Max Knives MKBALICF — Balitac by Thomas Gony, D2 butterfly knife, carbon fibre

Overview

The MKBALICF is the carbon fibre version of the Balitac, a butterfly knife designed by Thomas Gony, the French knifemaker behind Grind Tactical Knives, and released by Max Knives. The mechanism and dimensions are those of the model: 215 mm open, 122 mm closed, a 93 mm plain-edge blade in D2 tool steel, 3.5 mm thick, four ball bearings, titanium liner and latch, belt clip. Numbered series of 150 pieces, supplied with its certificate of authenticity and a nylon pouch. Carbon fibre is one of the model’s two handle materials, alongside G10.

The Balitac is the knife of the Thomas Gony x MaxKnives collaboration: the knifemaker’s background, the design of the model and its two versions are presented there in detail.

A butterfly knife on four ball bearings

The Balitac is a butterfly knife, or balisong: two handles hinged on either side of the blade, which fold over it to close and come together to open; a latch holds them together, knife open or closed. Both axes run on ball bearings — four in all — which replace flat friction with rolling contact and make the movement smooth and consistent. The liner and the lock — the latch that holds the handles — are titanium, a light metal, immune to corrosion and springy enough for a part that must return to position at every closing. A belt clip is fitted to the handle. Each piece carries its number.

D2 tool steel

D2 is a tool steel with a high carbon and chromium content. That composition gives it excellent edge retention: the blade cuts for a long time between two sharpenings, and asks in return for a slightly more determined sharpening than a conventional stainless steel. It is also the steel Thomas Gony uses for his own regular models. The trade-off is well known: D2 is semi-stainless — it does not rust like a carbon steel, but it will spot if left wet.

Carbon fibre and its weave

What sets this version apart is the handle material. Carbon fibre comes as a woven cloth, impregnated with resin and then pressed: the chequerboard or twill pattern you see at the surface is the weave itself, held within the material, not a decoration laid on top. Under light the warp and weft shift their reflection with the angle, giving the handle a depth of its own. At comparable stiffness, carbon fibre is the lightest of the common handle materials.

Care

Wipe the blade after every use and keep it lightly oiled, or the D2 will spot. The bearings ask for little: dust them dry with a brush, then put a drop of light oil on each axis once a quarter; wipe off the excess so that dust does not stick to it. Carbon fibre is cleaned with a soft cloth and lukewarm water, without abrasives or solvents, which would dull the surface resin and blur the weave; titanium needs no more than a damp cloth. Check the tightness of the clip and liner screws from time to time. The nylon pouch is hand-washed and air-dried. Do not disassemble the knife: contact us before any work on the mechanism.

Information for buyers outside France. In France, butterfly knives are Category D items: sale is restricted to adults, and proof of age is requested with the first order. Butterfly knives are restricted or prohibited in several countries; please check the rules that apply where the order is delivered before purchasing.