Origin of the Balisong?

MaharlikaTimawa · 13th October 2016, 09:53 PM

The oldest knife I know which looks like a balisong is dated from the end of the 18th century (179?). It's called "Pied Du Roy". I found it in a Cutlery Museum in France.
There's a photo there :
http://www.balisong.net/en/history.htm

What I know is that martial arts weapons were banned in the Philippines when they were under Spanish Rule. About 103 years ago, when the Filipino people were "liberated" from the Spanish by the American people, the ban on martial arts weapons was droped. At about that time, a man from France helped the people in the Batangas area to start up a knife making industry.

Most of people think that the balisong comes from the Philippines. That's true that the name "balisong" and the fashion came from here. But the idea of the knife, the concept of separating the handle in 2 mobile parts... some people think it comes from Europe (the Spanish would have brought it to the Philippines Islands).

Still not sure if the Balisong is a European innovation or that the Balisong was independently made by Filipinos and the whole design in Europe is possible a coincidence.

RobT · 22nd October 2016, 05:47 PM

Hi All,

If you look at a typical Spanish fan and then replace the fan with a knife blade, you will see that the balisong and the fan are very similar mechanically. A trip to southern Spain many years ago revealed this to me as I watched Spanish women flipping their fans open and closed with a flick of the wrist in a motion that was very similar to the one used to open and close a balisong. The Spanish were in the Philippines for a long time. Perhaps that was the origin.

Sincerely,
RobT

Battara · 22nd October 2016, 07:52 PM

I go more with Maharlika's argument. I came to the same conclusion years ago when I bumped into the knife of origin coming from Chicago back in the 1920s.

VANDOO · 23rd October 2016, 04:38 AM

BRINGING UP FANS IS INTERESTING, THE MOVEMENT IS SIMILAR AND THERE HAVE BEEN WAR FANS SOME WITH SHARP BLADES IN CHINA AND JAPAN AND PERHAPS OTHER COUNTRIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

RobT · 25th October 2016, 04:31 AM

Vandoo,

I am aware of the Japanese and Chinese war fans but I've never seen one close up to examine the mechanism. If the war fan mechanism is the same as on the balisong, a Chinese origin may be credible. That may depend on when the balisong first appeared in the Philippines and when Philippine natives would have likely last seen a war fan. The further apart those two dates are, the less likely is a Chinese origin unless you want to postulate that the knife itself was actually invented by the Chinese. Fascinating discussion.

Sincerely,
RobT

Battara · 25th October 2016, 10:13 PM

However the US and Balisong mechanisms are virtually identical.

13th October 2016, 09:53 PM	#1
MaharlikaTimawa Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 33	Origin of the Balisong? The oldest knife I know which looks like a balisong is dated from the end of the 18th century (179?). It's called "Pied Du Roy". I found it in a Cutlery Museum in France. There's a photo there : http://www.balisong.net/en/history.htm What I know is that martial arts weapons were banned in the Philippines when they were under Spanish Rule. About 103 years ago, when the Filipino people were "liberated" from the Spanish by the American people, the ban on martial arts weapons was droped. At about that time, a man from France helped the people in the Batangas area to start up a knife making industry. Most of people think that the balisong comes from the Philippines. That's true that the name "balisong" and the fashion came from here. But the idea of the knife, the concept of separating the handle in 2 mobile parts... some people think it comes from Europe (the Spanish would have brought it to the Philippines Islands). Still not sure if the Balisong is a European innovation or that the Balisong was independently made by Filipinos and the whole design in Europe is possible a coincidence. Last edited by Robert; 14th October 2016 at 02:56 AM. Reason: Off topic comment.

22nd October 2016, 05:47 PM	#2
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 492	Spanish Fan Hi All, If you look at a typical Spanish fan and then replace the fan with a knife blade, you will see that the balisong and the fan are very similar mechanically. A trip to southern Spain many years ago revealed this to me as I watched Spanish women flipping their fans open and closed with a flick of the wrist in a motion that was very similar to the one used to open and close a balisong. The Spanish were in the Philippines for a long time. Perhaps that was the origin. Sincerely, RobT

25th October 2016, 04:31 AM	#5
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 492	Possible Japanese or Chinese Fans Vandoo, I am aware of the Japanese and Chinese war fans but I've never seen one close up to examine the mechanism. If the war fan mechanism is the same as on the balisong, a Chinese origin may be credible. That may depend on when the balisong first appeared in the Philippines and when Philippine natives would have likely last seen a war fan. The further apart those two dates are, the less likely is a Chinese origin unless you want to postulate that the knife itself was actually invented by the Chinese. Fascinating discussion. Sincerely, RobT

22nd October 2016, 07:52 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	I go more with Maharlika's argument. I came to the same conclusion years ago when I bumped into the knife of origin coming from Chicago back in the 1920s.

23rd October 2016, 04:38 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	BRINGING UP FANS IS INTERESTING, THE MOVEMENT IS SIMILAR AND THERE HAVE BEEN WAR FANS SOME WITH SHARP BLADES IN CHINA AND JAPAN AND PERHAPS OTHER COUNTRIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

25th October 2016, 10:13 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	However the US and Balisong mechanisms are virtually identical.