<Dd> The blade is the piece of steel that runs down the center of the knife that is secured by both handles when closed, one of the sides of the knife is sharp and has a high chance of cutting the user, the other side has potential chance of cutting the user, but it is still important for the user to be careful . </Dd> <P> Balisong USA started manufacturing balisongs in the late - 1970s, then changed its name to Pacific Cutlery in the early - 1980s, before finally becoming Benchmade . The earlier knives featured a wide variety of custom blade designs (many of which were hand ground by master knifemaker Jody Samson, well - known for making the swords in the 1982 movie Conan the Barbarian), as well as a number of exotic inlays for the handles (ivory, prehistoric ivory, scrimshawed ivory, mother - of - pearl, ebony, tropical woods, etc .). </P> <P> From 1981 to 1984, hundreds of thousands of balisongs were imported into the United States from a variety of countries, primarily the Philippines, Japan, China, and Korea--although a few were also imported from France, Germany, and Spain . The best were primarily from the metalsmiths of Seki City, Japan, who manufactured balisongs for Taylor (Manila Folder), Parker (Gypsy), Valor (Golden Dragon), and Frost (a variety of very inexpensive balisongs). Guttmann Cutlery in the Philippines exported a high - quality sandwich - style balisong marketed as the "Original Balisong", which featured a variety of scale materials and high carbon steel blades . </P> <P> The balisong has been outlawed in several countries . </P>

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