CRKT is giving balisong fans something they’ve been asking for all year today, in the form of a Trainer variant of their new M16 Balisong.
Hard to believe we’re nearing the end of 2026 already, isn’t it? But, indeed, the fleet-footed days have passed and there’s less than two months left of the year. When it was still young, in January in fact, CRKT’s 2026 product catalog dropped, and one of the new models with a starring role was the M16 Balisong. The M16 family, established by the legendary Kit Carson way back when, had seen a lot of variants, sequels, prequels (if knives can have prequels) over the years, but this marked the first time that it metamorphosed into a butterfly.
Now, balisongs have many decades backing up their claims to being a practical, useful cutting tool, but in addition to those who want to carry one for their daily chores, many bali appreciators take particular pleasure in the tricks that its split, folding format allows for. But one does not simply pick up a butterfly knife and know how to flip it, and that’s why trainers are so crucial in the genre. With no live edge but comparable specifications, they provide the perfect way to practice everything from a basic flip open to headier stuff like tosses.
Whereas the live edge model had titanium handles, CRKT went for aluminum here, while still landing at a near-equivalent weight of 2.6 oz. (compared to the original’s 2.5 oz.). The blade here is 440C, a much, much less high-performing steel than the MagnaCut on the live M16 – but of course there is no edge at all on this thing, so 440C is perfectly adequate and contributes to the significantly lower price tag here. The Trainer does still come with a pocket clip, so you can tuck it into your pocket and practice flipping wherever you are.
The M16 Balisong Trainer is available now.
Knife in Featured Image: CRKT M16 Balisong Trainer
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