First Class Balisong
 

Below are photos of a first class balisong from the Southern Tagalog province of Batangas in the Philippines. The blade is made of stainless steel, the handle of brass and the scales of carabao (water buffalo) horn. It is twenty nine centimeters long (extended length) and thus known as the "veinte nueve" (with "v" pronounced as "b" and "e" as in "echo") or 29 in Spanish. While it remains a utility knife and self defense weapon in the provinces, it is generally illegal (with some exceptions) on the streets of the Metro Manila. This example is of recent manufacture.

Beautiful example!

Thank you for sharing! :)

I didn't know they were illegal in metro Manila...... :eek:

Well, if caught with one, just tell the police that you use it to cut marihuana:-)

:D :D :D

You're welcome Mariusgmioc!

Fernando

Hi Battara,

The 29 is illegal (w/ exceptions) but smaller blades are tolerated.

Fernando

Thanks for posting this nice example. I managed to pick up several knives of this form when I visited Manila many years ago. They came via a friend in Cavite and the oldest was probably made in the 1950s. I gave them as gifts to Filipino friends here in the U.S.

At roughly 11.4 inches overall, with a blade of a little over 5 inches in length, the "29" is a formidable street weapon and I'm not surprised they are not allowed to be carried in Metro Manila. I think that law has been in place for quite a long time, at least going back to the Marcos period of martial law.

Ian.

Hi Ian,

You're welcome!

Also, you are correct. It's been banned since 1972 together with other bladed weapons such as bolo, kris, barong, etc.

Kind regards,

Fernando

Really love your balisong.... Thanks for sharing!
I have only 3 balisongs.... All of them are Beinte Nueve....
Here in Sweden we are allowed to own these kind of knives but they can not be carried.... If we shall import them we must have an import permit that is why I only have 3 so far but it will be more... :)

Best,
Stefan
Sweden

Hello Stefan,

Thank you! You have a nice collection.

Actually, it's the same here. We are allowed to own but not to carry. I should have been clearer in my articulation.

Kind regards,

Fernando