Reate makes some real quality gravity knives, and the EXO-M, available with GMascus inlays and multiple blade patterns, is just one example.
But it is a great Reate gravity knife nonetheless. Read on to get the details.
Blade Steel
If there’s one thing that Reate has spared no expense to execute in the EXO-M, it’s the blade steel, as these Reate gravity knives are made with Elmax.
Widely lauded as one of the best super steels in the whole knife making industry, Elmax is a chrome-moly-vanadium steel that offers incredible wear-resistance, toughness, edge retention, corrosion-resistance, and general durability.
To break it down, Elmax is made with 1.7% carbon, 18% chromium, .3% manganese, 1% molybdenum, 3% vanadium, and a smidge of silicon, at .8%.
Together, these elements give this alloy excellent compressive strength, dimensional stability, and high toughness and wear resistance.
That makes Elmax excellent at taking and holding an edge, but with nearly 20% chromium, it also offers high corrosion resistance as well, something rare in a steel of this caliber.
Basically, it offers the holy grail of knife steel attributes: edge retention, corrosion-resistance, and general toughness.
Fidget Form, Factor, and Lock Type
This Reate gravity knife also gets high marks for fidget form and factor, as the design features a pivoting frame that allows the blade to slide forward (out) and back (in) with gravity or a flick of the wrist.
It is surprisingly fluid, and the lock type makes it not only more fidget friendly but also safer in the hand, as the design inherently keeps your fingers out of the blade’s path at all times. If you get cut handling this, you probably did something wrong.
On that note, the lock type is a really secure pivoting frame mechanism that is very strong – and much less prone to failure than lock backs and frame style locks. Moreover, since the blade slides in and out of the frame, rather than pivoting around a separate mechanism, even if the lock does fail, the blade will either snap or retract back into the frame.
All in all, it’s a really insightful and practical design that makes this Reate gravity knife a winner – as demonstrated by many good reviews.
Less Rattle
One more thing about gravity knives – the design, that allows the blade more or less to “free float” in the handle/frame, usually produces a bit of rattle when carrying the knife, and sometimes when the knife is deployed.
Is there a little bit of rattle with the Reate EXO-M? Yes, but only a bit, and no more than you’d get with any other gravity knife. Honestly, most would probably tell you it’s even less.
So if you’re a stickler for a solid and sound (or shall we say, sound-less) gravity knife, then the Reate EXO-M may be for you. You just need to find the model and blade profile that appeals to you.
Want to Learn More About This Reate Gravity Knife and Others?
Thinking a Reate gravity knife like this might deserve a space in your collection? You might be right, but if you want to learn more about it or see what other models are available, check out White Mountain Knives.
They carry a wide range of Reate knives as well as gravity knives, along with other conventional folders, fixed blades, and other tools. Their brand catalog is massive and contains Buck, Gerber, Cold Steel, Mora, Kershaw, ZT, Artizan Cutlery, Spyderco, CIVIVI, Kizer, and countless other popular brands in addition to Reate.
They also offer competitive prices, a whole bunch of exclusives you won’t be able to find anywhere else, and free shipping on orders in the United States. For more information, visit their website or get in touch with them at WhiteMountainKnives@gmail.com
