Kershaw Lucha Trainer Butterfly Knife

Learning to flip a butterfly knife comes with an obvious problem: the early attempts involve a sharp edge swinging around your knuckles. The Kershaw Lucha Trainer removes that part. Its 4.6-inch blade has a rounded tip and a blunt edge, so the tricks can be practiced without the cuts.

Kershaw built it to behave like the regular Lucha. The blade tapers so more of the weight sits up top and swings through smoothly, and dual ball-bearing pivots keep the flips quick. The stainless handles have rounded bevels so they roll in the hand, and the latch is rounded too, with a stop that keeps it from touching the blade. It weighs 6 ounces, it’s made in the USA, and the diamond-shaped holes in the blade match the handles.

It’s the right gift for someone who has been watching balisong videos and wants to try it, or for an experienced flipper who wants a safer way to drill a new trick.

The catch is the price. This is a premium trainer, and simpler ones cost a third as much. What you pay for is the feel of a real Lucha, which starts to matter once the basics click. Butterfly knife rules vary by place, so check local law before giving one.