Making the Balisong
Leslie L. Buck, Jr.
The balisong has long been known as a beautiful and unique weapon of the Philippines. Also known as the Batangas knife, butterfly knife, or click click knife, the balisong gets its name from 2 words. Bali, which means to bend or to break in Pilipino, and song that comes from sungay, the horn of the water buffalo. The balisong was once entirely made from buffalo horn, which has a plastic-like quality and is easily carved. Because the knife folds or bends and was made of this horn, the combination of words, balisong, became its name.Legends of the balisong also tell of a Filipino warrior who once killed 29 opponents with his balisong. From this story comes another popular name for the blade - veintinueve. The actual origin of the blade design is unknown, but it is the Philippines that made it famous. Today balisong are made in the Batangas province of Luzon in the northern Philippines. Families produce the blades in small workshops found especially in Barangay Balisong, a small town named after the blade itself.
In my trips to the Philippines, I often like to visit Batangas, which is especially beautiful. Views from the city of Tagaytay, together with the cool mountain air make a great place to relax or train. Taal Volcano is a popular attraction nearby. It is known as the "island within a lake, within an island, within a lake." After crossing a lake to the volcano, one can hike up the largest crater to look inside the volcano. In the crater is a very large lake with a small island inside. Steam hisses out of the mountain itself as the volcano is still active.
Barangay Balisong and the other small towns that produce the balisong are not far away. In fact, there are several workshops that make them. Usually, a workshop is dedicated to production or assembly of only one part of the balisong. A panday or blacksmith will produce the blade, another artisan will sharpen it. Someone else will produce the handles, and others will polish the final product.
