(Edited: Thanks to Rx for the clarification on the 45S vs. 42S)

Whew! That was a lot to try and fit in a title.

First of all - Hello! I signed up on this forum as I love benchmade bali-song knives, and I figured I should go right to the horses mouth so to speak. Here is a (crappy looking) composite picture of my 45S:

http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/2728/42sall.jpg

You all would know the date of it better than I - pre-screw construction.
The blade pivot points and lock are all solid pinned. Oldie but goodie.
I started "flipping" in high school, going through multiple "stainless Pakistan" junk bali's until I decided to make the plunge for my 45S. Nothing else compares.
I'll never need another bali, but that doesn't stop me from wanting more.

I've had my 45S for several years, but now having discovered this forum
along with many other balisong and damascus steel web sites, I'm
looking for something newer and nicer.

I want to get a new Model 42S and/or 42 to see how the new construction is in comparison to my older model, but I now have much higher aspirations than that.

What I really want to find and aquire would be a damascus bladed Benchmade bali-song knife that is in the style of the 42, that being solid handles.
I've seen the new models, and they are beautiful, but I like solid construction with no inserts or plates to wear or break over time.

My question after all my rambling is this: What Benchmade balisongs ever made had that type construction - damascus blade with solid handles?
Beyond that, if there is/was ever a benchmade bali with a damascus blade AND handles, please let me know about that too, as THAT is what I would love most of all.

I ran across this beautiful custom bali that is full damascus construction:

http://img191.imageshack.us/im...118/damascusbali.jpg

It is 99.9% perfect, with the only gripes I'd have being the extra hole on one handle, and the pearl inserts. My preference only, but if it were solid handles without that spare hole, it would be 100% perfect.

I hope to learn much from this forum, be much poorer for the knowledge due to finding many new things to buy, and much happier for it overall.

Thanks for any information on what I'm seeking.

JSA

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JSA,

Welcome to the forum!
The bali you have is not a 42, it's an older 45S. Rather rare animal, I might add

To answer you question, there were few 4" blade balisong models BM made with damascus blades. All of them were limited runs. There was 42-09 25 pcs made, 46-09 25 pcs made, 43DM 100 pcs made, and 46DM 11 pcs made. All are very rare.

There were others made by Bali-Song, Inc Custom Shop, but those are almost impossible to find.

Welcome to the Forum JSA!

Yes welcome! We need all of the balisong lovers we can get

of course RX is correct in his post but I'd have to tell you to also try and carry a 51....... The inserts are titanium and won't come close to breaking

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jedi,

Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for the information.
I've got the blue box for my 45S around somewhere, but I haven't looked at it in years, and when I bought it I didn't know about all the different models. Just in the past week I've learned more about balis and Benchmade and all the different models made than I ever knew before.

Looking at the list from Rx:

42-09 - 25 pcs made
46-09 - 25 pcs made
43DM - 100 pcs made
46DM - 11 pcs made

It looks like the 43DM would be my best shot at acquiring just by the numbers, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

I'd love to find one of those with damascus handles as well, but it appears nothing production was ever made like that.

It is too bad that Benchmade seems to be out of the solid titanium handled bali business. I like the look of the new carbon fiber balis, (mainly due to the beautiful damascus or damasteel blades) but not nearly as much as a solid handled Benchmade bali.

Thanks again everybody!

JSA

You might also want to consider ordering custom damascus balisong.

http://www.fototime.com/9A0532E0DCB2779/standard.jpg

thats a good looking Bali you got there JSA! welcome to the forum

Nice picture batareikin Please let me know where you located such a beauty.

Thank you Shadow. I'll never "need" another Bali - but that won't stop me from wanting (and getting) some new additions

JSA

quote:

Originally posted by batareikin:
You might also want to consider ordering custom damascus balisong.

http://www.fototime.com/9A0532E0DCB2779/standard.jpg

Balibalistic is THE man. I have one of his older IKBS SS balis and it flips like a dream!

Поздравляю с приобретением

quote:

Поздравляю с приобретением

+1

"Congratulations on your purchase"