Balisong and the town of Taal

[Ferguson]

Man, those look great! I'm so jealous. $5 for a good balisong? Incredible.
Steve

[Lew]

Yes a $5 foot long

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Ferguson

Man, those look great! I'm so jealous. $5 for a good balisong? Incredible.

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Yes a $5 foot long

Hi Steve, Hi Lew,

Yup the price is unbelievable. In fact I have to ask the storeowner 3 to 4 times as I can't believe my own ears

But upon closer examination, the Taal, Batangas pricing of Usd 5 looks logical -- about 30 miles (50 km) away in the neighboring Laguna province, there's this roadside balisong store in Alaminos town (pics below).

I also checked out that store and they sell their balisongs (made also in Barangay Balisong, Taal, Batangas) for Usd 10 each (the veinte-nueve kind).

So it's Usd 5 if it's "farm gate price" right in Bgy. Balisong in Taal, and then the price doubles at a store merely 50 km away.

From Bgy. Balisong to Manila, it's about 120 km (70 miles) away. Am sure that in a Manila store that pays rent in a mall with hired storekeepers (vs. a mom and pop operation in the provinces with no rent & overhead to cover), the same balisong will go for anywhere between Usd 15 to 20.

And make the same balisong cross the Pacific Ocean, then I guess the retail price would already be anywhere between Usd 40 to 60.

Which perhaps is just right given that the crappy smaller balisongs sell in the US for Usd 10 to 20:

Video of a crappy balisong that you can bend with your bare hands!

More balisongs of the Usd 10 to 20 (local US price) kind

[migueldiaz]

... more pics from the same Alaminos, Laguna store:

[migueldiaz]

With nothing else better to do on a New Year's day holiday I put one of the Batangas balisongs under the acid test -- the piercing of the local one-peso coin via the blade's tip.

The long and short of it is that it's so far so good (pic below).

I think though that I lack the technique because the coin is supposed to be pierced through to the other side. My furious stabbing of the defiant coin pierced the coin only halfway at best!

I don't have a good camera with me at the moment thus the pic below is crappy. But the tip of the balisong even after that mindless stabbing episode remained sharp and pointy.

[migueldiaz]

I realize that we're supposed to focus here on ethnic weapons.

But I can't help but mention how the balisong has evolved into modern day "tacticool" knives. And some of those are pretty exotic designs that baffles one's imagination!

Most if not all of the images are taken from the blades board of a Filipino shooters forum.

[migueldiaz]

Here's another interesting modern balisong, obviously inspired by you-know-who, and with real diamonds!

I'm not into these exotic stuff as it's not my cup of tea ... that is, aside from not having the sufficient funds to even entertain the idea

So I am posting all these for academic interest only!

[harimauhk]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

I think though that I lack the technique because the coin is supposed to be pierced through to the other side. My furious stabbing of the defiant coin pierced the coin only halfway at best!

The test was performed with the old 1 Piso coin--the new ones are harder I guess. I picked up seven balisongs this time and I'm waiting for them to arrive by EMS and post...hopefully they make it through OK!

The Customs guy at the airport said "kris!" when my bag went through the X-Ray--I had a two foot long kris and a bolo in there too, but he didn't comment on the bolo. A few minutes later, he came up to me and said, "you know, the fan knife in your suitcase is prohibited. The other guy said I should confiscate it." I told him I only had one and he said, "it's probably better you check in early. I'll tell the guys that you're a good guy. Don't worry." He didn't ask me for money (I thought he would), which was pretty cool. Apparently lots of balis get seized at NAIA, but I always seem to get through just fine (although I did get asked for cotong (is that the right spelling in Tagalog?) in January.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by harimauhk

The test was performed with the old 1 Piso coin--the new ones are harder I guess. I picked up seven balisongs this time and I'm waiting for them to arrive by EMS and post...hopefully they make it through OK!

The Customs guy at the airport said "kris!" when my bag went through the X-Ray--I had a two foot long kris and a bolo in there too, but he didn't comment on the bolo. A few minutes later, he came up to me and said, "you know, the fan knife in your suitcase is prohibited. The other guy said I should confiscate it." I told him I only had one and he said, "it's probably better you check in early. I'll tell the guys that you're a good guy. Don't worry." He didn't ask me for money (I thought he would), which was pretty cool. Apparently lots of balis get seized at NAIA, but I always seem to get through just fine (although I did get asked for cotong (is that the right spelling in Tagalog?) in January.

The shipment should get to you I'm sure

Because reading the shipping rules thru the balisongs in post no. 31 above, the balisongs don't fall under any of the prohibited items

Those guys at the Manila [NAIA] airport customs & security are inconsistent, but they tend to be more forgiving especially to tourists and foreigners.

PS - "kotong" is the usual spelling, but "c" is also ok. but of course kotong is not ok

On a related matter, I passed by Lipa City, Batangas yesterday. I took that opportunity to go to the public market to look for some utility bolos.

I was with my wife and both of us know the routine -- I check out the sharp and pointed things, while she checks out the household goods which I think we have enough already. The feeling is mutual as I'm sure all can surmise, and the modus vivendi works out very well

The bolos' price range is from US$ 4, to 10 (the latter being the "disubo" [literally, "was made to swallow"], that is, a bolo with a harder steel metal insert along the cutting edge side.

Here's a pic I took of the some of the bolos, with shop assistant taking the opportunity to pose with his goods: