Blades & Such
DOUBLE-KNIVES
A “double-knife” is a knife which has two blades one on either end of the handle. They are usually folders, but fixed-blade versions have been encountered as well. Dual-bladed pocketknives without lock mechanisms are not considered to be weapons, and would not fall into this category.
There are a few double-lock blades commercially available most of which have either thumb studs or blade cutouts which would be considered to be “double- knives.” I have seen a few automatic versions as well (although these are extremely rare, and usually only one blade is spring-loaded). Typically, the blades are under 4″ in length (and often are under 3″). When both blades have been locked into place, a blade will protrude from either end of one’s fist.
Fixed-blade versions typically fall into the “fantasy knife” category, and are more suited for display purposes than actual use. Homemade versions have also been encountered, either made from a pair of blades fixed in a single handle, or ground from a file (or thin metal bar) and wrapped with tape in the center. Occasionally, a yawara fist load will be fitted with a small blade (or spike) on either end, which would also fit the parameters of this category.
Despite their menacing appearance, double-knives are poor weapons. They usually are equipped with neither hilt, nor finger-grooves, allowing one’s hand to slide over the blade upon impact with bone. Furthermore, the wielder would constantly be in danger of accidentally stabbing or cutting himself, as one of his blades would often be pointed back in his direction during the heat of combat.
EXPANDABLE BLADES
An “expandable blade” knife typically appears to be a weird-looking, short-bladed, single-edged sheath knife, but upon depressing a lock button, the blade can be folded out of the handle to reveal that it is actually nearly eight inches long! Needless to say, if you are unfamiliar with such a weapon, facing one can be somewhat disconcerting.
The truth is, these monster knives are crap. They became popular for a few years during the 80′s, when flea-markets were flooded with them. They were typically marketed under the names “Cobra” or “Othello,” and sold for under $15. The blades are usually as dull as a butter knife, the folding cross guard often comes detached, the handles are usually made of hollow plastic formed to look like stag horn, and they come in a crappy vinyl sheath. They are garbage.
When the blade is folded into its compact mode, it is actually fairly sturdy, as it becomes like a full tang hunting knife (albeit a poor quality one). When expanded, however, the knife may appear far more menacing, and the reach will be greatly extended, but the lock and pin are so cheaply constructed that the knife could easily fall apart if subjected to lateral pressure or impact with a solid object. Do not let this “weapon” intimidate you . . . it is just a cheap novelty item.
SWITCHBLADES
Switchblades (as commonly defined by law) are knives which open automatically via spring propulsion upon manipulation of a button, lever, or switch. They typically fall into one of two categories, side-openers and front-openers. Side-openers are what most people think of when the term “switchblade” is used, and encompass probably 85% of all automatic knives in circulation. Upon activation, a spring flips open this folding knife and it is locked into place. Older knives (like the ones popular with youth gangs of the 1950s) typically utilized a bent piece of ill-tempered spring steel (which often snapped or lost resilience over time), whereas newer blades marketed towards military personnel utilize a type of coil spring. Knives of this sort manufactured in Mexico and the Far East tend to be shoddy rubbish.
Front-openers usually have a weak dual-spring mechanism that allows the lightweight blade to be both snapped out as well as retracted at the touch of a switch. The blade is held in place by means of small brass tabs which are easily broken. If you place your finger over the blade slot and activate the knife, the blade will not break the skin and will slide back and forth loosely until pulled out to the locked position. This novelty item is a poor weapon, and the cheap blade provided doesn’t even make a decent letter opener.
A rarely encountered variant of the front-opener uses a powerful coil spring to snap the typically double-edged blade into place. This weapon is designed to be pressed against a victim’s body before being activated, thus making it is ideal for discreetly backstabbing someone in a crowd. In order to retract the blade, it must be unlocked before pressing the tip firmly into the floor often, two hands are required to do this. Knives of this sort are sometimes offered for sale in Tijuana and other Mexican border towns.
Switchblades are favored by street punks, barroom brawlers, and other emotionally immature criminals. They were becoming scarce for a time, but there was a resurgence in their popularity due to a legal loophole which allowed them to be sold through the mail in “uncompleted kit form.” They are more of a novelty than anything, generally being too flimsy and dull to be relied upon for fighting or work, although they are specifically prohibited as “deadly weapons” in most states.
Switchblades are illegal to possess in most jurisdictions (with limited exceptions made for hunters, trappers, fishermen, collectors, and certain disabled persons), tend to be poorly constructed, and break fairly easily. Lint, gunk, and corrosion will make them jam up and fail to function. Quality lock blades with thumbstuds or cutouts can be opened nearly as fast, are far more reliable, and are legal to carry on one’s person. Carrying an illegal switchblade is stupid when such an alternative is available.
BALISONGS
Balisongs are often called “butterfly knives,” “Manila folders,” or (incorrectly) “gravity knives.” Invented in the Phillipines about a century ago, they consist of a pair of free-swinging handles connected to a blade by a pair of pins. When closed, the two handles ensheath the blade. To open the knife, one of the handles is grasped while the other is flipped away by means of inertia, exposing the blade. With both handles firmly grasped, the blade is locked securely into position. The balisong is far sturdier than most lock blades, can be opened nearly as fast as a switchblade, and cannot unlock and fold on one’s fingers so long as the handles are grasped. The balisong can be flipped open about a dozen different ways, and martial artists who favor this weapon can do so very quickly in an impressive display of manual dexterity. Even in relatively unskilled hands, with a little bit of practice this knife can be spun and whirled with a menacing clicking noise, making it popular among gang members and street punks who enjoy intimidating civilians.
Most commercially available balisongs have a latch on one of the handles that fits into a slot on the other, effectively locking the handles together when the knife is opened or closed. This latch often gets in the way (sometimes inadvertently locking unexpectedly or even chipping the blade’s edge) while flipping the knife open and closed in practice, so many practitioners either remove it or custom order latchless versions. Wrapping the latch with a small strip of cut electrical tape can help prevent this.
Balisongs vary greatly in quality. Most of the ones on the street are imported garbage with dull blades that either fail to open due to excessive tightness, or fall apart due to loose pins. Handmade balisongs from the Phillipines tend to be very high carbon steel which can take a fine edge, but requires constant maintenance to prevent corrosion. Old balisongs from Taylor and Frost cutlery were of passable quality, but are seldom seen anymore. Benchmade offered good quality mass-produced balisongs, as well as custom variants (which often exceeded $300), and has recently reintroduced the balisong in a modernized version (titanium handles and hex-nuts for pins) which costs around $200. Bear cutlery offered a balisong recently, but a lot of people were disappointed with it. Blades made by Jaguar and Manila Folder are popular, but rather shoddy. The most commonly encountered balisong on the street is the cheap no- name brand that either sticks shut or has loose pins it’s like fighting with an aluminum tent stake.
Balisongs are as legal as lock blades in most jurisdictions, but some municipalities have specifically prohibited them. Even when they are not prohibited under state law, they are sometimes prohibited under local ordinances. If a local ordinance is violated, the knife in question can be confiscated and its owner subject to a fine.
