Thread: Balisong
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Old 02-05-2009, 10:42 AM
ExamonLyf ExamonLyf is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: So California
Posts: 529
Welcome to the Forums.., and from your description.., it sounds like a model Gutmann called..."The Original Balisong".., made in the Filipino tradition of using folded U-Shape type brass channel material. There were a few sizes of those.., from up to about a 5" blade, and as small as 3" if I remember right.

The value of the piece depends primarily on how much someone that collects Balisongs wants one. The quality of the pinning at the pivots isn't that good on those, and they tend to fall apart (or get very loose) if they are carried and used a lot. The blade is not stainless, so it's a good idea to store it properly. They do rust easily.

Very nice collectible piece though, and I've seen MINTY "Like New", with the slide-top wooden box, leather sheath, papers, etc., go for around $150 in the past, but not recently.

They were made in the 80's.., and I don't believe they were made at any time prior to the 80's (although Gutmann was around a long time).

Hope that helps.., and good find.

They are fun knives, and generally they flip "OK" if you stretch the pins a tiny bit ~~> they tend to come pretty tight in the pivot area brand new. They truly are very traditional in the Filipino-Handmade-Sense, so a nice knife to add to any Balisong collection.

I've got a bunch of them myself somewhere ...


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Last edited by ExamonLyf; 02-05-2009 at 10:44 AM.
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