is found is by Squid Industries on their trainer, the Nautilus.

The Nautilus is a channel aluminium trainer that also has G10 scales on top of it. This is achieved by a completely flat and thin channel handle that has space to put scales on top, with the pivot screws and screws at the bottom of the handles keeping it in place.

This offers a very unique experience, with the lightness and smoothness of a thin channel aluminum handle and the grip of G10 scales on top of it. This one is also the most affordable and is recommended for people who are more experienced in flipping and want to try something new and different.

Conclusion

So, in the end, there are a few different types of Balisong construction methods that have their pros and cons. They feel different to one another and can provide a different flipping experience depending on the material and what construction they use. However, regardless of what type it is though, any well made Balisong can be a great flipper and a very enjoyable experience so get out there and try some new Balisongs!