Butterfly Roses 
by
Audra Draper, MS



The Blade pivots in the two handles on no less than 
sixty ball bearings using the revolutionary IKBS,
the Ikoma Korth Bearing System
 perfected by my friend Flavio Ikoma.  You can read 
more about IKBS in my article which introduced it
to the Balisong world






This is Audra Draper's first knife using IKBS and, as such,
she had to submit it for inspection to gain the right to use
the IKBS name.  Apparently, it passed.

While this is a large and heavy balisong, with IKBS the blade
seems to float between the handles as if there is no 
physical connection.  The manipulation of this knife is
absolutely as smooth as glass.




The latch holds a special surprise too:  it's spring-loaded,
another first for Audra Draper on a balisong.  The mechanism
is simple and yet perfect.  A slight squeeze of the handles
pops the latch open easily.  And yet the latch is not so strong
that re-latching the knife, either open or closed, thanks much
effort.  When unlatched, the spring holds the latch vertical
so that it won't impact the blade with resulting damage.

Speaking of the latch, it's a work of art unto itself.



The end of the latch is finished with another carved rose and
the latch bar is Damascus steel and is further shaped and
carved to resemble a rose stem.  Notice, also, the screw
head that secures the latch to the handle; it's been worked
a bit to resemble a small rose.  It's this sort of attention to
detail and design that makes this a true art knife.



The carving.
The engraving.
The forged blade.
The Kris.
The Damascus Steel.
IKBS.
The spring latch.

Audra, you have exceeded yourself,
This is the kind of work that an
ABS Master Smith should do.