Origin of the Balisong?

RobT · 22nd October 2016, 04:47 PM

Hi All,

If you look at a typical Spanish fan and then replace the fan with a knife blade, you will see that the balisong and the fan are very similar mechanically. A trip to southern Spain many years ago revealed this to me as I watched Spanish women flipping their fans open and closed with a flick of the wrist in a motion that was very similar to the one used to open and close a balisong. The Spanish were in the Philippines for a long time. Perhaps that was the origin.

Sincerely,
RobT

22nd October 2016, 04:47 PM	#2
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 535	Spanish Fan Hi All, If you look at a typical Spanish fan and then replace the fan with a knife blade, you will see that the balisong and the fan are very similar mechanically. A trip to southern Spain many years ago revealed this to me as I watched Spanish women flipping their fans open and closed with a flick of the wrist in a motion that was very similar to the one used to open and close a balisong. The Spanish were in the Philippines for a long time. Perhaps that was the origin. Sincerely, RobT