Hinderer Knives Nieves v2

Good bali with a few flaws (edited)

I've only had this knife a few hours now and so far I'm enjoying flipping it. Came out of the box with exceptionally minimal handle play. The blade feels heavy and sturdy, and the spanto grind is definitely a pro. The weight distribution is great with a little bit of handle bias (the blade is fairly thick) and the handles carry momentum flawlessly. However, the horns on the blade… read more can pinch pretty bad. They can definitely get in the way while flipping and make chaplins much more difficult. That said, I've found that the problem can be mitigated by just holding the handles a bit lower. My only other complaint is that the latch tends to get caught by the safe handle while flipping, but that's to be expected of a balisong without a spring latch. Overall, 7.5/10. I'd recommend this to anybody looking for a balisong suitable for EDC and flips well, but it's no competitive flipper unless you remove the latch and grind down the horns on the blade.

Edit: after using this knife for a few months now, I'd have to give it a solid 8.5/10. Having flipped a few other $200-350 balisongs, this one is among the best. I've gotten some pretty nasty blisters from the horns, but aside from that, the handles carry momentum flawlessly and are extremely easy to fan. I've learned a load of tricks using the Nieves.
If you're buying this knife, be sure you tighten (and preferably locktite) the hinge pins the second you receive it as the blade rub can be pretty bad if the handles are slightly loose. However, after tightening my knife's hinge pins, I never had another problem with blade rub.
In terms of longevity, this knife has taken my abuse fairly well (so far). The blade retains its edge very well and is honestly scary to flip after sharpening. The handle play hasn't really changed and the blade rub is yet to return.
Overall, the Nieves is a good flipper and a superb EDC for an average price.

Edit 2: I partially retract my comments on longevity. After owning this knife for half a year now, there is severe blade tap and the latch has damaged the finish on the handles. Tightening pivot screws only causes the pivot to seize rather than correcting blade rub. This problem should not plague a $300-$400 balisong. However, it still flips great after a lot of abuse, but don't expect the mint blade finish or good tolerances to last.

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That's a thicc boi

Its a beefy bali with minimal play. Sometimes the latch gets in your way while flipping but its worth it. Feels like it will never fail you.

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Best value right now

Basically a more neutral Alpha Beast with way better steel for Premium Rep money. People won't be sleeping on these for long at this price

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I really wanted to welcome Hinderer with open arms into the balisong market....but.....

So, first off, right out of the box, it has blade tap. I tried tightening the pins even further but didnt help. This is unacceptable for a knife at this price point with bushings. Second, its unbelievably slippery. Combining the finish and the lack of any kind of notches to grip, it really doesnt feel secure even with a full fist grip. Third, it didnt come razor sharp as most knives… read more should and do at this price point. Fourth, the latch WILL get stuck despite the small divot they cut out trying to prevent it from doing so. I wouldnt say this is a terrible balisong if it was 300-280 or less, but at 400+ i expect way more than what i received. If you compare any other knife at this price point, such as a BRS alpha beast, or literally any knife from Hom Design, or a benchmade 62 or an even cheaper 51, you get way less for the money buying this knife. I am a fairly advanced flipper and ive owned all of the knives mentioned above and than some, and i really dont like how this thing flips, at all.

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Fantastic Flipper. How are these still in stock?

What a sweet balisong. Every surface of this knife has a mild polish so not a single bit of the handles has a sharp or uncomfortable edge on it. It has a wonderful smooth feel to it. The balance is extremely similar to an Alpha Beast, with a little more blade bias (but still rear bias overall). Overall fit and finish is great and the blade came nice and sharp. My only gripes would… read more be the use of atypical hardware (hex instead of torx) and the latch. The latch is a very basic t-latch style that I would recommend replacing with a paracord latch.

All in all, I highly recommend this balisong. An excellent, comfortable flipper that makes for a great EDC with a well rounded blade profile, S35vn, and option for a pocket clip.

Nice job Hinderer.

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Blade Rub

I love this balisong. Flips well and very sharp. It is easily one of my favorites. The only problem is there is blade rub but that is fine. Just wish there was a way to avoid it or prevent longer. Now I'm stuck debating whether or not to get his battle bronze ($400) or walnut wood ($1,700) Nieves. Get a Nieves before they all go out of stock

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Great quality balisong

Hinderer Knives have been making quality folders and knives for quite some time. You would think with the Nieves that they have been making balisongs for a while also although this is their first time bringing a mid-tech balisong to market. It's a solid piece with a reputable name backing it up at a price that won't break the bank. I am very pleased with my Hinderer Nieves and have… read more my eyes set on picking up another one with a different finish.

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Seems great. one notable flaw.

This knife is definitely built to flip. The size, weight, shape and feel are all right in the sweet spot for a perfect flipper. The machining and ano quality are top notch and the blade finish is great. It also came pretty sharp, but not a light saber. My only beef with it is that even with the pivots tightened as far as they can go, it's loose and the blade taps. these shouldn't… read more be issues for a bali with bushings. It doesn't affect the flippability at all, but will hurt the resale value. Blade rub and tap should be expected after really breaking in a flipper but it's off out of the box, especially for a knife as high quality as this one.

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My new Hinderer Nieves knife

This knife is typical of all Hinderer knives in that it is well built out of great material. Flawless in machining and assembly. I did find that the 5.2 OZ weight is the exact same as the BRS Alpha Beast and HOM Specter Elite and priced in the middle of both. Rick also provided four slots for attaching a pocket clip covered by typical Hinderer covers. Very nice touch. IRon (Thanks… read more BladeHQ )

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