If you’re an OTF fan, but haven’t heard of the EXO-M Reate Gravity Knife yet, it’s time to change that.

This EXO gravity knife is, hands down, one of the best OTF folders on the market right now. Many out-the-front knives are made for form and not function, but not this one.

Here’s why.

It Features a Great Steel

The first thing you’ll love about the EXO-M Reate Gravity Knife (whether you get the single or double-edge model) is the super steel.

This isn’t your grandpa’s 420HC. This is CPM-3V which is excellent by any yardstick, and actually almost out of place in an OTF gravity knife like this.

A Crucible Particle Metallurgy steel, CPM-3V is made with a pretty simple composition that lands blows way out of its weight class.

Specifically, it contains .8% carbon, 7.5% chromium, 1.3% molybdenum, and 2.75% vanadium.

That’s plenty of carbon to take and hold a wicked edge, but not so much that it’s brittle, and not so much that it’s hard to resharpen.

It’s the perfect amount of chromium, too. Some alloys have way too much, closer to 14%, which makes the alloy far too soft. CPM-3V offers the perfect balance of durability and corrosion resistance.

As for the molybdenum and vanadium, they both offer a few nice attributes to the steel. Both of them substantially improve toughness and wear resistance, and vanadium also forms carbides that assist with edge retention.

So, in a nutshell, this is the real deal when it comes to steel quality.

The Lock Is Really Strong, Very Little Lockout/Bladeplay

OTF gravity knives all have different sorts of locks, but this one has one of the strongest you can imagine.

Picture this: there are two raised edges at the base of the shoulder of the knife, not unlike the locking lugs on a gun’s bolt carrier.

There is a channel in the frame of the knife, through which these “lugs” can slide when the frame is lifted out of alignment.

Once opened, the blade can slide forward, and once closed, the “lugs” fit perfectly into two recesses at the forward part of the knife.

It’s sort of like a framelock (technically) and remarkably strong. The only way the lock can fail is with catastrophic failure of the frame, which is unlikely since the frame is basically two pieces of 6AL4V titanium bolted together (with a Micarta insert, but it plays no part in structural integrity).

This makes it extremely strong and reliable. This configuration also results in another desirable attribute: there is almost no side-to-side blade play with the blade locked up, and far less than many other popular OTF knives.

It Locks Open and Closed

One great thing about this Reate Gravity Knife is that it locks open and closed. Not that that’s particularly rare among gravity knives, but it is among folders.

When you drop a linerlock or a framelock, the blade can open, which can damage it. That won’t happen with this OTF knife.

Plus  it makes it easier and safer to carry.

It’s Fidgety As All Heck

There are few knives out there that are as fidgety as this Reate Gravity Knife. It is definitely one of the best.

There are some bar locks and button locks that are fluid and fidgety, but not quite like this OTF knife.

To be frank, you’ll probably be surprised how fluidly you can slide the blade open and closed, and it stays that way through hundreds if not thousands of cycles, making it even more fidget-friendly.

And, even if it gets dusty, you can blast it out with compressed air, lube it with a little graphite powder or Rem Oil, and it’ll be good as new.

Minimal Rattle

Among knife enthusiasts, one of the most common complaints about OTF knives is that they have an annoying habit of rattling when closed.

This is because, unlike conventional liner and framelocks (and other folders) OTF knives lack the detents and backsprings that keep these knives closed.

So, when you hold a closed OTF knife and shake it, it tends to rattle.

Well, if you grab the EXO-M Reate Gravity Knife by pinching the frame and shake it aggressively, it’ll rattle a little. But just carrying it in your pocket, it’s probably not something you’ll ever notice.

It’s Carry-Friendly and Practically Sized

Some OTF knives are designed to catch your eye, and not to be easy to carry. Not this one. It’s neither too large nor uncomfortably small.

It’s sized perfectly for EDC and utility, at 7.48” open, with a 2.95” blade, and weighing just 4.3oz, making it perfectly sized for general utility.

It also features a pocket clip, so you can either carry it clipped on your belt, your pocket, a MOLLE system, or just let it float in your pocket.

Get an EXO-M Reate Gravity Knife Here

Looking to pick up a new EXO-M Reate Gravity Knife? Get it here. We offer competitive pricing on Reate EXO gravity knives and other Reate knives and high-quality OTF gravity knives, along with free shipping in the U.S.