Smooth Operator
Southeast Iowa

Jun 12, 2025

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Weight

Cons: Pocket Clip, Sheath

Smooth operator

A couple weeks in and I’m completely happy with the product. It’s an everyday carry item for me. I was skeptical until I got it in hand and the craftsmanship immediately negated those concerns. The bearings are smooth as glass and the balance is perfect for me. The photos don’t do this knife justice. The order and shipping were great, and I assume the customer service is just as seamless.

Orthogonal1
MN USA

Mar 18, 2023

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Pocket Clip

Good balisong at a decent price

I use balisongs as an EDC. Currently carry rotation balisongs includes BM Morpho 31, Bradley Mayhem, BM41 and I'll be giving this Kershaw a try. Build quality is what I expect from Kershaw, excellent for the price. Weight and flipping are on par with the BM41, though I wish Kershaw had put cutouts in the Ti that matched the cutouts in the CF scales as the Kershaw is noticeably heavier than a BM Morpho 51. This is my first knife with a 20CV blade, but Kershaw usually does a pretty decent heat treat and the blade was sharp from the box. Blade thickness looks to be thin enough for EDC use (cutting up apples, tomatoes, salami, cardboard, etc.). I wish the knife had a pocket clip and some kind of latch opening means (spring, magnet, whatever). I wonder about latch wear on the anodized blue Ti, but It should fair better than Aluminum.

Payforplay21
Sacramento, Ca

May 09, 2022

Pros: Handle Material, Blade Material

Cons: None

Money well spent

Recieved my titanium/carbon Lucha 2 full days ahead of schedule, thanks knifecenter. Having put it through its paces after unboxing it, I have been able to draw some conclusions about the new Lucha. The knife seems well built and has great tolerances and came razor sharp. Flipping the knife I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is. It is just slightly heavier than my flyti Lucha. The handles feel very round to me with plenty of traction thanks to the carbon fiber scales. My one criticism would be the latch. The latch on the new ti/carbon lucha is the same steel latch borrowed from the previous Lucha but with a black nitride finish. I like the design of the latch but being made from steel instead of titanium like the handle liners causes the bite handle to be significantly heavier which I don't care for. Luckily the latch can be removed which I did and the result was both aesthetically pleasing and much more friendly to flip. This Balisong is definitely worth the price based on my experience with it so far.

Heco509
Kennewick, Wa

Mar 15, 2023

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

My Favorite Lucha!

This is my 6th and Most likely my final Lucha. I own the AL The Titaninium, Blue Coat, Trainer, SS Stock, and this one. One the latch is removed, she flips slim and fast. She makes her own unique clap while she flaps. Reminiscent of a Rep, but not the same. You can't go wrong with this one. No regrets on any of the Kershaw luchas out there. Very fun to Mod and flip. Get one while she is on the low. Make a great future my friends.

Ed K
Studio City, Ca

Jan 07, 2026

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Weight

Cons: None

Cool balisong

Great looking balisong. Love the feel of the handles. I am just paranoid of scraping the anodized blue finish of the liner off with the lock, so I squeeze the handle hard while latching or unlatching. The Kvt bearings feel fine, I noticed that there are ceramics available for the lucha. What sold me is the ounce of weight savings from the titanium handles, otherwise I would have spent a similar amount on the magnacut. Happy with this purchase.

Jj
NC

Jan 13, 2026

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Weight

Cons: None

Kershaw Lucha Carbon Fiber

This is heads over better than the original Lucha in weight and distribution or balance. As always with Kershaw higher tier products the fit and finish is excellent. I don't think people realize how well made Kershaw products can be. The original Lucha even though heavier and with lower cost tier materials, the product is still excellent fit and finish this model just brings the materials up to match the fit and finish. My only complaint and its not a real complaint only a preference is the blade grind, I would have prefered a different blade design but that does not take away this is an excellent made product. Well done Kershaw! My hopes is Kershaw makes more versions in different blade styles, using these materials, carbon fiber and Titanium! As far as flipping goes, its a trade off between both flipping verses EDC. The balance is neutral, with a slight handle bias. The blade stock and handles are a bit narrow, less forgiving in keeping the knife straight. These trade offs provide a thinner blade for EDC slicing, and thinner carry. Handle length is perfect, floppy bad latch as usual - it latches well but its a latch! Loud flipper, not a good loud as one would want with a solid clunk more a clinker. EDC as mentioned excellent blade materials 20cv, did they mean to put ZT on the blade ! Thin behind the edge slicer, big belly spear drop point with a large swedge. Not the prettiest blade design IMO but well made and does a goof job of slicing with a very fine point ( that can be snapped off if dropped just right. No odd recurves so sharpening is easy to do. To finish another very impressive knife, a balisong from Kershaw! Keep it up, shake the designers hand !

Balibowler
Hood River

May 13, 2022

Pros: Handle Material, Blade Material

Cons: Lock Ease of Use

Great Stuff

Amazing knife. Great sounding “click” Got rid of latch. And wish they had more blade shapes. Overall very happy.

Joe Bunda
SW PA

Mar 17, 2024

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Weight

Cons: Pocket Clip, Sheath

A Very Fine Balisong/Butterfly Knife

This knife is my EDC blade. A superlative piece of cutlery. This is my second balisong from Kershaw. Since it has titanium liners, this makes the knife much lighter than the stainless steel Lucha balisong, which I also own. In fact, I bought one for my nephew (the stainless steel version: if he wants to upgrade to this extremely fine titanium version, he can buy one himself, like I did. Now about the blades: the stainless steel version has a "drop point" blade. Nothing wrong with the blade design/shape. Ditto with this knife's "spear point" design/shape. Both are extremely sharp, so be aware. All said about these superlative blades, I wish Kershaw had supplied them with pocket clips on the handles.

B.Dizzle
Idaho

Jan 05, 2026

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Weight

Cons: Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type

Lucha 5150

Great balisong!

Anthony
Sheboygan, Wi

Feb 24, 2023

Pros: None

Cons: None

My first real Balisong.

I bought this based on its build. From the blade to the handles made it a deal maker for me. I would have paid more if Kersha included the trainer blade as I am going to seek one out. Thank KnifeCenter for the deal and Kersha for making a stellar knife.

Greg H
Beaver Falls, Pa

Apr 29, 2024

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Weight

Cons: Pocket Clip, Sheath

Titanium Ballison

This is my second ballisong from Kershaw and I am still impressed with the quality and craftsmanship of this blade as I am with my previous purchase. I have been flipping ballisongs since the early 80s. I mentioned my previous purchase (which in addition to mine, I bought one for my nephew) of the stainless steel, drop-point blade model in that model’s review. Again, a very lovely example of finely crafted and engineered piece of cutlery. Now, as for performance: I have stated that I have both the solid stainless steel model and, this with the G10/Titanium Liners. After flipping the stainless steel model then flipping this model, well, it’s like having a butterfly on your finger tips. It’s so much lighter. Yes, the blade designs are different, but that’s not all that important to me. The *only* criticism I have is that, for some reason, Kershaw does affix pocket/belt clips

Usa Made
LV

Jul 31, 2024

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Handle Feel

Cons: Ease of Opening, Handle Material

Member when this knife was $100 dollars before Biden

Nice knife 😁

Slim
Savannah GA

Aug 06, 2025

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Weight

Cons: Pocket Clip, Sheath

This knife is awesome! Great materials paired with a great design!

The only critical thing I can say about the 5150CF Lucha is that the latch strikes the bite handle when opening or closing. It makes contact marks on the bottom of the handle. The action is smooth with the ball bearing pivots. SWEET knife!

Nathan
Jasper, Tx

Nov 17, 2025

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Weight

Cons: Ease of Opening, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type

Much improved over the original

I'm not a flipper but I've always loved the balisong style knives and anything Kershaw. I had another Lucha that was my EDC for a while and this one it's noticeably lighter and just feels better made overall. The only thing I don't like, if I had to list something, is that it could be a little easier to open. Maybe once it's broken in and I'm more familiar with it I'll get better at it.

Crazy Jay
Boston MA.

Mar 01, 2026

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel

Cons: Pocket Clip, Sheath, Weight

Be Forewarned with the Lucha:

Is this bali a nice flipper? Yes. Is the action reliable? Yes. Are you gonna have to break it apart, clean off each screw's threads with alcohol, drop threadlocker on them again, put it back together again over and over again like other flippers? No. Which is nice. Is it any form of a combat knife, was it designed to be a reliable tool for self defense? >NO<. Why? Can you see that little hollow milled into the hilt of the blade of the Lucha models? The Moonsault? I could wrap a towel around the blade, grab the handles with the clasp shut, and snap it in half right in the same place the old Fairbairn / Sykes Commandos used to. That's why they were replaced. Using this for any other purpose than a flipper? A nice EDC if local laws allow? I wouldn't recommend it.