Blade Show 2026
Atlanta, GA -- June 4-6, 2026
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MANUAL MACHINE SHOP · HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA · EST. 2018 · CUSTOM ORDERS OPEN
POLECAT. MANUAL MACHINIST · HUNTSVILLE, AL
POLECAT BALISONG LLC // HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA

Manually milled balisongs out of Huntsville.

Single-operator machine shop. Every knife milled, ground, and finished by hand. No CNC, no crew, no shortcuts. The sticker below goes on every box that ships.

MANUAL MACHINIST NO CNC FULL MACHINE SHOP EXOTIC MATERIALS HAND GROUND
Available Now

Ready to Ship

Current builds off the bench. DM to claim one.

See every knife available →
In the Shop

On the Bench Right Now

Current builds in progress. Watch them go from raw stock to finished blade.

Full Collection

The Catalog

Every model Polecat builds. Filter by category to narrow it down.

From the Shop

Updates

Progress shots, shop notes, and updates from the workbench.

BUILT BY

Wilfred Richards.
Manual machinist.

I am a manual machinist and knifemaker local to Huntsville, Alabama. I have a full machine shop with the ability to do many things knife related.

I take on unique projects all the time and love to work with exotic materials.

-- Wilfred Richards, Polecat Balisong LLC
The Process

From Stock to Blade

Every Polecat starts as raw stock and ends as a finished blade ready to flip.

STEP 01

Design

Concept, dimensions, materials. Every build starts on paper with a plan.

STEP 02

Mill

Manual milling of handles and blade. Tight tolerances, no CNC, no jigs.

STEP 03

Grind

Hand grinding the blade profile, edge geometry, and finish. Steel becomes a blade.

STEP 04

Assemble

Bushings, pivots, hardware. Tuned and dialed until the action is right.

Commissions

Custom Orders

Willing to take on customs of most requests. DM on Instagram to start the conversation.

Materials

Blade steel, handle stock, finish. Damascus, timascus, titanium, exotic options on request.

Design

Work directly with Wilfred on dimensions, blade shape, handle profile, hardware specs.

Timeline

Every build is done by hand. Turnaround varies by complexity and queue. DM for current wait times.

DM for Custom Quote

Deposit required for custom work

Shows & Events

Catch Polecat in Person

See the knives in hand and meet the maker. Upcoming shows and past appearances.

The Community

What Flippers Say

Straight from the balisong community.

Get in Touch

Direct Line to the Shop

DMs are fastest. Text works too.

Questions

FAQ

DM Wilfred on Instagram (@wilfred.richards) with what you're looking for. Available builds are first come, first served. Custom orders require a deposit and a conversation about specs.

Payment is currently handled through Burch Knives, who has a payment processor set up for bladed products. This keeps things smooth and avoids the issues most knife makers run into with mainstream payment platforms.

It depends on complexity and the current queue. Simple builds might be a few weeks, complex customs with exotic materials take longer. DM for current turnaround times.

Domestic US shipping is standard. International shipping is possible but comes with legal restrictions depending on the destination. Balisongs are restricted or banned in many countries. Check your local laws before ordering.

Balisong legality varies by state. They're restricted in California, Hawaii, New York, and several other states. It's your responsibility to know your local laws before purchasing. I cannot ship to states where balisongs are prohibited.

Absolutely. Damascus, timascus, titanium alloys, different blade steels. If it can be worked by hand, it's on the table. Material availability and pricing varies, so DM to discuss options.

For Polecat builds, yes. If something needs adjustment or repair, reach out on Instagram and we'll figure it out.

Stay in the Loop

Drop Notifications

Be the first to know when a new build drops. No spam, just blades.