A butterfly knife, also known as a balisong, is a fun and cool way to open and close your pocket knife. This article will show you how to make your own butterfly knife, using Popsicle sticks!
To start, you’ll need a tongue depressor-sized stick along with some regular-sized Popsicle sticks and some cotton swabs. Once you’ve got the sticks and the tongue depressor cut to size, you’re ready to go!
Blade
Butterfly knives are one of the most popular folding knife designs in the world. They are incredibly simple to manufacture and don’t require the complex tooling and tight tolerances found in some other folding knife designs.
They’re also cheaper to make and less expensive to buy than some other folding knives. So, they’re great options for beginners.
These knives are easy to open, safe, and fully ambidextrous. They’re a fun, unique addition to any collection, and they make a great party trick.
You’ll want to choose a blade that has a good edge for flipping, though it isn’t necessary. Some balisongs are more difficult to flip than others, so it’s important to find a blade that you can get comfortable with.
Handles
The handles on your butterfly knife are crucial in allowing you to flip and fold your knife. They’re also one of the most difficult parts to make, so it’s important to get them right.
Handles can be made from a variety of materials, but the best ones for you are going to depend on what you want from your knife and what you think is best for you personally. For starters, you’re likely to get a lot more performance from a handle made from ASA than from one made of aluminum.
Once you’ve found the material that you like, it’s time to put together the handles. The process can be a little tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be on your way to making your own butterfly knives. To start with, you’ll need a tongue depressor-sized stick and a few Popsicle sticks. You can then glue those two things together and sand them down until they’re ready to be used as handles.
Stoppers
Butterfly knives have a few different parts, so understanding the anatomy of these cool tools is important. Some of these parts include pivots, washers, bushings, ball bearings, and Zen or Tang pins.
Pivots are a cylindrical shaft that connects the blade and handles together, allowing rotational movement. They’re also used to improve handle tolerances and increase the smoothness of swinging.
Washers are thin rings that separate the handles from the blade. They can be made from many different materials, including carbon fiber, G10, or titanium.
Ball Bearings are spherical balls that sit on the surface of the blade or inside the handle, improving both the feel and sound of the swing. They can also be used to drastically improve the handle tolerances.
The Bear & Son Cutlery brand has been around for almost 40 years and offers a wide range of knives, ranging from fixed blades to folding knives and butterfly knives. Their Bear Ops division offers tactical style offerings, which represent great value.
Finishing Touches
A custom pivot makes for a truly functional blade, while the patented half-stop design offers smooth opening and closing action. A glass-filled nylon backspacer and lanyard hole add a touch of class to an otherwise understated piece of hardware. A well-designed handle in green canvas micarta is just the icing on the cake. The CPM-154 blade steel holds an impressive edge and glides through tasks like a boss. The Kershaw Federalist is a solid performer, with a non-locking slipjoint and double detent system to keep the blade in place. A custom octagon holder is the sexiest thing you can put in a pocket, and the green handle is as satisfying to hold as it is to look at. It is certainly the gimme of the group, thanks to a thoughtfully selected balance of materials and craftsmanship. It is also the newest member of the fold, so be sure to check it out in person.
The aforementioned blade, along with the requisite handles and the octagon holder, are the centerpieces of this homage to American craftsmanship. Using some serious tools and imagination, you too can build a butterfly worthy of its namesake, and perhaps even a worthy opponent for your favorite pocket knife.