Channel Vs. Sandwich

[zenless1]

What I wanna know is what you guys prefer and the pros and cons of each personally I prefer sandwich because I can take the whole thing apart for maintenance and what not so any input would be nice.

[Atonement]

I don't have a preference between the two really. I like Sandwitch styles because you can completely disassemble them to clean them. I like Channel for the exact opposite. You can't disassemble them. So, there's not really much maintenance needed for them. Aside from the pivots. No handle screws or anything. As for pros and cons, those will probably differ between flippers. You know, personal preference and all. Take care.

[Chris_Himself]

The ideal balisong to me should be maintenance free. I shouldn't have to take it apart, just WD-40 or Blue Lube in the pivots and it should be good to go. All my balisongs have been that way for me and thats honestly why I like them. I don't like the ones who's screws back out on me all the time though.

The AB is nice because it never really has to be adjusted, probably just expert application of loctite with matching hardware.

I prefer pinned balisongs of the old school variety that have thick gauge pins press fit into the handle and through the blade/washers. They don't come apart, but then again, they really don't need to. I don't like messing around with screw tension.

I rarely disassemble the sebenzas even, when I use the BM Blue lube on my knives, all the gunk just comes out, heck even Triflow 3-in-1 bike oil will flush out all the stuff that could be wedged in there, mainly pocket lint from carrying it.

I don't prefer sandwich or chanel. I just like it to feel solid. As long as I don't have to mess with screws all the time, I'm happy.

[laughingbuddha]

I don't really care as long as it flips well.

[deadpool]

I like them both as long as the construction is sound. Channel allowes a bit more in the structural integrity, but a well build sandwich does not have this issue either. I have both and flip them, I really dont see a big difference.

[Glenn]

Channel is what you watch on TV, Sandwiches are what you eat.

Glad to be of assistance.

(as usual)

[AnthonyTheAbyss]

Originally I preferred channel over sandwich because of the BM42. However, as I got into more custom builds it became apparent that it really didn't matter. It all depends on the ability of the knifemaker.

[sirhorsechoker]

I prefer channel. I hate screws. Two of my three favorite flippers are channel.

For some reason even my AB requires constant screw adjustment. I even had it sent off to be recalibrated and lock-tited.

Im starting to respect pins and even hidden pivots more in my old age... a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Screws add unnecessary links. I feel kinda foolish when I find myself constantly tweeking a knife that I paid a lot for. I have inexpensive knives that require no attention whatsoever.

[purpledc]

I prefer sandwich construction. To me there seems to be a lot less slop and while I think its possible to make a channel handled bali with tight tolerances I think its also harder to do.

What I would like to see is someone adopt my design for a "Chanwich"
style balisong. What you would have would be two handle halves actually are made from thicker stock and the channel and spine are machined into it and then a traditional sandwich handle is laid on top of that. It hard for me to describe how it would work but you would have basically a sandich style knife but the spacers, and spine like on a channel knife would be integrated into one half of each handle. The integral spacers could also be machined out and you could include a set of brass, steel and tungsten weights to be put in and out so you could custom tailor the balance to each persons needs. It would basically give you all the advantages of a channel balisong and a sandwich in one unit.

[Nathan Dewey]

channel.
I think the best of both worlds would be screwed pivots and metal slabs w/ extended metal spacers pinned together.

[crosscuttlery]

sandwitch
i only say that because the first couple balis that i had were bear and son and from me using them so much the top of the handles actually bowed out and snapped the pins. after that i havent been able to trust channel styles.

[JohnnyBmore]

I have very few Sandwitch style Balis I really could not do with out ( AB ,Matt cook )

But every single Channel Bali I buy I tend to fall in love with instantly ...

[Mpsecare]

i like sandwich better because the ones I own tend to be thinner and I prefer that.

Also they look futuristic

[Palethius]

I prefer channel, but as long as if flips well I don't really care.

They just feel a little different. Kind of like how zen pins and tang pins feel different. 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Whatever works.

[Glenn]