Who invented the first butterfly knife?

The butterfly knife is also known as the Balisong knife and is native to the Philippines. The first record is in 1905 and Perfecto de Leon is given credit as the father of the Balisong knife due to the manufacture of the knives being industrialized in the early twentieth century.

The current leading site for traditionally crafted Balisong knives shows the components of the knife which can be made of many natural materials. The speed of opening and closing the knife as well as the 'click clack' sound the handles make when spinning quickly lead to the nickname "butterfly" knife.