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Reate’s Nameless Prototype Points to More Selection in 2017

October 18, 2016

Reate is teasing one of its first 2017 models with a handful of prototypes that have found their way into the hands of fans and collectors. No two of these prototypes are exactly alike, and this signals a change in Reate’s approach to its product line-up that should expand their audience in the year to come.

Reate releases like the Wave and the Torrents had their fans, but they were both offered in a single configuration. If the standard trim didn’t appeal to you, you were out of luck. By comparison, the Horizon, an earlier Reate model, was in-part successful because it was available in many different configurations to suit many different tastes. New designs like the Future and this unnamed prototype are signaling a return to this approach. With more selection, Reate’s 2017 lineup should enjoy a wider audience. “They’re experimenting with finishes and materials,” acclaimed knife designer Liong Mah, a close collaborator with Reate, tells us. “They’re really going all out with this one.”

Inlay options include carbon fiber, marbled carbon fiber, and Moku-Ti (as seen above). The entry-level model will have 3D-machined milling work done where an inlay goes on the higher-end versions. Steel on the standard model will be M390, but Reate is implementing RWL-34 and BG-42 Damasteel options on the premium models.

Solo Jack, the in-house knife designer at Reate, likes to go big and bold, and this 5.5 oz. prototype is no exception. With a blade length of 3.75” and an overall length north of 8.5”, this is not a knife for the faint of heart. Even in its showiest variations this knife is well-appointed and ready for work.

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Mah says that the entry-level model will be priced around $350-400. Prices for the other variants are still unclear. The prototypes have gone for upwards of $900. Mah, a collector himself, says they’re worth every penny. He expects this still-nameless knife to be a hit with fans of high-end production and custom blades. “A lot of handwork goes into each of these knives,” he says. “If this knife had a custom maker’s name attached to it, I could see it fetching $3000 easy.”

Knife featured in image: Reate Knives Prototype

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