Tested: The Best Gravity Knives for Everyday Carry

Gravity knives have always been something of the black sheep of the larger knife family, primarily due to their novelty factor and illegality. And while for much of their existence, gravity knives have gone largely unchanged, however, within the last few decades, this unique style of gravity-opening blade has greatly evolved, giving way to a host of contemporary models — the latest and greatest of which we’ve rounded up for this handpicked guide to and hands-on review of the best gravity knives. 

Selection & Testing

Compared to automatics or balisong, gravity knives are fairly rare in the grand scheme of things, though there are still a surprising number of options on the market right now. So, when we set forth to uncover the latest and greatest gravity knives, we first scoured the entire market, rounding up every available pick in order to consider all of our options. From there, we focused on factors such as material selection, dimensions, deployment and lock type, and the reputation of the manufacturer. We also paid close attention to the size and shape of both the handle and blade in order to assess the overall utility we suspect a knife of offering.

And, let’s face it, gravity knives simply aren’t a go-to option for anyone interested in a primarily utilitarian workhorse of a knife, as their novelty and cool-factors play major roles in this type of blade’s overall appeal. Consequently, while somewhat subjective, we also factored the overall coolness, creativity, and novelty of each knife into account when making our selections. With these areas guiding our search, we then selected around a dozen gravity knives in total. After managing to get our hands on each one, we then proceeded to closely examine and evaluate details that can only be gleaned through hands-on use, such as ergonomics and grip, and craftsmanship and build quality. Paper-cutting tests were also performed to judge the factory edge of each gravity knife.

Additionally, we also carried out a looser, less structured testing phase that saw the author carry each knife as their daily carry blade for around a week, providing an understanding of what it’s actually like to live with, carry, and use these knives on a daily basis. Once armed with the intel and notes from our hands on testing period, we were then able to narrow our initial shortlist of picks down to a final list of what our research and testing proved to be the best gravity knives on the market. There were also a few picks that came extremely close to receiving a main spot on this guide — several of which can be found in our honorable mentions section at the very bottom of this article.

Bestech QUQU

Best Compact Pick: The Bestech QUQU is a unique take on a gravity knife that’s primarily characterized by its compact size, decent utility, and largely non-threatening appearance. Designed by the daughter of Bestech’s owner, the QUQU is pieced together around an anodized aluminum handle that mirrors the shape of the dagger profile blade that it houses. Weighing in at only 1.70oz, the knife features a button lock mechanism that’s engaged via a tiny alloy button. When the button is pressed, the blade can then freely pivot, allowing the knife to be opened with a flick of the wrist. It closes the same way too, just press the button and flick in the opposite direction. The QUQU is essentially just a button lock knife with no other means of deployment other than a button-press and a little flick — which is what makes it a gravity knife.

The Good

The QUQU sports a 2.2-inch single-edge dagger-shaped blade with a fuller running up the center that adds a few style points, and a 14C28N composition — a decent budget blade steel from Sandik that doesn’t offer the best edge retention, though does sharpen easily. I do wish both sides of the blade were sharpened, but at this price point it’s hard to complain, Speaking of the blade, the QUQU features Bestech’s signature razor-sharp factory edge. The build quality is also much better than I was expecting from a $60 knife. With that said, much like WE and Kizer, Bestech employs some really stringent quality control standards and ultimately delivers an end product that have people rethinking their perception of Chinese-made knives, as the overall build quality on display on Bestech’s knives is often just as good as anything coming out of the USA, Germany, Japan, or Italy. 

Boasting a name that translates to “cricket,” the QUQU sports a handle shape modeled after a cricket’s abdomen and a machining pattern inspired by the insect’s fore and hind wings. Though its handle only spans 3.25”, it still offers a pretty decent grip, allowing me to wrap all four fingers around it. The machining pattern milled into both sides helps here too. Sure, it doesn’t provide enough grip to tackle hard-use applications — not to mention the fact its blade definitely wasn’t designed for this use — but for the majority of EDC tasks it’s perfectly sufficient. I also love that the handle is fitted with a billet pocket clip, as this is a fairly premium touch very seldom found on sub-$100 knives. There’s also a custom Bestech-logoed pivot collar which is another nice touch — and one that adorns $300 Bestech knives in my personal collection. 

Supplementary Strengths

The actual operation of opening and closing the knife is excellent. The blade runs on a ceramic ball bearing system with makes its deployment buttery-smooth. It also consistently locks into place and it doesn’t stick either. What’s more, the QUQU also has a pretty non-threatening appearance — plus you always have the option of opening more like a faux-nail-nick, by pressing the button, letting the blade ever-so-slightly pivot, and then pulling it out the rest of the way by hand. Also, while it’s purely subjective, there’s something I really like about how tiny this knife’s button is as well. It’s just  kinda cool and unique. It’s also a surprisingly decent little self-defense knife, with its dagger-shaped blade — a profile that I was pleasantly surprised to discover was actually somewhat utilitarian. And while I opted to test the black variant, the knife is also offered in a myriad of different anodized color options, as well as in an Ultem construction model.

The Not So Good

Though it’s a great little knife, I did have one minor complaint — or at least an aspect that I’d change. I wish the machining in the handle was just a little deeper, as it for sure bolsters traction and grip, though could definitely be more effective if a tad more pronounced. Also, while this isn’t necessarily a negative, I’m honestly a little unclear on the legality of carrying this knife, which is why part of me wishes the blade was just 0.20” shorter, as this would make it legal to carry in my home state of California — along with any other autos or OTFs with blades spanning less-than-2.0”. 

Verdict: Opened and closed with the push of a tiny button and a little flick of the wrist, the Bestech QUQU is a non-threatening-looking gravity knife that’s modeled after — and named after — a cricket. 

AGA Campolin Dragonfly

Editor’s Pick: Gravity knives have existed for decades, though in more recent years we’ve seen all manner of novel and innovative takes on the space — from the Paragon Warlock to the Reate EXO-K to the DailyCarryCo. MagBlade. And while these designs are largely characterized by their complexity or outside-the-box thinking, the AGA Campolin Dragonfly takes things in the opposite direction, gaining much of its charm and appeal from how wildly simple it is in nature. 

The Good

The AGA Campolin Dragonfly features a main handle element that uses a single piece of stainless steel to form both scales and a rounded U-shaped bit that serves as a backspacer. Offered in a slew of different colors, finishes, and patterns, the main part of the handle features pivots points at the top and bottom of the chassis. At the top pivot is the blade, while the bottom pivot features an arm that sits over the blade. By flicking your wrist out, the pivoting arm at the bottom of the handle folds down, allowing the blade to pivot out, before the arm pivots back on top of the blade, locking it into place. 

The blade that the handle deploys is a 2.75” drop point item made from 440C. Despite the novelty of the knife as a whole, it’s actually pretty utilitarian, with its handle providing a full four-finger grip, and its drop point profile being both versatile and highly functional. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a workhorse, but as far as gravity knives go, it’s definitely on the more functional end of the spectrum. 

Supplementary Strengths 

On the knife’s show side (I.e. left side), there’s a small tab where the base of the blade and top of the handle meet. Once the blade is locked into place, it’s this small tab lock that releases it and allows it to be folded back up. Just like with a balisong, most gravity knives — whether it’s the Reate EXO-K or Paragon Warlock — require some practice in order to smoothly and quickly open. The Dragonfly is very different in this regard, as I only had the thing in my hand for about 30 seconds before I could rapidly deploy the blade with no issues whatsoever. The opening process is just remarkably simple yet clever. Flick down, flick up, and done-zo. 

For its price point — starting at $65 — everything is about what you’d expect, from the material selection to the build quality to the smoothness of the blade’s deployment. One area this knife was above average in was its factory edge, which quite frankly blew me away — not because it was crazy sharp (though it is pretty damn sharp), but more because I was expecting a much duller edge. The blade’s 440C composition is a little strange, but it’s a perfectly fine budget-to-mid-tier blade steel. At the end of the day, it’s just a really fun little knife that performs a cool party trick of sorts. And, while it’s actually super easy to open, the rapid motion makes it difficult to actually tell what just happened. 

The Not So Good

I honestly had no idea of what to really expect before getting my hands on a Dragonfly, and while I think it’s a solid knife as a whole, it’s not without a few minor issues here and there. For starters, its material selection — for both its handle and blade — are fairly budget. Second, the shape of the handle fits in the palm nicely, but doesn’t offer much in the way of traction — meaning some texturing or a grip pattern could really go a long way here. Third, the lock has some major issues, as it can be really sticky at times, requiring a ton of force to muscle open — which can be a bit sketchy — yet at the same time it doesn’t always fully lock up when the blade is deployed. There’s also unfortunately no way to lock the blade shut. There were only a couple times I had it partially open in my pocket, but this was still an area that could for sure be improved upon . Fourth and finally, while purely subjective, I feel like some of the patterns and colorways this knife is offered in can give off some major gas station/smoke shop knife vibes. 

Verdict: The AGA Campolin Dragonfly is an ultra-simple-to-use yet ultra-cool-looking dual-pivoting gravity knife that can be picked up for less than $70. Its material selection and locking mechanism leave a lot to be desired, but it more than makes up for this with everything else it has going for it. 

Reate EXO-K

Best Tactical Pick: Karambit knives have existed for literally hundreds and hundreds of years, with these knives dating back to the 11th century. As a result, you’d think we’d have seen pretty much every novel variation or hybrid of a karambit that could exist — from balisong-style karambits to automatic karambits. Enter Reate Knives, which recently delivered what just might be the most unique and novel interpretation of a karambit ever with its EXO-K “gravity karambit.” 

The Good

Measuring 6.69” overall and tipping the scales at just under 4.5oz, the EXO-K features an aluminum handle with a waffle-like grip pattern and a titanium finger ring that acts as the knife’s back-spacer. The handle has a button lock mechanism, however, instead of simply locking or unlocking the blade, the button unlocks a secondary arm with a bottom pivot point connected to the main handle and a top pivot point attached to the base of the bade. When the arm is unlocked, it can fall away from the handle, allowing the blade to fold down into place. The arm can then lock back into the handle with the blade exposed (it’s honestly hard to explain so just be sure to check out the video and photos). 

In practice, this requires that you press the button, quickly turn your wrist inward, and then back outward. It really is that simple, yet it looks ridiculously cool — and ridiculously intimidating. Doing it smoothly and comfortably closing it with one hand does take some time as it requires developing a bit of muscle memory, but the basic action of flipping the blade open can be figured out within only a minute or two of practicing. 

It does tae some getting used to in order to learn to close the blade with one hand, and this can admittedly be a little sketchy as the blade can poke through the handle into your palm if you’re not careful. Both the blade’s tip and factory edge are also incredibly sharp, making it all the sketchier. Fortunately, this gravity karambit ships with an included trainer, which is a great touch, as this knife is pretty hazardous in the hands of those who aren’t yet experienced with it. The EXO-K also allows you to lean and perform some flipping tricks — not unlike a balisong. 

Supplementary Strengths

The EXO-K’s blade consists of a 3.07” hawkbill profile with a beefy 0.16-inch thickness. Composed of N690, the blade steel is solid, but nothing too special — essentially Bohler’s version of D2 tool steel, albeit with slightly better corrosion resistance. It’s obviously not the most utilitarian blade shape, but it can still slice open boxes, cut rope, or handle most other day-to-day tasks — it just looks pretty aggressive doing so. Based in China, Reate is obviously a knife-maker, as well as a knife-manufacturer that’s responsible for crafting high-end knives for boutique knife brands around the world, from Winter Blade Co. to GiantMouse. So, while the EXO-K is a Chinese-made knife, it boasts Reate’s usual top-notch build quality. 

There are a ton of other little details that I really loved about this knife. The finger hole backspacer is positioned in such a way that it can double as a less lethal knuck in self-defense scenarios. The hawkbill blade has a reinforced tip, allowing it to withstand hard-use tasks and CQC situations with almost no chance of ever snapping off. I really like that the button lock can easily be removed and then re-installed in reverse, placing it on the opposite side of the handle. 

The grip pattern is super effective — even when wearing gloves —though not so much that it’s rough on the hands. The ergonomics also feel pretty great, whether carried in a reverse grip as intended, or welded normally. I also love that the pocket clip is made from titanium and is reversible, plus it uses a block-off plate for whichever side of the handle the clip isn’t on. The knife also offers pretty great value when you consider everything that you get for around $165. Overall, it’s just a really fascinating, uniquely-engineered, and creative knife — and one that makes an excellent addition to any collection. 

The Not So Good

Being so geared towards self defense, this knife obviously has a few downsides to it — at least when viewed through the lens of being an everyday carry knife. With a hawkbill blade, it lacks the utility and basic functionality of a drop point profile or even a tanto. What’s more, not only is this knife very aggressive looking for EDC, but there’s also no way to open the blade without giving off some pretty menacing vibes. 

Verdict: The Reate EXO-K is an ultra-unique and creative “gravity karambit” design that uses a secondary pivoting arm to deliver a ridiculously rad deployment. While it is a bit lacking in general utility, it more than makes up for this with its stellar CQC and self-defense capabilities, and it’s overall cool factor — plus it ships with an included non-sharpened trainer version. 

DailyCarryCo. MagBlade

Best Fidget Pick: Most gravity knives possess more of a novelty factor than they do a genuine conduciveness to EDC. This in a nutshell is what makes DailyCarryCo’s MagBlade so special — or at least it’s one of the main aspects, as this titanium gravity knife just has a lot going for it. This American-made knife combines aspects of several genres into a single, EDC-friendly creation. 

The Good

Clocking in at just a tad shy of 6.70” from tip to tip, the MagBlade centers around a grade 5 titanium handle with a sleek, modern, minimalistic design. Mated to the handle is a 3.0” tanto blade composed of top-shelf M390 super steel. Rather than the knife simply pivoting out from in between the two handle scales, the MagBlade’s handle setup doesn’t feature a backspacer that’s fixed to both scales (and instead is attached to just one), which allows either slab to freely pivot. As a result, one slab can be pivoted up while the other is pivoted down, which leaves the blade exposed and sees the two handle elements rejoined. 

Rather than using a locking mechanism to keep the slabs from pivoting, the inside of the scales have been bestowed with a pair of magnets embedded into the inside face of both halves. This keeps the blade closed shut and requires a bit of force to get it past the magnets. They also keep the handle sides mated together when the blade is open. As you can probably tell from looking it at, the knife’s boxy design does leave something to be desired in terms of ergonomics, but it’s also long enough that you can still easily achieve a full four-finger grip. And, with the handle’s only hardware being a single screw at the pivot (i.e. a pivot collar), breaking it down for cleaning or maintenance genuinely couldn’t be easier.  

The blade shape is also fairly utilitarian with its tanto silhouette, plus the thing is super beefy with a thickness of 0.16” — a figure that allows it to stand up to hard-use tasks, no problem. It also functions a bit like a balisong. I also love that from its outward appearance, the MagBlade just looks like a normal sleek titanium construction folder, as it makes its pivoting trick all-the-more-unexpected — and all-the-cooler. The notch in the handle isn’t just there for added style points and was actually super helpful as it always clued me into which way the blade was facing/knife was orientated.  

Supplementary Strengths

The MagBlade’s factory edge was insanely sharp, making it abundantly clear that the thing benefits from small batch production with super stringent quality control standards. It’s not just the sharpness of its edge, as the entire knife as a whole boasts excellent build quality. The design is simple, but it’s pieced together incredibly well and clearly uses manufacturing with some super tight tolerances. There’s something immensely satisfying about the embedded magnets as well. Again, it’s just another wholly unique knife design. 

The handle does allow you to get a decent grasp on the knife, though it’s ergonomics still don’t feel very natural, and while I had no problem getting a four-finger grip on it, I still don’t think I’d subject it to hard use — though it had zero problem handling any of the EDC tasks I threw at it during testing.What’s more, I assumed after spending a week or two playing with the thing, that I would have no problem smoothly opening or closing the blade — especially because I already possess a decent amount of experience with balisong knives. Despite ample effort, I just couldn’t get the final part of the opening process to play out smoothly (as you can see in the video). 

The Not So Good

Being such a unique knife, I figured there would be some obvious downsides to the MagBlade, but this wasn’t the case, as I only had two gripes, and both were extremely minor. While it would probably compromise its super sleek, modern, and minimalistic design, I still wouldn’t mind seeing a bit of texturing on the handle or jimping on the blade’s spine, as I think it could benefit from a bit more grip. Additionally, though its magnets are plenty strong, I still feel an actual mechanical locking mechanism would be a welcome addition. 

Verdict: Taking minor inspiration from balisongs, the DailyCarryCo MagBlade is a dual-pivoting gravity knife with a titanium body and a premium M390 blade. If you want a gravity knife that’s fun, unique, and fidget-friendly while still delivering real utility, this is a very clear pick. 

Paragon Warlock

Best Premium Pick: Considering just how many companies there are out there mass-producing their knives, there’s something really refreshing about coming across small, independent, boutique knife-making operations like Pragon Knives. Made by Asheville Steel, Paragon is headed up by Rob Anderson, who designs and churns out some of the most idiosyncratic gravity-deployed blades on the market. Based in North Carolina, Paragon has a decent-sized catalog of different knives — all offered in a variety of handle materials and finishes and whatnot — though its best and most popular knife, is the brand’s flagship Paragon Warlock. 

The Good

The Warlock features an anodized aluminum handle that spans 5.50”. The top of the handle boasts a double button lock (i.e. a button on both sides opposite each other) positioned directly over the pivot collar would normally be located. When both buttons are pushed in at the same time — which is super easy as, again, they’e location just opposite one another — the handle splits in half, vertically spliced down the middle, separating from each other and creating a small gap that’s just big enough for the blade to slip through. From there, the blade just pivots up into place like any other folding knife — albeit you have to use gravity (i.e. a flick of the wrist or change of direction with your hands) in order to open the thing. Once the blade arrives at 12 o’clock, you simply release the buttons, causing the two halves to come back together , thereby locking the blade open. 

While it definitely takes a bit of time to figure out the timing and then develop the necessary muscle memory to be able to smoothly open and close the Warlock. If timed incorrectly, the handle closes on the blade. It took me just a few days to figure out and get comfortable with (and I’m not particularly skilled in any way). Anyway, once you do get it down, it’s incredibly satisfying and enjoyable to use. It’s super fidget-friendly, it has a great sound to it, and it quite frankly just looks really cool. I also imagine it would be fairly intimidating to see one deployed in a self-defense satin. I’m also unsure as to what type of bearing or pivot system the blade runs on, but whatever it is, it’s damn-smooth. 

Supplementary Strengths

 Moving on, the two halves of the handle open up to reveal a 3.875-inch-long, 0.13-inch-thick dagger-style blade forged in Crucible Industries’ top-shelf CPM S35VN. The dagger profile is double-edge and both sides are legitimately razor-sharp. Not as good as Microtech or GiantMouse’s factory edges, but still a cool 7.5 or 8 out of 10. Even seeing the dimensions ahead of time, I was still a little surprised by how large it was at 9.375” overall. I did notice just a little bit of play at the bottom of the knife between the two handle/shell elements, though I’m pretty sure this is a design thing and not a build quality thing, as its overall craftsmanship, construction, and fit and finish was pretty superb. It’s somewhat heavy at 5.70oz, but with its nearly 9.5-inch overall length and decent blade thickness, this weight isn’t all that surprising. 

I applaud Paragon for their use of a billet pocket clip, as it’s just the type of premium touch that I’d expect from a knife of this caliber (and price point). I also really appreciate that, when closed with the blade inside, the blade doesn’t move around at all or bang into the handle’s inner walls, instead sitting squarely in place. The knife also ships in a little custom wooden box with a slide-off top which is another small but cool touch. The Warlock just has an undeniable cool-factor to it that represents another one of its key selling points in my eyes. It’s also just another really cool and unique addition to any collection. It’s admittedly not the most utilitarian knife, but you don’t buy a Paragon Warlock because you want utility. 

The Not So Good

Though its unequivocally one of the best gravity knives that money can buy at the moment, I did have a few minor issues with it. While I do actually believe you get what you pay for here, I wouldn’t go as far as to say Paragon’s Warlock offers very good value. And that’s perfectly fine, as it wasn’t designed or built to be a value-laden knife offering great bang-for-your-buck. Either way, there’s just no getting around the fact that the thing doesn’t come cheap, starting at $350 for the aluminum and S35VN model (that I tested) and going up to around $800 for the semi-custom, precious-material models. The more serious issue I have with this knife is the potential for the handle to damage the blade if the deployment isn’t timed correctly. Though I did eventually learn how to open and close it perfectly nearly every time after a few days of practice, there were quite a few instances where I got the blade caught halfway-pivoted, sandwiched in-between the two halves of the handle. 

Verdict: Made in America in small batches, the Paragon Warlock is a top-shelf gravity knife with one of the most interesting and novel blade deployment and locking setups I’ve ever come across. While it doesn’t come cheap, I’d argue it’s worth every penny. 

Gravity Knives Comparison Chart

What Exactly Is A Gravity Knife?

Unlike most folding knives that are opened by unfolding the blade from the handle, gravity knives don’t require the user to ever touch the blade in order for it to be deployed. Instead, gravity knives — which are also known as “drop knives” — feature a button or locking mechanism that, when pressed or disengaged, allows the blade to fall out of the handle and lock into place — not unlike how an OTF blade leaves the handle, only operating via gravity rather than being spring loaded (and falling out of the knife rather than shooting up out of it). Some gravity knives also use mechanisms that allow the two sides of the handle to open up, allowing the blade to drop into place. 

Gravity Knife Legalities

To say gravity knife laws fall into a gray area would be a massive understatement. Legally defined as a knife that opens via “operation of inertia, gravity, or both,” gravity knives have gotten a pretty bad rap over the years, beginning not long after they were invented. Not too dissimilar to autos or switchblades, gravity knives were used in a few high-profile crimes in the 1950s, giving them an association with criminals and ne’er-do-wells. These knives were also seen as being more deadly or more of a danger in part due to their association with war, military, and tactical use (not unlike a certain controversial ArmaLite rifle). As a result, gravity knives have been banned in most regions, and in some locales, they’re even classified as “deadly weapons” alongside handguns. 

The laws surrounding gravity knives have been further complicated by some regions’ questionable definition of what a gravity knife is, such as New York where local laws define it as any knife that can be opened via gravity or with the flick of the wrist — an umbrella that a slew of non-gravity knives definitely fall under. Despite not being any more dangerous or harmful than any other type of knife with a blade that can be deployed with one hand — i.e. the vast majority of modern EDC knives — gravity knives are still illegal in many, if not most places.

If you aren’t sure about the gravity knife laws where you live, we advise you to look them up — at least before carrying one — though probability states that it probably won’t be legal, as there are very few regions where one can be lawfully armed with a gravity knife in public. The good news is there are bills being introduced to change these admittedly questionable knife laws, though only time will tell how this plays out.

What To Look For When Buying A Gravity Knife

While quite a few aspects of gravity knives are no different from regular folders or autos, there are a handful of finer points that are specific to the gravity knife space. Below, we’ll be breaking down the half dozen most important factors to consider when shopping for a new gravity knife. 

Blade Steel: Just like with practically any knife, it’s durability and ability to hold an edge and remain sharp largely boils down to the type of blade steel used to craft it — as well as how said blade steel is heat treated. While some of the more old-school gravity knives on the market employ more traditional low-end stainless steels and tool steels, many of the more modern gravity knives are equipped with more premium constructions that typically benefit from advanced powder metallurgy — such as Böhler M390 and any of Crucible Industries’ CPM blade steels.

Blade Profile: Like an OTF, the shape of a gravity knife’s handle largely limits the type of blade profile that can be used, though with that said gravity knives are still produced with a range of different blade shapes, namely drop point, clip point, spear point, and tanto/reverse tanto silhouettes. 

Handle Construction: The material used to craft a gravity knife’s handle will play a pivotal role in properties such as how durable or lightweight it is. While stainless steel — often paired with wooden elements — is the most common gravity knife handle construction, some of the more modern knives employ more premium materials such as aluminum, titanium, or Micarta. 

Locking Mechanism: Though they all simply disengage a lock and allow the blade to fall into place, gravity knife locking mechanisms can range from model to model, from the original leaver-operated spring catch systems used on the Luftwaffe Paratrooper’s gravity knife, to the more modern button and slide-operated mechanisms that see the handle open up so the blade can fall into place. 

Price: Compared to other genres of knives, gravity knives are somewhat rare. As a result, they tend to be produced in smaller numbers — an area that’s definitely furthered by the fact they’re unlawful to carry in most places. As such, these knives tend to be on the more expensive side — making price a crucial area to factor into your decision. 

Style & Design: Though there are plenty of traditional-looking gravity knives that are modeled after the original iteration from WW2, there are also plenty of more contemporary gravity knife designs that hugely range in shape, size, and style. As such, we recommend checking out a wide array of available options before pulling the trigger on your purchase — though this article will obviously provide a shortlist of what are objectively some of the best options currently available. 

Honorable Mentions

Constructed around a 4.75” black aluminum handle decorated with wooden inlays, the AKC Gravit-E is another contemporary interpretation of a WW2-era drop knife that swaps out the traditional leaver-operated spring latch with a pocket knife-style Lockback mechanism that’s set in the spine of the Gravit-E’s handle. Made by hand in Italy, AKC’s Gravit-E also boasts a 0.11” thick, 3.75” spear point blade composed of black-finished stainless steel.

Easily one of the most popular modern gravity knives on the market, the Reate EXO-M (or “Exoskeleton Design”) is a recent followup to the company’s already-wildly popular EXO, though the M-spec gains a new locking mechanism. Like the original model, the Reate EXO-M boasts a two-piece titanium or aluminum frame that opens from the bottom, with the two handle sections separating at a bottom pivot, allowing the blade’s slider to be smoothly guided up (or down) its integrated track until the blade is fully exposed and locked into place. This knife is now sold in a huge array of sizes, colors, and variants, including a mini-spec and a utility knife version. 

Made from a super premium combination of Bohler M390 and titanium, the REMETTE Innovative Design RT-Swordfish Knife is a top-shelf gravity knife that boasts a super unique blade deployment setup. Though it looks like an OTF, the slider towards the top of the handle is actually a switch that allows two points at the very top of the handle to open up, allowing the blade to slide forward — like a gravity-deployed OTF. It really is an outstanding gravity knife, though our testing lead us to ultimately select the Paragon Warlock over it, bumping it to an honorable mention — albeit a particularly honorable one. 

The Suprlativ Piranha functions very similarly to DailyCarryCo’s MagBlade, with two titanium handle slabs that can both pivot around the blade — which in this case is a curved CPM M4 trailing point item that’s fully serrated. While it’s just as satisfying to use as the MagBlade, its blade shape and full serrations make it a lot less conducive to basic everyday tasks, resulting it being beaten out by the DCC model and being relegated to an honorable mention. 

Tested: The Best Butterfly Knives To Carry Daily

Want to check out another list of unique — and legally questionable — daily carry blade options? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best balisong knives for a look at our picks for the latest and greatest butterfly models on the market.