Best Butterfly Knife Trainers: Blunt Balisongs for Learning to Flip, Ranked

By South Summit Team. Updated September 12, 2026. Every pick was in stock at the listed price when this was updated.

A butterfly knife trainer is a balisong with an unsharpened blade, and it is where everyone should learn. The handles, pivots and weight are the same as the live knives, so every trick transfers; the only thing missing is the edge. Eleven are in stock. This ranks them by orders. Browse the trainer collection; the tricks are in the balisong beginner's guide.

Quick comparison

How we ranked these

Every product on southsummit.com carries a 30-day order score recalculated daily from real orders across our store network. The picks below are the in-stock items with the highest score on the day of the last update, in that order, and each one is checked against its listed specifications. This is not a hands-on torture test and nothing here is sponsored; it is what buyers chose with their own money, explained.

The best butterfly knife trainers

1. Six-Hole Flow Balance Butterfly Knife Trainer - Gold Steel

The best-selling trainer: six-hole steel handles in gold, 3.625-inch blunt blade, 9 inches, about $13.

A straight, single-edged blade: simple to sharpen and a good cutter.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

At 3.625-inch blade, 9 inches overall, 4.6 ounces it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

2. Stealth Groomer Butterfly Comb Trainer - Silver Steel

A comb-blade trainer, about $9. The cheapest and the one most people start on.

A straight, single-edged blade: simple to sharpen and a good cutter.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

At 4-inch blade, 8.625 inches overall it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

3. Prism Balance Six-Hole Butterfly Trainer - Rainbow Steel

Six-hole steel handles in rainbow finish, about $13.

A straight, single-edged blade: simple to sharpen and a good cutter.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

At 3.625-inch blade, 9 inches overall, 4.6 ounces it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

The Rainbow finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

4. Signal Rhythm TriMark Butterfly Knife - Black Tanto

A black tanto-profile trainer, 9 inches, about $12.

The American tanto has a straight main edge and an angled secondary edge meeting at a reinforced point. It resists tip damage and suits push cuts and scraping; it is not a slicing shape.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

At 4-inch blade, 9 inches overall, 5.83 ounces it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

5. FlowState BalanceMaster Butterfly Knife Trainer - Matte Black

Matte black steel trainer, 8.75 inches, about $12.

A straight, single-edged blade: simple to sharpen and a good cutter.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

At 4-inch blade, 8.75 inches overall, 4.76 ounces it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

6. Smooth Sway BalanceMaster Butterfly Knife Trainer - Purple Metal

Purple metal trainer with a clip-point profile, about $12.

The clip point takes a section out of the spine near the tip for a finer point, with enough belly to slice. It is one of the few OTF shapes that cuts like an ordinary pocket knife.

At 4-inch blade, 8.75 inches overall, 4.76 ounces it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

7. Toxic Outbreak Flow-Control Butterfly Knife Trainer - Zombie Green

Zombie-green trainer, about $11.

A straight, single-edged blade: simple to sharpen and a good cutter.

The Zombie finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

8. Prism Flow Vent Butterfly Trainer Knife - Rainbow Steel

Vented rainbow steel trainer, about $11.

A straight, single-edged blade: simple to sharpen and a good cutter.

A steel handle adds weight and rigidity; it is the heaviest option in this group.

The Rainbow finish is a handle graphic; the knife underneath is the same as the plain model in this size, so nothing is given up for the look.

Best for: a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

9. Spectrum Flow Ball Bearing Butterfly Trainer Knife - Rainbow Steel

The only ball-bearing trainer in stock, stainless, about $12. Smoothest pivots in the group.

A spear point keeps the dagger silhouette with a single sharpened edge, so it deploys as straight as a dagger and cuts better for everyday tasks.

At 4-inch blade, 9 inches overall it sits in the full-size class, which makes it the full-grip class: a bag or belt knife rather than a pocket knife.

Best for: bag or belt carry and hard use, a first purchase or a spare.

See current price and stock

What to look for in a trainer

Weight and balance should match the live knife you intend to buy, so learn on the trainer version of the same handle style. Handle construction: six-hole and vented handles cut weight and are easier to fan; channel or CNC handles are stiffer. Pivots: pinned pivots on most trainers have some play, which is normal; the Spectrum Flow ball-bearing trainer is the exception and the smoothest. Latch: a latch that swings freely gets in the way of tricks; some flippers remove it.

Comb trainers

The Stealth Groomer has a comb where the blade would be. It is the safest and cheapest introduction and it is legal to carry in more places because it is not a knife at all. Its balance is lighter than a steel-bladed trainer, so move to a blunt-blade trainer before buying a live balisong.

Before you order

Trainers are treated differently from live butterfly knives in some states and cities, and the same in others. Check your local rules; this page is not legal advice. When you are ready for a live blade, the ranked list is best butterfly knives.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best butterfly knife trainer for beginners?

The Six-Hole Flow by orders; the Stealth Groomer comb trainer if you want the cheapest possible start.

Are butterfly knife trainers safe?

They have no edge, so the risk is a pinched finger or a dropped handle, not a cut. Learn over a soft surface.

Do trainers feel like real balisongs?

Blunt-blade steel trainers are the same weight and balance as the live version of the same handle. Comb trainers are lighter.

Prices are South Summit prices at the time of writing and change with stock. Rules for carrying and owning these items differ by state and city; check your local rules before ordering.