Seasonal Mako Bottle Opener V5

Yes, the Mako Bottle Opener V5 doubles as a balisong trainer and bottle opener. To open bottle caps with the Mako, simply position Mako’s bottom half of the mouth under the bottle cap and lift.

The Mako stands out for its exceptional durability compared to the plastic Squiddy models. Crafted from 6061 aluminum and equipped with a heat-treated stainless steel blade, it ensures superior strength and longevity. Additionally, its weight and balance closely mimic those of a live blade balisong, making it an ideal choice for those planning to transition to one in the future. Moreover, the Mako Bottle Opener also doubles as a bottle opener, adding a practical feature to its robust design.

The Squiddy-AL features an all-aluminum build for both the handles and blade, whereas the Mako features aluminum handles and a hardened stainless steel trainer blade. This hardened blade provides the Mako with superior durability. Additionally, the Mako has superior grip which will lend itself to an easier flipping experience. Both are exceptionally balanced and are equally easy to flip for beginners. We recommend the Mako over the Squiddy-AL for flippers in the intermediate or advanced category due to its heavier weight which is closer in similarity to other live blade balisongs.

The dorsal fin on the back of the blade is a training aid to provide tactile feedback for when the user is holding the handles too low. The “edge” side of the trainer blade is represented by the protruding tooth which also provides tactile feedback when the user ricochets against the wrong side of the trainer blade. Both of these features aid the flipping in developing healthy flipping habits.

The Inked version comes with an H-Series Graphite Black cerakote finish on the trainer blade along with matching black hardware. The flipping performance is unchanged, but the cerakote provides the blade with additional corrosion resistance and a wicked sick aesthetic. 

Ti-Mod is short form for Titanium Modification, which denotes that the Mako was upgraded with titanium hardware in comparison to the standard stainless steel hardware. This upgrade is purely cosmetic and does not affect the flipping performance.

The Mako Bottle Opener requires basic balisong maintenance, such as reapplying loctite, lubricant, and cleaning the hardware as needed. You can find all the tools required in our Balisong Maintenance Kit. If you are unsure on how to perform maintenance on your Mako Bottle Opener, you can watch our YouTube video playlist, “Balisong Maintenance Tips”.

For flippers of all skill levels, whether you’re a first-time novice or a 10-year veteran, we highly recommend checking out our Squid Industries Flipping Tutorials, where you’ll find a comprehensive list of beginner, intermediate, and advanced tutorials.