The Philippine Balisong Invented by Perfecto de Leon

The Philippine Balisong
Invented by Perfecto de Leon

The Balisong knife, occasionally called the Batangas knife, is a deadly weapon that is in the hand of an expert can be opened as fast as, if not faster, than a Western switch blade. The majority of Balisong knives come from Barrio Balisong in Batangas province Philippines. It is claimed that "Perfecto de Leon" is the father of Balisong and records have it that the first one was made in 1905.

With the advent of the Industrial revolution, requirements for the lowly "Itak" or bolo decreased and Perfecto de Leon turned to manufacturing knives and eventually to development and propagation of the balisong as a weapon truly Filipino

Barrio Balisong shares the industry with the other near by barrios such as Pook, Buli, and Tolo.

It is common for families to do piece-work for the main manufacturer. This helps supplement their regular income and provides the general populace with a cottage industry. The average balisong maker can finish three to four knives a day. In properly managed balisong factory, the process is divided into specialized areas of labor. There is a blacksmith who forges and prepares the blade; the handle maker prepares the rough frames of the balisong.

Another individual concentrates on preparing the latches for the balisong. Several people are employed to prepare and insert the various inlays used to decorate a balisong and put together the blade, the handle and the latches.

The blade of a balisong is made from several materials depending on the quality required by the manufacturer.

Ordinary balisongs are usually made from scrap iron, automotive leaf springs, ball bearing housings or used steel files. The official sizes of a balisong knife is 29 centimeters in overall leght. There are balisongs made to order with sixteen to twenty four inches blades, but these are not of the standard type but more of novelty. After World War II, during what is known as the liberation period, balisong knives became popular among the American soldiers who bought them back with them to the Western World.

Today, the balisong is again receiving an even greater popularity with the revival of martial arts and the impact of modern communications media such as print publications and features films. In some cases, the balisong is even reffered to as "Ninja Knife", possibly the product of western creative mind, attributing to the right application but the wrong country of origin.