Balisong or Butterfly knives, with their revolving handles, and strong locking mechanisms, have had a certain mystique since they were first popularized in the early 1980’s. They were beguilingly simple in construction, looked a little intimidating in a user’s hand, were relatively inexpensive, and there were lots of flashy ways to open them with just a few deft turns of the wrist. In short, they were a knife industry success story. There was just one downside. In the early 1990’s, United States Customs outlawed the importation of all butterfly knives under, what can only be assumed to be, an arbitrary and unreasonable interpretation of the Switchblade Act. Many U.S. states soon followed suit including our home state of California, where mere possession of a Butterfly knife is a FELONY. This policy has severely curtailed the availability of these awesome tactical folders. Now Cold Steel is proud to introduce a completely legal version of the butterfly knife that we call The Paradox™. It’s designed from the ground up to specifically mimic a traditional Balisong or Butterfly knife in every respect but one – it can’t be opened with one hand! That’s right, the Paradox ™ is not a switchblade, gravity knife, or assisted opener and can’t be opened without the use of both hands. So, while it looks like a classic Butterfly knife from the early 80’s, and feels like one in your hand, it isn’t. It’s a legal Balisong! Its twin handles feature two integral springs that are similar to a conventional slip joint folder. Originally pioneered in our Black Rock Hunter, they are designed to rotate 180 degrees around the blade’s unique split tang and use strong opposing spring tension to lock the blade open or hold it firmly closed. Don’t worry about it taking two hands to get it into action, since once its opened it will never close inadvertently. Plus, its locking mechanism is impervious to the most violent stress and shock imaginable. Every detail of the Paradox™ is a testament to Cold Steel’s renowned craftsmanship. The leaf shaped blade is hollow ground from imported Japanese AUS 8A Stainless (instead of the cheap steel used by our competitors) and, due to the latest advances in heat treatment, it offers a thin, ultra keen edge that lasts. The skeletonized handles are CNC machined from solid billets of 6061 aluminum (instead of being cheaply cast out of zinc) and feature a hard-anodized coating to reduce scratches and oxidation. If you’re a Balisong fan, but don’t want to take the risk of being arrested, the Paradox™ is a terrific alternative. Clip it to your waistband or pocket where it screams “CUSTOM HAND MADE BALISONG”. Blade Length: 4-1/2 Blade Thickness: 3.5mm Overall Length: 9-1/2 Steel: Japanese Aus 8A Stainless Weight: 6.0oz Handle: 5″ Long 6061 Aluminum Pocket Clip: Stainless Pocket / Belt Clip
Cold Steel, Incorporated was founded in 1980, a company dedicated to making the strongest, sharpest knives in the world. Superblades has been a retailer of Cold steel’s for over 15 years now and we are convinced they are among the best knives and swords in the world.
Over the last three decades, Cold Steel has been at the forefront of the many innovations that have helped to define the knife industry as a whole. Progressive accomplishment, including the introduction of the checked Kraton® handles, and the tanto point blade styles have gone from curiously interesting features to industry-wide hallmarks of quality and sophistication. New ground was also broken with the introduction of unique new blade steels like San Mai III® and Tri-Ad™ Lock & locking mechanism for folding knives. Tri-Ad™ Lock for example, has never been equaled by any of Cold Steel's competitors and nothing they have produced yet has been proven to outperform it.
We have tested the Tri-Ad lock here as well and found it to be second to none in strength and durability.
Of course, Cold Steel will always look to the future, constantly striving to make the world's strongest, sharpest knives. That goal as elusive and difficult to achieve as it is, has been the same for the past thirty years. We here at Superblades will always continue to support and represent Cold Steel as a premium brand.
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