Tested: The Best Butterfly Knives To Carry Daily

First invented in either France or the Philippines — depending on who you ask — butterfly knives (or Balisong knives) have long been something of the black sheep of the folding knife world, having very little in common with typical folder designs, above and beyond featuring a handle and folding blade. In a bid to give these unique blades the attention they deserve, we’ve pieced together this extensive guide to the best butterfly knives on the market, where we’ll be diving into what exactly a butterfly knife is, what to consider when shopping for one, before moving on to our picks and hands-on reviews of the best butterfly knives that money can buy.

How We Tested

There’s admittedly a huge number of admittedly stellar butterfly knives currently on the market. In a bid to discover the best models this segment has to offer, we began our search by first generating a list of criteria that would be used to guide our selection process. This included looking at factors such as handle type and material, handle machining or grip pattern, pivot system, blade size, and blade steel. These factors would ultimately allow us to come up with a shortlist of candidates that we suspected may stand as one of the best that money can currently buy. Looking at photos, reading product descriptions, and reviewing spec sheets can be incredibly informative, though the reality is that the only way to gain a complete sense of how a butterfly knife performs — and stacks up against the competition — you really do have to test it. So, that’s exactly what we did; sourcing samples of each Balisong from our shortlist in order to get hands-on with each knife. 

This hands-on testing phase would help us get a more comprehensive sense of other crucial areas such as build quality, and blade and handle play. Our hands-on testing phase consisted of performing utility trials where we tested the ergonomics of each handle (when used for regular cutting applications) along with testing each blade’s factory edge and cutting abilities. Unsurprisingly, we also spent a considerable amount of time playing with each knife in a bid to get a complete sense of its actual flippability. This portion of the testing process was done by performing several openings and tricks with each knife (the basic opening, the Chaplin, the Washing Machine, and the Icepick Spin), one right after the other with each Balisong in order to get a sense of how they performed and how that performance compared to the rest of the knives we tested. After conducting this battery of tests where each knife was individually scrutinized before being compared and contrasted side-by-side, we then used our findings to narrow down our initial shortlist of candidates to a final hard list of what we found to be the very best butterfly knives on the market. 

REVO Nexus

Best Value Balisong: Since its inception, Revo Knives has always strived to deliver genuinely high-quality, high-performance blades at a fair price. While not necessarily cheap, the brand’s knives are surprisingly affordable considering their craftsmanship and material selection. The company’s first-ever USA-made product, the Revo Nexus is a well-designed and well-crafted sandwich-style butterfly knife that punches well above its weight, offering the build quality and performance of markedly pricier Balisongs. 

Made in Colorado, the Nexus features anodized aluminum handles with custom-designed oversized hardware and a stacked arrow grip pattern — similar to the absolutely stellar Bladerunners Systems Alpha Beast 3.0. Measuring 0.52″ thick, the handle has been paired with a 4.50” clip point blade forged in 154CM. Ultra-smooth ceramic bearings are used to mate the handles and blade together, as well. What’s more, the team at Revo also went to great lengths in order to ensure the Nexus would be incredibly well-balanced — in fact this is the reason why they opted not to bestow the thing with a latch. 

There’s honestly a lot to unpack when it comes to what I liked — dare I say loved? — about this value-laden USA-made butterfly knife. For starters, it feels incredibly solid in the hand, and has an overbuilt and over-engineered feel to it. The thing really is the very definition of “droppable.” Second, it was designed to be modular, and can be custom-configured on the Revo site, letting users select from half-a-dozen available anodized handle color options and half-a-dozen available anodized two-tone versions — as well as a “Standard” (i.e. tumble-finished bare metal) variant. Additionally, Revo also offers hardware kits, an available “Nebula” titanium bushings system upgrade, and the option to order a trainer blade that can be swapped in out for the knife’s included sharpened 154CM item. 

Next, we’ve gotta talk about the Revo Nexus’ flippability. Despite being the cheapest Balisong on our list, the Nexus performs excellently, with everything from its neutral balance to its grip pattern pointing to a highly-calculated design. I will admit that it doesn’t perform quite as well as the top-shelf, flipping-specific butterfly knives like the BRS Alpha Beast 3.0 or Squid Industries Krake Raken V3, though it no doubt flipped noticeably better than the top-shelf version of the Kershaw Lucha — which costs more than twice what the Nexus does. I also had the chance to test the bearings and bushings side-by-side and I can confidently say the Nebula titanium bushings are more than worth the $40 cost of upgrade. Lastly, you can’t talk about the Nexus — or really any Revo knife for that matter — without touching on its price. With an MSRP just a bit north of the $200 mark, I’d argue the Revo Nexus offers the best value of any butterfly knife on the market at the moment. It’s not the cheapest, sure, but in terms of dollar-for-dollar quality and flippability, the Nexus really is unbeatable. 

Verdict: If you’re looking for a high-performance, well-crafted, and well-balanced butterfly knife that offers great flippability — and has the added benefit of being made in America — at an affordable price, the Revo Nexus is almost certainly the Balisong for you.

Squid Industries Krake Raken V3

Best Flipping Balisong: In the butterfly knife world it’s not uncommon to hear Balisong manufacturers describe their knives as “by flippers, for flippers,” but in the case of Squid Industries, the phrase couldn’t be more apt. Made in America, the Squid Industries Krake Raken V3 is a beautifully-crafted butterfly knife that’s been engineered from the ground up for one thing and one thing only; flipping. Benefitting from fiber laser cutting and double disc grinding, this competition-grade model spans 10.125” overall and features a channel-construction handle precision-machined from 7075 aluminum and a slender 4.50” AEB-L tanto blade set of bushings and fixed/set zen pins. While not extreme, the intricate patterns, central vertically-running fullers, and bottom side jimping on the handles also collectively makes for one of the best — and most confidence-inspiring — grip patterns I’ve ever felt. 

What’s more, this third-generation Balisong also boasts perfect swing, plus is ridiculously smooth and features by far what’s the best flow of any butterfly knife I’ve ever held. In fact, it wasn’t adding a Krake Raken V2 to my own personal knife collection and using it for a few weeks that I first understood what it actually meant — and felt like— for a Balisong to have a good flow. The most recent, third-gen version of Squid Industries’ flagship flipper also features better weight distribution and little to no handle bias. It’s hard to put into words just how good the Krake Raken V3 is at flipping. The manufacturing of this butterfly knife is just perfect, and its tolerances are so tight and precise that the knife has zero play or tap. Out of all the butterfly knives that I’ve used both in my personal life and testing at HIC, the Krake Raken also features what is by far the best factory tuning. It’s just been dialed-in perfectly, and requires zero mods or adjustments — in fact doing so will almost certainly only make the thing worse. 

When first comparing my personal Krake Raken V2 side-by-side with the V3, it took me a bit to even notice any difference between the two knives. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the bottom of the sides of the handles now sport wider, slightly beefier jimping, making the knife even more conducive to Icepick-type tricks and choker fanning — a detail that speaks to just how calculated this Balisong’s design is, and just how thoroughly it’s been engineered for flipping. That’s not the only detail that made this abundantly clear to me. On the base of the spine, opposite the choil, the blade has a flat section with rounded edges that’s absolutely perfect for performing Chaplins. The fact that the changes to the V3 from the V2 are minimal also speaks to just how incredible of a design the Krake Raken is, and how its only improvements will be made in an evolutionary manner as the team at Squid Industries slowly find ways to improve this near-perfect flipper. I even love the acoustics of this knife and the sounds that it makes when flipping.

My only real gripe with this knife — and it’s a minor one — is the fact that it isn’t very practical or useful for anything other than flipping, though it’s hard to fault Squid Industries for this, as it wasn’t designed to do anything else (and what it’s designed to do, it does phenomenally). And, while the Krake Raken V3 is devoid of a latch — a decision almost certainly done in an effort to keep the thing’s balance as neutral as possible — Squid Industries does offer an optional “Anchor” that consists of a small Y-shaped piece of 6061-T6511 aluminum with two small prongs protruding out from the top at a 45° angle, allowing the prongs to be inserted into the holes at the bottom of the Krake Raken’s handles, thereby acting as a latch while also doubling as a pocket clip. 

Verdict: If you’re after a professional-grade flipper that offers competition-level performance right out of the box, you aren’t going to do better with the mighty Squid Industries Krake Raken V3.  

Terrain 365 Mini-Butterfly Terravantium

Best Mini Balisong: Despite being called the Mini-Butterfly, it isn’t until actually getting Terrain 365’s take on a super-compact Balisong in your hand that you realize just how tiny this thing is. Nestling comfortably in the palm of your hand at only 4.875″ overall, the Terrain 365 Mini-Butterfly Terravantium is admittedly a small knife, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t brimming with features and highlights. Constructed around a sandwich-style handle that’s been precision-machined from 6AL-4V titanium, this diminutive flipper features a 2.125” blade that’s set on bronze bushings and crafted from Terrain 365’s own proprietary Terravantium super alloy — a  non-magnetic dendritic cobalt blade steel that’s completely impervious to rust and corrosion. 

The Mini-Butterfly was born out of a collaboration between Terrain 365 and Darriel Caston of D Rocket Designs fame. Like the brand’s larger 8.15” butterfly knife, the Mini-Butterfly is modeled after Terrain 365’s flagship Invictus folding knife, and features a truncated, stubby version of the folder’s unique fuller-equipped spearpoint blade, and a matching handle design complete with a series of fullers — also mirroring the Invictus. Tipping the scales at just 1.6oz, the Terrain 365 Mini-Butterfly also appears to take a bit of inspiration from D Rocket Designs’ Micro Parabellum butterfly knife. The inclusion of a billet titanium pocket clip, a handle latch, and jimping on blade’s thumbramp were also decisions seemingly done in an effort to make the thing a bit more conducive to everyday carry use — an area furthered by its ultra-pocketable size, though its tiny size also admittedly limits utility. 

While “cute” might not be the best word to describe it, this diminutive butterfly is undeniably charming and characterful, and just has a generally playful feel to it — not to mention the fact that it’s worlds less aggressive and “scary” than the other full-sized Balisongs on this list. In the brand’s typical fashion, the Mini-Butterfly Terravantium boasts the top-shelf craftsmanship and fit and finish that Terrain 365 is known for. And, while you’d admittedly never know from looking at it or using it, this knife is made in China. Because of its stellar build quality this isn’t necessarily an issue, though with an MSRP in the ballpark of $300 — and a length of less than 5” — I wouldn’t mind seeing this Balisong made in America, even with its top-shelf material selection. With that said, I realize this gripe in no way impacts how this knife operates or performs in any way. 

Unsurprisingly, the sub-5” length of this butterfly knife hugely mitigates its flipping abilities, though after getting used to it, I had no problem performing basic openings —though pulling off a Chaplin was a very different story. It’s tiny size also means this knife will in no way lend itself to hard-use tasks, though that’s not to say it’s more characterized by novelty than utility. So, while it isn’t the best for flipping and doesn’t make for much of a workhorse of an EDC knife, it’s important to remember that that’s not what Terrain 365 and Caston set out to do when designing this knife, instead aiming to deliver a fun, characterful little Balisong brought to life using the company’s usual brand of top-shelf materials and craftsmanship — an aim and objective that the two absolutely knocked out of the park. 

Verdict: If you’re interested in a compact and pocketable butterfly knife, want premium materials and build quality, and aren’t particularly concerned with flippability or a somewhat exorbitant price, the Terrain 365 Mini-Butterfly Terravantium is the knife for you. 

BladeRunners Systems Alpha Beast 3.0

Best Overall Balisong: First established in 2008 before later being officially incorporated in 2012, Bladerunners Systems was founded by a pair of friends after being unsatisfied with the available butterfly knives on the market — and the flipping performance these Balisongs offered. And while the story of how Bladerunners Systems was conceived isn’t all that unique, special, or unusual, the same can’t be said for the knives that have resulted from this boutique brand’s inception, as practically any flipping aficionado can attest to the fact that BRS unequivocally makes some of the very best butterfly knives that money can buy.   

Meticulously crafted in a machine shop in Michigan, the Bladerunners Systems Alpha Beast 3.0 represents BRS’ flagship model, and, like the Krake Raken V3, the thing has been painstakingly engineered from the ground up for flipping. Measuring 9.875”, the AB 3.0 features a beautifully constructed titanium sandwich handle set with a highly-calculated grip pattern that (you guessed it) has been designed specifically for flipping. As inventors of several butterfly knife tricks themselves, the creators of this knife very much designed it from an enthusiast perspective, bestowing it with many of the nuances that they wanted as flippers. This would ultimately give way to a flipping-forward knife with an enhanced competition-style, a highly-tunable hand-labbed bushing system designed to eliminate handle play, and a mean-looking 154CM (or CPM S35VN) clip point blade that’s been calculated and dialed-in for flipping — unlike a great many of the butterfly knives on the market that feature blades that are too heavy, throwing off the inertia needed for proper flipping. 

Unsurprisingly, this third-generation Balisong benefits from a host of tweaks over its already-world-class second-gen predecessor, with an overall design that’s a bit lighter, a bit longer, and now equipped with a bushing setup that’s been increased in diameter in order to deliver an even better tune. And, while it’s primary focus is on flipping, the team also explained to me that they believe that a Balisong that flips well can also be a good and properly utilitarian knife — if deigned correctly at least. Not seeing these two areas as mutually exclusive, they’ve ultimately delivered what’s not only one of the best flipping knives I’ve ever had the privilege and pleasure of using, but also one that was shockingly competent at carrying out normal cutting tasks. 

Using this knife is simply a pleasure. It feels fantastic in the hand, and it inspires a ton of confidence. Using the AB 3.0 and then picking up another Balisong made it all the more clear just how dialed-in this design truly is. If sweating the details was an Olympic event, I imagine the BRS crew would have taken home a few gold medals by now. Above and beyond its stellar flippability and workhorse-esque utility, I also really liked this knife’s sleek appearance, top-shelf materials, and meticulous craftsmanship. And, as much time as I spent scrutinizing this knife, at the end of the day, I really couldn’t find a single fault or gripe, as the Bladerunners Systems Alpha Beast 3.0 is probably just about as close to perfect as a butterfly knife can get. Sure, it doesn’t come cheap, but its overall design, craftsmanship, and material selection more than justify its MSRP in my opinion — if anything, I’d say this knife actually offers pretty solid value, all things considered.

Verdict: I’d argue that what the Chris Reeve Sebenza is to folders, the BRS Alpha Beast 3.0 is to butterfly knives. So, if you’re simply after the very best and want the best of both worlds in terms of stellar flippability and genuine utility, there is no better answer than the BRS AB 3.0. 

Kershaw Lucha Carbon Fiber

Best USA-Made Balisong: If you’ve ever tried to buy a premium, flipping-focused butterfly knife from a boutique brand like Squid Industries, Flytanium, or Blade Runner Systems, you may be painfully familiar with how difficult it can sometimes be to get your hands on one of these blades — especially in-between drops. And that’s a major part of what makes the Kershaw Lucha so special, as it answers this problem with a widely and readily-available USA-made, flip-ready Balisong that’s as easy to purchase as a Benchmade Bugout. 

The version of the Lucha that I got hands-on with consists of a sandwich-style titanium handle that’s been capped off with carbon fiber scales before being paired with an equally premium CPM 20CV “Super Steel” blade. Backed by a lifetime warranty, this knife also sports a handle latch, black-oxide steel pivots, a black anodized aluminum tube spacer, and black-oxide steel screws. Interestingly, Kershaw opted to implement a dual version of its proprietary KVT ball bearing system into this model’s pivot, resulting in a handle action that’s incredibly smooth. While we personally opted to test the most high-end version of the Lucha, the knife is offered in a huge range of available materials and finishes, including more budget-friendly stainless steel handle and Sandvik 14C28N blade variant — as well as a Damascus version. What’s more, the Lucha’s immense popularity and widespread use has also resulted in a growing number of available aftermarket upgrades, such as a myriad of custom scales, Balisong boots, and Skiff Cage and Ceramic bearing upgrades from Flytanium. 

I found the knife’s made-in-America construction to be more than a mere marketing gimmick, as the craftsmanship on display and overall quality control have given way to a Balisong with tight tolerances and little to no play or tap. In fact, the Lucha’s overall level of craftsmanship quite frankly makes me wonder why this Balisong wasn’t released under Kershaw’s more premium sister brand Zero Tolerance. And, while it obviously can’t hold a flame to EDC knife staples like the Spyderco PM2 or Benchmade Osborne, the Lucha was almost certainly the most utilitarian knife that I tested, being surprisingly competent at ordinary cutting tasks. I also appreciate the fact that Kershaw offers a trainer version of the Lucha — though I do wish they sold a standalone trainer blade that can be swapped in so you don’t have to purchase a second complete knife. 

After just a few minutes with the knife, it became clear that Kershaw really did set out to deliver a very flippable Balisong. The latch has been bestowed with a rounded design that ensures that it won’t ever catch while flipping, and the thing’s handle sports a rounded bevel that allowed it to more easily roll in my hand. It’s also well weighted and well-balanced for the most part. Having said that, while it’s objectively competent flipper, the Lucha simply doesn’t flip as well as the boutique-made knives on this list, which isn’t really surprising considering the scale at which the Lucha is produced, and the level of expertise and time it takes to meticulously tune a butterfly knife for flipping. On top of an overall design that could no doubt benefit from a few tweaks, this knife also utilizes a bearing system in lieu of a bushings setup— a pretty major disappointment considering the fact that it’s the most expensive knife on this list. 

Verdict: For anyone looking for a widely-available flip-ready butterfly knife that’s offered in numerous material selections, the Kershaw Lucha is almost certainly the one to get — even more so if you’re interested in upgrading or customizing the knife. 

Butterfly Knife comparison Chart

The Importance Of Trainers

It’s hard to overstate the importance of using a trainer when first learning how to use a butterfly knife, as these unsharpened items making flipping markedly easier — and markedly safer. While some trainers are low in quality, there’s no shortage of high-end trainers that benefit from many of the same premium features found on regular Balisongs. And, if you don’t love the idea of purchasing a trainer and then having to purchase a second sharpened model, it’s worth pointing out that some Balisongs can have their regular blade swapped out for a trainer (or vic versa), including on our favorite trainer (seen above) from Revo Knives.

What Exactly Is A Butterfly Knife

Also known fan knife, Batangas knife, or a Balisong, butterfly knives are a unique type of folding knife that’s comprised of a blade that’s mated to two handle pieces that can rotate 180-degrees, allowing the handles to cover the blade when in a closed position or act as a handle when open. On butterfly knives, the bottom of blade is connected to the two handle pieces via what is called the “pivot.” The handle that faces the sharpened side of the blade is referred to as the “bite handle” while the handle on the other side is known as the “safe handle.” Because of how butterfly knives are laid out and configured, they offer a myriad of idiosyncratic opening options where the handle is spun, gripped, and/or flipped. 

Butterfly Knife Handle Types

Though there are hundreds and hundreds of available Balisongs currently on the market, practically all of these knives fall under one of two umbrellas. Below, we’ll break down each of these two main types. 

Sandwich Construction: This type of butterfly knife construction refers to a design where each of the knife’s handles are comprised of two scales that are separated via a backpacker — not unlike most standard folding pocket knives. Less expensive to produce compared to their channel construction counterparts, sandwich-style butterfly knives also often allow the user to swap out scales. 

Channel Construction: Channel construction butterfly knives consist of handles that are machined from a single piece of metal — rather than being comprised of two scales mated together via a backspacer. More expensive to manufacturer, channel construction butterfly knives are very similar to integral folding knives with their mono-block construction — which is usually precision-machined from aluminum or titanium billet. 

What To Look For When Shopping

As fairly unorthodox knives that differ pretty greatly from other folding knives, it can admittedly be a little tricky knowing what exactly to look for when shopping — especially to the uninitiated. Below, we’ll be breaking down the 15 most pivotal areas to consider when buying a butterfly knife. 

Size & Length: Just like when buying any other knife, size and length should always be taken into account when buying a Balisong. Most full-size butterfly knives span approximately 10” overall, though there are obviously exceptions. It’s also worth pointing out that most users actually find it markedly easier to “flip” with full-size butterfly knife compared to more compact models. 

Handle Construction Type: One of the first areas that you should consider when purchasing a butterfly knife is undoubtedly handle construction type — i.e. whether the knife features a channel or sandwich construction setup (an area we already touched on above). 

Handle Material: Not unlike regular folding knives, the handle material used on butterfly knife plays a pretty major role in the thing’s overall quality and durability. Most commonly butterfly knives utilize alloy handle constructions such as stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium, though it’s also commonplace to see alloy liners cloaked in scales crafted from materials like G10, Micarta, or carbon fiber. 

Grip Pattern & Ergonomics: Another area that plays a monumental role in the overall performance and flippability of a Balisong is the jimping, knurling, and/or other texturing that’s been machined into the handle, as these grip-bolstering details can hugely elevate a Balisong’s conduciveness to being flipped. There are even some butterfly knives with machined grip patterns that have been designed to make certain tricks and techniques easier. 

Blade Shape: With normal pocket knives, the blade shape will play a major role in the knife’s overall utility. And while this still holds true with Balisongs, the blade shape of butterfly knives can also hugely impact the overall balance and inertia of a Balisong — making this another crucial area to consider when shopping. It’s also worth pointing out that quite a few of our favorite butterfly knife models are offered with multiple blade shapes. 

Blade Steel: A blade’s ability to hold and maintain an edge is directly owed to the type of steel that it’s constructed from. Like with normal folders, butterfly knives are offered in a wide range of blade steels, from budget constructions to advanced powder metallurgy compositions. It’s also worth noting that, while they do a better job of holding an edge, the more premium blade steels are also markedly harder to sharpen when the time finally does come to do so. 

Clips & Latches: Though a butterfly knife’s flippability isn’t really impacted by these areas (aside from being able to perform latch-drops), the presence of latches (for locking the blade in the open or closed position) and pocket clips can hugely bolster a Balisong’s ability to lend itself to everyday carry use — despite obviously not being as utilitarian as regular folding knives. 

Modularity & Upgradability: A decent number of today’s most reputable butterfly knife manufacturers offer Balisong models that can be upgraded or customized with elements such as color-anodized handle scales and up-specced bushings. 

Bushings & Bearings: Another important area to explore when shopping for a butterfly knife is pivot type, as this area plays a direct role in how smoothly the knife’s handles will glide. Most of the more premium Balisongs on the market utilize either bearings or bushings — the former of which tends to be a bit smoother and affords better play, while the latter is objectively better for flipping, being much more tunable and offering easier maintenance. 

Balance: Another area that plays a monumental role in the overall flippability of a butterfly knife is no doubt the thing’s overall balance. Because delivering a truly well-balanced Balisong requires a highly-involved development period, the models that boast the best, most-well-balanced designs are typically made by the more boutique outfits in this space.

Construction & Build Quality: Overall craftsmanship and build quality are always crucial areas to consider when purchasing any fixed blade or folding knife, though these areas are even more important when dealing with Balisongs, as how well and meticulously it’s been pieced together will play a massive role across a myriad of crucial areas such as blade play and handle tolerance — as well as overall fit and finish. Unsurprisingly, the more high-end boutique brands in this space almost always deliver a higher level of craftsmanship and build quality compared to companies running mass-produced operations. 

Tuning: Tuning is no doubt another pivotal area to consider when shopping, as a well-tuned butterfly knife will hugely outperform a poorly-tuned one. When reviewing this area, you’ll want to consider how the butterfly knife has been tuned from the factory, along with its general tune-ability once in the hand of its owner/user. Proper tuning is also another area that often separates Balisongs from more premium and boutique brands from their more mass-produced counterparts. 

Manufacturer: Even when armed with a butterfly knife’s spec sheet, it can still be pretty difficult to get an overall sense of how a Balisong will perform. One surefire way to ensure that you’re getting your hands on a high-quality, flippable butterfly knife is to purchase from a leading brand in the space such as Bladerunners Systems, Squid Industries, or Flytanium. 

Flippability: One of the main selling points of butterfly knives is that they can be used to perform various tricks and openings. Consequently, a Balisong’s flippability is a wildly important area to consider. Flippability ultimately boils down to a few key areas such as the knife’s pivot system, overall balance, handle machining and grip, tuning, and build quality. 

Price & Value: Generally speaking, you tend to get what you pay for with butterfly knives, with the more premium and high-priced models almost always boasting better materials, flippability, build quality, and craftsmanship. Having said that, there are a few exceptions to this rule that ultimately manage to afford unbeatable bang-for-your-buck. 

Why Carry A Butterfly Knife?

There’s no shortage of worthwhile reasons to consider carrying a butterfly knife. For starters, while they may not feature the type of ergonomics one would want when performing hard-cutting tasks, butterfly knives are still very much knives, and as such offer some if not much of the utility afforded by any other blade or pocket knife. More importantly, however, butterfly knives are just incredibly fun. Learning to flip and adding new tricks to your arsenal is extremely enjoyable and satisfying, and it’s definitely an impressive-looking skill — with even the average individual being impressed with just a beginner move or two. More than just knives, Balisongs are a hobby. 

Above and beyond sharpening up your flipping skills, butterfly knives can also make for stellar fidget toys — for obvious reasons. It doesn’t end there though. Comprised of everything from butterfly knife influencers and YouTubers to flipping competitions, there’s also a bustling Balisong community that’s incredibly passionate, welcoming, and supportive. And, while we wouldn’t recommend arming yourself with a butterfly knife for self-defense use, we will acknowledge the intimidation factor afforded by butterfly knives, as these are the only kind of knives that can be deployed while simultaneously demonstrating that the user has spent dozens if not hundreds of hours practicing with and handling knives. 

Butterfly Knife Legality

While butterfly knives are technically no more dangerous than any other type of folding knife, these flippable blades are nonetheless illegal to carry or possess in a great many regions. This is largely due to Balisong’s historical association with criminals and gang members. Regardless of the reasoning, you’ll want to review your local laws to determine what the legalities are surrounding butterfly knives where you live. Most commonly, possessing a butterfly knife is a misdemeanor.

Honorable Mentions

At around 7.5” overall, the Spyderco SmallFly 2 is a fantastic compact Balisong model that features a CPM S30V blade and a number of Spyderco’s signature design cues. With its great build quality and smaller dimensions, this USA-made butterfly makes for a great EDC Balisong. Sadly, due to the fact that HICONSUMPTION is based in California, we ran into issues sourcing a SmallFly 2 sample on account of Federal Law restrictions, ultimately relegating this admittedly great compact butterfly knife to an honorable mention. 

Pairing stainless steel handles with a D2 blade, the Boker Plus Papillon is an affordable 10.20” butterfly knife that offers pretty great value. Sure, it doesn’t flip as well as Balisongs from Squid Industries or Bladerunners Systems, but it performs pretty exceptionally for its price — earning it an honorable mention spot on this list. 

Not only did Benchmade get its start producing butterfly knives, but the now legendary brand is also widely credited for introducing the U.S. market to the world of Balisongs. With a premium CPM S30V blade, billet titanium channel-style handles, and the brand’s usual top-notch craftsmanship, the Benchmade 85 Bali-Song is unequivocally one of the finest butterfly knives in the world. Sadly, this model has been discontinued and is no longer in production — bumping it from a must-include on our guide to a very deserving honorable mention.  

Though they weren’t given a spot on our main list, Flytanium is unquestionably one of the most respected names in the butterfly knife realm — and for good reason. Designed by Eldon Talley, the Flytanium Talisong Z has been engineered from the ground up for flipping and features a scimitar blade shape and ceramic bearing pivots. The entire thing is also brought to life, being precision-machined at the brand’s workshop in Utah. 

Though they don’t come cheap, GLIDR is admittedly responsible for producing some of the best butterfly knife trainers on the market. Case in point; the GLIDR Antarctic 2 Titanium. With 7075 aluminum barrel spacers, hidden zen pins, a precision-tuned bushing pivot system, and Grade 5 titanium sandwich handles with tapered handles, this trainer boasts a slew of features normally reserved for top-shelf sharpened Balisongs — making it something of the ultimate top-shelf trainer. 

The Best Gravity Knives You Can Buy Right Now

Want to check out another selection of idiosyncratic blades with an unorthodox opening setup? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best gravity knives for a deep dive into the world of gravity-deployed blades.