Review: CJRB – Pyrite-Light

Introduction

The CJRB Pyrite-Light is a nice and light blade that has been in my EDC rotation for the last few months. I only learned about the company this year and was pleasantly surprised when they offered the Pyrite-Light for a review.

As curiosity got a hold on me, I agreed to take a look at the knife in order to present you with my personal observations.

So as always, let’s jump into an overview and the specs first, before looking at the Pyrite-Light in more detail.

Overview

The Pyrite-Light by CJRB is a budget friendly knife made of AR-RPM9 steel and a FRN (Zytel) for the handle. It features a 2,5mm thick and 8,5cm long Wharncliffe blade. It has two thumb studs and a button look. The blade runs on Ceramic ball bearings and has a black PVD coating. The deep carry pocket clip can be mounted left and right, but only tip-up.

Specs

• Overall length: 19,3cm
• Blade length: 8,5cm
• Blade thickness: 2,5mm
• Blade steel: AR-RPM9 (59-61HRC)
• Handle Material: FRN
• Weight: 80g

The CJRB Pyrite-Light

The CJRB Brand is connected to Artisan Cutlery (AC), with the goal to make the designs and knives of AC more accessible to everyday users, who cannot afford the more expensive models. The logic follows the same as we can find with WE Knives and CIVIVI and just like with those two companies, CJRB has managed to create its own following and own brand identity.

The CJRB Pyrite-Light is one of these knives. It is a button lock folder with a Wharncliffe blade made of AR-RPM9 steel, that is treated to 59-61 HRC. The blade is coated with a black PVD Coating and has a total length of 8,5 cm, while being 2,5 mm thick.

A large choil provides plenty of room for your index finger in a forward grip position and jimping on the spine adds extra grip for the thumb when doing precision cuts. The high grind and thin nature of the blade make it extremely cutting friendly. As it comes razor sharp out of the box, one can immediately get to work with it. The action is very smooth, thanks to ceramic ball bearings and two thumb studs make it easy to flick the knife open. Usually I do not do that – but with this knife the action is in fact so smooth, that one cannot resist.

The handle is made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon or FRN. Some of you might know it under the name Zytel. It has a pleasant feel to it and features a stippled texture for added grip. A stainless steel, deep carry pocket clip can be attached on both sides, for left, and right hand carry. That being said, it is only a tip-up carry knife.

On the inside of the FRN scales, one can find steel liners for added strength. These are not skeletonized. A 1 cm lanyard hole on both sides gives the user the option to add paracord and the like.

Level of Manufacture

Having in mind this is a 40 USD/EUR knife (or less, depending on sales), this knife is extremely well made. The finish is absolutely clean, the materials feel high quality and there are no manufacturing marks on the scales.

The tolerances are very tight and especially the use of the Ceramic ball bearings give the CJRB Pyrite-Light an upgrade with its action.

The CJRB Pyrite-Light in use

Thanks to the deep carry pocket clip the CJRB Pyrite-Light sinks into your pockets and is inconspicuous to carry. Because of its flat profile and weight it also feels as if it is not there. The action is so smooth that it immediately flicks open either by a flick of your thumb or if you push the button lock and just flip it out with a sudden movement.

The flat grind and Wharncliffe blade make it a workhorse for cutting tasks. It is sharp and keeps its sharpness for a decent amount of time. The handle feels comfortable in hand and does not slip too much – granted, I did not work with the knife when wet.

While the stainless steel clip is nice when it comes to carrying the knife, it is also quite easy to bend. Once I put on a large rucksack and caught the clip with some webbing, bending it outward. So in situations like this the knife is easy to lose. That being said, the clip was easily bend backwards were it belonged. It is just something to keep in mind.

All in all the knife is a fun and usefule item to carry and it has its own particular charm. So much that I enjoy taking it with me on a regular basis. Especially when one needs a knife that actually cuts and that does not look too intimidating to the uninitiated. In that sense the Pyrite-Light is a perfect candidate.

Conclusion

The CJRB Pyrite-Light is one of those budget friendly knives that you can take with you outdoors as well as the urban life. It is a useful tool for both the EDC tasks in your everyday lifestyle from opening parcels to cutting off labels, or the various tasks at your camping site, when it comes to cutting your meal or the occasional rope. 

Its size and looks make it socially friendly and at the same time the smooth action and great feel make it fun to play with.

One has to say that the bang for the buck factor is excellent with this knife. Thus, if you are looking for an addition in you collection, this knife is well worth a closer look! With that being said, I want to thank CJRB for making this review possible!

Many thanks for reading!

Take care!