Want to buy a new live blade balisong but don't know what to look for? This list has you covered! 

And once you grab one of the beauties, don't forget they need to be taken care of. Check out my article on How To Maintain Your Balisong and What You Need To Know to keep your knife in perfect condition. 

Let's get right into the best live balisong blades of 2021!

1 - Kershaw Lucha + Flytanium Upgrades 

The Kershaw Lucha has proven to be an amazing budget bali, with it gaining the award of the most popular knife model of 2020. 

Adding on to that value is the Flytanium upgrade selection, which includes channel aluminum handles, ceramic bearings, and steel washers, which will turn your Lucha into an absolutely stunning bali for an equally stunning price point. 

You can buy the Lucha here on BladeHQ, and you can buy the upgrades on Flytanium’s website here.

2 - Black Balisong Rebola + Diet Kit 

The Black Balisong Rebola was originally a pretty underrated balisong with unbelievable specs for its price. However, over time, it grew to be a very well-liked budget balisong that had G10 scales, bushings, and titanium liners.

Some people complained that the original was too thick, so the "diet kit" add-on was made for any flippers who wanted a thinner version.

There are a lot of variants of the Rebola, with carbon fiber scales, matching G10 channels, and different scale designs and such.

You can buy the Rebola here, through DirteeDee’s Instagram page, as he is the American proxy for Black Balisong since they’re based in Mexico.

3 - Maxace Scorpius X

Maxace is a company based in China that has been very successful with their bearing balis. The Scorpius X is an updated version of the Scorpius, which was a much older model.

This new version sports bushings and phosphor bronze washers, with new revised blade designs and longer handles, all making it a much better flipper. For a bali with these specs, the value is amazing for those who like a more simplistic design.

You can buy the Scorpius X from Maxace here.  

4 - MachineWise Maryn Light 

MachineWise makes all of his balis in house, and they are all designed to be amazing flippers (and it shows!). MachineWise makes two models under the Maryn family, and the Light is the budget-oriented version.

The Maryn Light is made of 7075 channel aluminum and features bushings and washers. The Maryn Light is meant to be a lighter and faster flipper thanks to its aluminum handles. 

You can order your own Maryn Light here.

5 - Talisong Z

The Talisong Z is a collaboration project between Flytanium and Eldon Talley, and it is the first production knife made by either maker.

Designed like the original Talisong series, the Talisong Z has channel aluminum handles with an engraved diamond texture for grip. It runs on bearings and has perfect tolerances thanks to them.

You can buy a Talisong Z here, when they’re available.

6 - Squid Industries Krake Raken (Kraken) 

The Squid Industries Krake Raken is one of the most well known and popular knives as of right now. The Krake Raken sports channel 7075 aluminum handles, with engraved grip lines and jimping for ladders, all with the signature Squid Industries look.

It has two blade variations, Tanto and Bowie, and they come in a variety of color options. Many flippers have said that the Kraken is their favorite flipper of all time.

To buy one for yourself, keep an eye out for restocks from any of these resellers.

7 - Fellowship Blades Pit Viper 

Fellowship Blades is a new maker on the scene, debuting with his model the "Pit Viper". He's already making waves with its unique design, impressive specs, and great price point.

Sporting Grade 5 channel titanium handles and bushings, this bali is sure to impress.

You can buy the Pit Viper whenever it’s in stock here.

8 - MachineWise Titanium Maryn 

The other side of the Maryn siblings, the Titanium Maryn sports channel titanium handles with speed channels being an available option. The Maryn is a slower and more flowy balisong that has a distinctive ringing sound to it.

Various anodization options are also available to personalize your balisong even more.

You can order a Titanium Maryn here.

9 - HOM Design Basilisk

 The HOM Design Basilisk family is an iconic classic in the list, with the original Basilisks being made for years now. There are three versions available: titanium, carbon fiber, and G10.

All of them have the same design and plenty of spacer options, ranging from steel all the way to carbon fiber spacers.

The aggressive yet classy bowie blade and perfect bushings make the Basilisk a perfect flipping experience that screams quality.

You can keep track of future drops on Jerry’s Instagram here.

10 - Jimpy Designs Sentinel

The Jimpy Designs Sentinel was in development for a long time, with plenty of community hype. They finally dropped recently and they’ve been a hit ever since. The Sentinel has tang pins and titanium channel handles with a simple yet charming design.

The Sentinel has been said to be an amazing flipper and a lot of people’s favorite flipper.

You can look forward to updates on future Sentinel drops here and buy them here when they're in stock.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this list of the Top 10 Live Blade Balisongs of 2021 so far. Are you not ready for a live blade? Not worries. I've got you covered. Check out my article: The Top Ten Balisong Trainers of 2021. Until then, keep flipping cuties!

-Jess (@blade.wielding.queen)