View Full Version : The Filipino Balisong (Butterfly) Knife & The Law
ricardo123
24-02-05, 06:24 PM
Hello my friends!
I am interested in martial arts and have been enquiring about balisong knives which I am told are illegal in the UK.
I have asked some questions on a couple of martial arts forums about them but I seem to be getting conflicting opinions, so I thought I would ask the experts!
If anyone knows the answers to these questions it would be greatly appreciated.
:?:
1) I am aware it is illegal to import or buy a balisong knife. Is it illegal to buy/import a training (drone) knife which looks the same but has an 'unsharpenable' blade. I have seen U.S. websites that sell these, but none in the UK. If I bought one from here:- http://www.888knivesrus.com/product/BM40. Do I risk having customs confiscate it? (its about £50).
:?:
2) Is it illegal to own (a real) one in your own house (providing you bought it before they were banned). Unfortunately I didn't. :-(
3) If anyone has researched this previously, do you know exactly why they were banned? I can go down to B&Q and buy an arsenal of more dangerous looking equipment!
Thanks for your time,
Rich
Anarcus
24-02-05, 07:24 PM
1) Your on very dodgy ground. It's capable of being sharpened. They don't care that its untempered or what ever. More likely than confiscation is a court appearance. And it's very serious.
2) Yes, totaly
3) Usual c###!!!!!
Hi Rich
To answer your questions.
1. A drone is not illegal to import if the blade is clearly for training purposes. If you import one with the different coloured blades and completely dull edge you will probably be OK. You need to be aware that a lot of the so called 'unsharpeneable' ones sold in the US are marketed like that to get round the law. What it really means is you CAN sharpen them. Stick to a proper training model with a coloured, dull, blunt, blade. The Benchmade one you refer to should be OK, but it could be seized and you may have to argue your case.
2. It is legal to own a balisong in your home purchased prior to the ban. Or if it is over a hundred years old, as then it is an antique.
3. Because politicians are shallow and stupid.
;)
Danzo
Anarcus
24-02-05, 08:43 PM
One out of three.
Realy should leave things like this too 'em as knows.
Danzo realy does know.
Appologies.
Danzo is spot on. You may have problems with customs still but some photo's and a letter may help explain you case.
trojanargus
25-02-05, 12:11 AM
3. Because politicians are shallow and stupid.
Danzo
Oooohhhhhhhhhhhhh yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh :D
ricardo123
25-02-05, 11:30 PM
Hi Guys,
Many thanks for taking the time to reply and give me that information!
All the best,
Rich
I hope you'll stay around for a while Rich?
Danzo
If this is something you want for martial arts training , i would suggest making one ! i dont think it would be too dificult , but would advise a "softer" material for the blade so the "training" blade can never be used to cause harm .
Pumbaa
ricardo123
26-02-05, 12:20 PM
I sure will Danzo, some great stuff on the forum, thanks!
Good idea Pumbaa, I will have a look into it.
Has anyone else ever made one who has some ideas (A blunt training balisong).
Wayne D
01-04-05, 08:41 PM
Has anyone else ever made one who has some ideas (A blunt training balisong).
Yes, I have ! I made 3 drones for training Ladies on anti Rape courses I used to run. I took my patterns from a Balisong that I already owned .
I made the blade from Aluminium barstock that I shaped and rounded, and used small sealed bearing races to give it the speed I needed. The 'handle' was made by taking pieces of drilled brass barstock shaped to put weight at the lock to create enough weight to open them at speed.
I still have 5 bearing sets left if you want a set PM me with your address and I will send you a set.
Yes, I have ! I made 3 drones for training Ladies on anti Rape courses I used to run. I took my patterns from a Balisong that I already owned .
I made the blade from Aluminium barstock that I shaped and rounded, and used small sealed bearing races to give it the speed I needed. The 'handle' was made by taking pieces of drilled brass barstock shaped to put weight at the lock to create enough weight to open them at speed.
I still have 5 bearing sets left if you want a set PM me with your address and I will send you a set.
Before anyone panics these are perfectly legal to sell in the UK. I say that as I panicked slightly, slipped on my Mod badge and gun, spilled my wine, then realised it was an old kosher thread.
;)
Danzo
Hi Rich
2. It is legal to own a balisong in your home purchased prior to the ban. Or if it is over a hundred years old, as then it is an antique.
Danzo
So out of curiosity, say Ross was searching a home (using Ross as he would be more aware of knives than the average PC) and he came across 2 balis, one which was made prior to the ban and a newer model which clearly couldn't have been purchased before the ban. What gives in that situation, is it ok because it's confined to the home or can the home owner run into bother because a PC like Ross knows the knife was purchased after the ban?
So out of curiosity, say Ross was searching a home (using Ross as he would be more aware of knives than the average PC) and he came across 2 balis, one which was made prior to the ban and a newer model which clearly couldn't have been purchased before the ban. What gives in that situation, is it ok because it's confined to the home or can the home owner run into bother because a PC like Ross knows the knife was purchased after the ban?
If your home is being searched, Qvar, then it is for a whole lot worse than a suspected Balisong.
When I used to fall out regularly with police officers because they were paid to hit me because I said that Apartheid was wrong, outside the SA Embassy in Trafalgar Square, I didn't carry a knife.
Easy decision really.
;)
Danzo
Well "searched" was maybe the wrong word I used which led you to think that there was something much worse going on involving the home owner.
We've had police in our house finger printing, having a quick look round for someone they were looking for as well as asking us about recent crimes. It was more that kind of scenario but it's all trivial really, I'm sure they'd be much more interested in the matter at hand but wondered if an aware officer could make something from the situation I described.
I agree, it's wise not to carry a knife if your regularly going to fall out with police officers.
Anyways, apologies to the original poster, I'm side tracking your thread a bit.
Wayne D
02-04-05, 09:26 PM
Before anyone panics these are perfectly legal to sell in the UK. I say that as I panicked slightly, slipped on my Mod badge and gun, spilled my wine, then realised it was an old kosher thread.
Firstly me ol' mate , I wouldn't have posted and offered the bearings if they weren't ('cos I'm a good boy like that :rolleyes: ) and also thats why I made the drones with bar aluminium! they were easy to shape, polished well, were heavy and couldn't be mistaken for a a 'live' blade! they looked very similar to the 'Balisong Drones'.
Firstly me ol' mate , I wouldn't have posted and offered the bearings if they weren't ('cos I'm a good boy like that :rolleyes: ) and also thats why I made the drones with bar aluminium! they were easy to shape, polished well, were heavy and couldn't be mistaken for a a 'live' blade! they looked very similar to the 'Balisong Drones'.
I know that you know, but sometimes others get a bit distressed when we mention balisongs.
Nuffink at all to do with your good self.
:D
Danzo
Wayne D
03-04-05, 07:14 PM
I know that you know
I know that you know I know :rolleyes:
I was just clarifying for everyone else realy ;)
MotorbikeMan
03-04-05, 10:08 PM
Purely out of curiosity (and mainly cos I had a rather nice brass handled one stolen some years ago which I was given pre ban) what are the reasons for the ban on balisongs?
sorry to go a tad off topic. Wayne would you be ok showing me them at some point.
(I can see myself making a drone for practice in the training room
Purely out of curiosity (and mainly cos I had a rather nice brass handled one stolen some years ago which I was given pre ban) what are the reasons for the ban on balisongs?
I've often wondered this as well. My thoughts are they were maybe seen as a weapon of choice (as well as an auto) due to their almost "flash image" and quick opening (before the whole thumb stud/hole thing took off) making them a victim of their own success really.
Now with thumb holes/studs other knives can open quicker or as quick as balis/autos but at the end of the day the law has been passed and I wouldn't think it'll change anytime soon.
They were popular with football hooligans, they were easily pocketable and quick to deploy. They were seen only to be a weapon.
MotorbikeMan
03-04-05, 11:06 PM
They were popular with football hooligans, they were easily pocketable and quick to deploy. They were seen only to be a weapon.
Fair enough
Wayne D
04-04-05, 06:30 PM
sorry to go a tad off topic. Wayne would you be ok showing me them at some point.
(I can see myself making a drone for practice in the training room)
sure I will bring them along to the next EMCCU meetup that I know Danzo is arranging in the next couple of months (or so he suggested recently) :D
I will bring a couple and you can 'borrow' one if you like to have a look at, at your leisure.
As to being off topic, we are attempting to keep within the Law with our very own Ross and Danzo, seeing what we are doing and advising on it!
They were popular with football hooligans, they were easily pocketable and quick to deploy. They were seen only to be a weapon.
I used to own a butterfly knife which I found very useful for exactly those reasons. at the time I didnt know it was illegal I have since returnrd it to its original owner.
But I found that at time's it was very useful to have a blade which could be opened and locked quickly and one handed and unlocked and closed and put back in your pocket one handed and quickly. + it had a very useful shaped blade. I dont know what the blade was called but I will attempt to describe.
imagine a spearpoint with the width narrowed slightly towards the handle it was great at cutting sheets of well anything + i could keep one side razor sharp and the other side just sharp for rough work. it was the first spearpint I owned and I will be making another as soon as I get more into knife making
Fishy, might I enquire why you have gone through the archives to find and comment on one post out of many thousands which deals with a banned knife?
Danzo
I think Colin would like a word with you Fishy.
Danzo
Hepotec
11-10-05, 07:47 PM
When I used to fall out regularly with police officers because they were paid to hit me because I said that Apartheid was wrong, outside the SA Embassy in Trafalgar Square, I didn't carry a knife.
Easy decision really.
;)
Danzo
Hey, I was there too...Happy days....Not the being hit by coppers bit....The "going down to that big city for a demonstration and getting drunk" bit.
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