Benchmade 51 Morpho Balisong Butterfly Knife G-10 (4.25" Satin)

This was my first ever high quality balisong. At the time, it was sufficient and I loved it. It came wicked sharp and smooth. If your a beginner this thing will absolutely suffice.

Now that I've had a chance to own a multitude of balisongs, I can detail on the flaws of this knife.

cons:
- Light weight makes it difficult to build momentum
- The blade scrapes the inside of the liners
- Pocket clip is not removable without voiding the warranty
- Latch is not removable without voiding the warranty

pros:
- Stunningly pretty jeweled liners
- Handle thickness and taper make for a great profile to work with for flippers
- Lack of ringing that you get on full metal balis
- Makes for a great EDC thanks to the pocket clip and the spring latch as well as the drop point blade

This was my first Benchmade knife, and I was not disappointed. I am extremely critical when it comes to purchasing new items, and the 51 passed all my tests with flying colors. I could not find a single thing wrong with it (and trust me I looked HARD). Not much else to say except I love this knife haha.

I like everything about this knife except the one thing that arguably matters most in a bali -- the feel of it when flipping. At 3.3 ounces, it is considerably lighter than the majority of balis out there (with some other Benchmades coming in at nearly twice the weight!). Maybe if I'd never picked up anything else, I could learn on a knife this weight and never know the difference. But having used a trainer around 5 ounces (the outstanding Boker available at BladeHQ), I just can't get the 51 Morpho to behave or feel... right.
That said, there are experts out there on the web who swear by the 51, and I'm far from an expert. I'm just someone who ignored the other reviews about this knife being too light, and now regrets doing so.

This was my first 'real' Balisong and I was, and still am, in love with this knife. Build quality is superb, as should be expected at this price point. I love the slim profile and light weight, simply because I take this knife with me wherever I go. The only negative comment I might add is upon receiving this knife, go ahead and loctite the torx screws down so that they don't fall off. I lost a few of mine without realizing it but Benchmade was more than happy to send me extra screws in the mail at no cost to me. Excellent Customer service tops it all off making this knife an excellent EDC or flipper.

Im not much of a flipper or even much of a knife guy but this was something I wanted since I was 14 and got into butterfly knives. Poor quality and cheap balisongs had made me wary of ever picking up another knife of this genre again but I picked up my own bench made 51 morpho and I’ve fallen in love all over again with the mystique of this a style of knives. Yes the handles are light and take some adjusting to but it’s worth taking the time to adjust. It’s simply the most high quality balisong on the market and has been for quite some time, which in my opinion is very important. The main thing that made me turn away from this style of knives when I was younger was the fact that I could only afford the 20- 50$ range of knife and that meant inadvertently I got bit a lot more than I’d like from just a poorly manufactured knife, although it is pricey for some, that price comes with the surety of no mishaps out of your control. I’ve literally tried to do old tricks that would have had me bleeding from thumb to index but the quality from benchmade simply won’t allow it. I’m not sponsored by anyone but as far as safety goes when it comes to these types of knives I’ve never felt more in control than with a bench made 51 morpho. Simply a beautifully and well constructed product from top to bottom. - a very satisfied customer

After owning this knife for three years, primarily as a flipper, I can honestly say it's been great. I'll start with the things i haven't liked too much about it. the handle that has the pocket clip and spring latch make this knife super unbalanced, I removed them and went latchless about 3 months after getting it as I found that it is largely impractical to EDC this knife. The D2 steel blade came extremely sharp out of the box and it holds an edge pretty well. I have found that over time the blade started to pit and rust just a tad. I also find the handles to be just a little light, but there are solutions to that problem via titanium scales. Overall I love my BM51, it has served me very well so far and it will continue to do so forever.

This is was my first high quality knife that really pushed me into flipping. 11/10 would buy again.

ive edc'd this knife for a year and ive dropped it multiple times on concrete and it has dug into the concrete with very minimal damage to the knife with all the abuse its been through. ive also flipped this knife for hours and hours and hours eachday and this sucker has stood the test of time and when you add the lifetime warranty this is the best balisong you could get for the price. and as for flipping id give it a 8.9-9.2 out of 10 for flipping as long as you get used to it

If you want to EDC this, ignore this review. The size and lightness is awesome for an edc. If you want this for flipping, then please read this. The lightness of this knife is ridiculous for flipping. Some might say its fast, but its so light and blade heavy it flies away from you doing a lot of tricks. The latch is nice but sounds horrible. You will need to take off the pocket clip or it will scratch your hand. Lubricant makes the ano (blue) fade off, and its not sharp at all. If you want a good flipper then save up like 20 bucks and get a BRS Replicant. That is probably one of the best flippers ever beside pales.

PS this knife has no bushings which reduce handle play and make it more smooth

Very smooth and light, this thing is a joy to flip. Has a nice slim pocket clip that is great for edc. Recommended knife for flippers or just want a bali for every day carry. Absolutely worth the price.

Its just a bit to light, probably gonna get the Ti scales for it. Fit and finish are very nice though, and its quite sharp.

I purchased this knife right after I graduated high school in 2013 and paid about $130 for it then I could not have been happier with my purchase! The knife is light so you can get it moving really quickly and don't have to worry about beating your hands up at all. The latch which is spring assisted and has a nice smooth disk on the end is as far as I have seen the best latch design ever emplimented on a Bali. The blade while being D2 doesn't make for much corrosion resistance came shave sharp out the box and has held it's edge extremely well. The g10 handles offer pretty decent grip even with sweaty hands however they could use a little more weight. The juled blue titanium inserts are gorgeous and a nice touch. In all its an amazing Bali and a wonderful knife however at the current $270 price point I would not buy it again if I lost it.

Awesome. Money well spent!

Really balanced and love flipping it. You can feel the quality right when you first hold it.

This is super fun to flip and really lightweight which makes it comfortable for carrying. However it’s a bit expensive and the D2 steel isnt that great. I had this knife in Hawaii for about 8 months and it started to rust pretty bad which was really disapointing. Maybe if it was S30V and the price was about $50 cheaper itd be worth it

This was my first non-CCC bali, bought nearly a year ago. Its weight and slim profile make for a wonderful carry bali, and I'm always a fan of Benchmade's D2; excellent edge retention and I've never had chipping issues.

That being said, this knife is somewhat hindered in terms of trick flipping by the same weight that makes it so great for daily use. The action itself is buttery smooth, even better than my Model 62 in my opinion, but it loses out to the 62 in terms of actual trick ability in my hands because of how little momentum it carries due to its lightness.

Overall, I'd say that this bali is definitely for you if you want a decent enough flipper with less bulk than the average bali for everyday carry and use.

Loved this knife for the 5 years I owned it, such a smooth opening knife, had to sell it for some quick cash. Plan on getting another soon.

Was looking for a balisong I could EDC comfortably. I like to mix things up for EDC and adding a balisong to the queue does just that, Have carried a couple n the past but they were either always too heavy or too bulky to ride comfortably in the pocket.

IMO this model personifies the EDC balisong. It is lightweight, slim, has a pocket clip, a thin and wicked sharp D2 blade with a nice slicing profile. About what you want and need for typical casual EDC tasks. This is like the benchmade 940 of Balisongs. Just the right size for EDC.

I have got more and more into flipping in the past year and own BRS, a BM 62, and a HOM Specter, and a few lower-end bear-ops. The BRS and HOM are great flippers but all of these are either two heavy or too bulky for EDC(for me). The light weight of the Benchmade 51 means you have to put more momentum into spins and rollovers but the good thing is it is fairly well balanced for such a light setup with G10 handles. I would give the BRS Alpha Beast a 5/5 in flipping..the BM62 a 2/5..and this one a 3/5.. Kind of wishing I had got this when I started flipping as it is light and very forgiving and you don't get cut up as easily if you make a mistake. A BRS Alpha Beast will bite hard. This just nibbles(relatively speaking). It also forces good technique as you need to use proper mechanics due to the low weight. I would recommend it to a beginner for sure. A no-brainer for someone who wants an EDC bali.

After loctiting the knife. This is my favorite Balisong to flip and EDC i prefer it over the Tachyon 3, DB3.1 and the BRS BB. Only downside was the need to loctite it. The lightweight feel to the knife with the crowned spine makes it a breeze to flip as long as you like without any problems. I have learned all of my advanced tricks so far on this knife and have had 0 issues with the weight of the knife. Would highly recommend the Benchmade 51

The Morpho is a beautiful knife, sporting jeweled blue anodized titanium liners and g10 scales with a satin/light stonewash D2 blade. Coming in at 3.3 ounces, it's extremely light, and disappears in your pocket. The pocket clip and latch allow for great EDC coupled with the weight. D2, while not the greatest steel, holds an edge well and it comes razor sharp. For EDC, it's easily a 5/5, with the only real complaint being the fact that it may feel too small for some.

Flipping however is another story. The handles are fairly small, and with the weight of the knife, it makes for a strange experience. The point of balance favors the blade, which makes chaplins and rollovers harder. However, the speed of this knife is incredible due to it's low weight. Overall though, it's a tad lackluster for flipping, which gets a 3/5 for me.

The main problem with the Morpho is it's $255 price. If you want an EDC knife, you can do much better than D2 steel at that price. If you want a flipper, $15 more gets you a BRS Replicant, which is far better for flipping. This knife is a great buy at $180 or less, but I can't recommend it at $255.

What bad can I say for the price?

Out the box, this thing is razor sharp, it flips like a dream, and those jeweled liners are perfect. The only cons are the weight, but it's also a pro, cause it just gives the 51 a unique feel and "click" when flipping. Absolutely orgasmic if u ask me, sounds like a baby replicant. Only thing you have to do is loctite those screws and oil it, you won't have to worry any more. Works just as other's reviewed.

Such a nice balisong. Latch isnt the greatest my broke but Benchmade sent me another. I would buy from Benchmade again they have great customer service. I you want a flipper get a BRS Replicant. I love flipping and this knife is too light.

Just got this knife from BHQ 3 days ago, and I just love it. Flips beautifully, looks gorgeous (already gotten compliments on it), and is RAZOR sharp (already got a small cut cause i'm used to a dull bali). I was worried it would be too light, but it's actually just perfect for me. I may order the titanium scales at some point but right now I'm very happy. Money well spent.

Only con was it didn't come loc-tite'd, but that's hardly an issue. After I noticed one of the pivot screws coming loose, I applied Loc-tite and now it's buttery smooth and has very little to no blade play at all.

I ordered this 4 years ago and it's still working flawlessly. I have taken care of it and it has taken care of me.:)

This is my second higher priced butterfly knife and all I can say is that I am glad I bought this. I would recommend this for a beginner flipper.

Pros- Quality, price point, warranty, craftsmanship, light, length.

Cons- pocket clip gets in the way sometimes.

Only complaints is with both the latch and the clip on the bite handle, make it feel off balanced and like I need to add more force when swinging out the safe handle.

I've had plenty of lower quality cheap balis and after they all broke I decided to save up for this. I was worried about the weight but as I hadn't flipped in a while it didn't affect my flipping. The momentum carries nicer than expected as all the weight is at the end of the handles. The quality makes it worth the price so if you're willing to spend it for this knife i suggest it.

When you close the latch on this knife it is solid as a rock! The flipping is very smooth but the handles are not as rounded as i thought they'd be. It comes shaving sharp so if you want flip it i would recommend putting tape on the blade. The latch is great but it does rub the anodizing off the safe handle when your closing it. This is a very light bali so be careful. I would definitely recommend this knife

Great Bali! I really love it. Great looking. Great flipping action

For the cost its a great reliable Bali . The only thing I would change is the handle weight the knife is a little blade heavy when flipping but once you account for it you can manage .

I'm the type of person that thought I would never spend this much on a knife. I don't regret buying it at all and as matter of fact I will continue to buy this brand and from Bladehq. Their customer service is among the best.

Absolutely love this knife! Its pretty light weighted knife but it'll be fine when i get new scales for it. Highly recommend it for beginners or any balisong enthusiast!

First off this is a well built Bali. There not enough weight in my opinion. It came dull and chips in the edge Benchmade fixed there errors by a free sharpening service.

The Benchmade 51 Morpho was my first Balisong over $200. I also have a Bradley Kimura for reference, and have handled several other great production balisongs. All in all, the 51 is one of the best, if not the best, production Balisong currently available on the market. The lighter weight takes getting used to if you're used to handling heavier balisongs like the Kimura. If it's your first Balisong, its a great pick. The action is exceptionally smooth, and the fit and finish is Benchmade quality. When you get yours, you may have to give it a quick cleaning after its potentially long storage interval, but otherwise no other maintenance is needed. This is the best price range to maximize quality, without losing a huge chunk of cash, or become disinterested in flipping because it is so expensive. And it is my recommendation for any Balisong flipper or knife enthusiast.

Not a huge fan of Bali's but I wanted one to round out my collection and this looked like the best choice for the money as far as a combination of quality and looking nice and boy is it.

Other reviewers dull knife must have been a fluke this knife was hair popping sharp out of the box, probably in the top 5 of factory edges on any knife I have bought including other benchmades, zt's, and spyderco's.

Have been learning to flip since getting it and I can see where the handles lightness might take some getting used to but being a beginner it helps not get fatigued quickly while learning as well and has not posed much of a problem. It also has performed well in actual use cutting down boxes, having a relatively thin and smooth blade profile it slices very well.

Looks gorgeous only complaint would be the anodizing on the liners was a bit faded, probably just by age, out of the box, only noticeable upon close inspection and according to the internet (don't hold me to it I have not done it yet)
wiping the liners down with windex should polish them right back up again and bring out the color, knife is put together with standard torx bit screws and there are videos on how to assemble on youtube so that should not be difficult either. Also the titanium pocket clip looks and functions well making this a viable option for edc if your local law allows it as mine does.

I have been out of the balisong game for years. I learned how to flip with the 42 t latch and spring latch. I deeply regret getting rid of those knives. Anyways, I found that this 51 is an excellent replacement. It is light, but that's not a bad thing because I can literally flip all day without getting fatigued. I love this Bali. Mine came wicked sharp. I use this knife as an EDC. The spring latch works fine with some adjustment. I found that if you loosen the zen pins and then clamp the handles together in the open position. Then tighten the zen screws up, this small adjustment creates the perfect spacing to hold the spring latch secured firmly.

Probably the dullest knife I have ever bought. Very dissappionted. Couldn't cut a noodle with this piece of garbage.

My main problem with this knife is how light it is compared to some other balis. Once I got used to the weight though, this quickly became one of my favorite knives. The anodization gets dull after a few months, but a good cleaning gets it sparkling the most beautiful blue, and it goes great with the black g10 scales.

I originally had a black bladed 51, but had it switched in when i sent it in for warranty a while back. The black coating will rub off pretty quickly if the pivots get loose, and the coating also gets little scratches cutting just about anything. I also wore off the coating on the back of the blade just with my finger, but that took a good year of flipping it almost constantly. I expect the satin blade won't show wear as much as the black blade.

Exactly one year to the day though, the spring latch part of the 51 broke, the liner snapped. I sent it in for warranty, the replaced one of the liners and switched out the black blade for a satin one. Great customer service BM!