What is it ?

[leggo]

I picked it up today , any ideas what brand , time period , value (ball park), bone , stag , horn , or plastic handles I can't tell what they are. ?
I can't find any markings anywhere on it . I know the pictures are bad ... other than the blade it is all brass (I think) , and the pins on the handle look like stainless , the end part that keeps it closed has 3 dots inlaid into it that are red , green , red in that order . The blade is 6" and overall length is 11-1/2".
I tried eBay to get an idea , and found nothing close to this .
Any opinions would be appreciated

[deo-pa]

Leggo,

What we call a butterfly knife is called a balisong in the Philippines, where the knife is a traditional and widely used style. I believe you have a classic Philippine balisong. While I can't answer your questions about the knife you can Google the term and find a bunch of links where you can learn all about them. http://www.balisongcollector.com is one place to start.

Dennis

[knife7knut]

The scales look to be stag which is a bit unusual for a Philipino balisong. Most of them were handled in horn. I have a stag handled one but I am unsure of it's origin. Strangely enough they were patented by an American(I think it was a man named Billings)in the mid-1800's. Somehow they made their way to the Phillipines and are almost considered the national knife now.I have several original ones as well as a couple of Japanese made ones and a couple of Benchmark ones. They range in size from a couple inches long to about 2 feet.

[RobesonsRme.com]

I think you might find an American patent under "Billings & Spencer" circa 1908.

There were previous patents in France and Germany in the 19th century, the earliest being French.

Your knife was not made by Billings & Spencer, their knives were well marked and, as I recall, had all metal knurled or checked handles. I think they were principally a tool manufacturer.

Also, German manufacturers, Bontgen & Sabin made stag handled versions in the late 19th century.

I doubt your knife is by Bontgen & Sabin, either.

I don't think Ebay permits the sale of Balisong or butterfly knives. They've put them into the same murky category as switchblade knives.

I think the Pakistani cutlers make these, but stag handles kind of go against that source, too.

I've seen a good many brass mounted butterfly knives with genuine stag handles over the years, but I have no idea as to their origin or value.

Unmarked knives stay several rungs down on the value ladder.

LG-IV states $15 to $25 for the Philippine versions, depending on size and quality.

Better, sharper, in-focus photographs would help.

Charlie Noyes

Edited for correction of loss of mind.

[leggo]

Thanks for the input you guys ,I guess it will remain a mystery for right now. Deo- pa thanks for that link ,it was very interesting and led to some other good links like the Levine link. The closest one I found is a Philippines one ,it was stag.