Perfect Pyrite Project

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Who and What is CJRB

We are CJRB, a subsidiary brand under Artisan Cutlery that focuses on creating some of the best budget-oriented folding knives on the market. Within the last 5 years, we’ve seen a boom in the sale of high-quality, lower-cost pocket knives as well as a boom in the market for high-end manufactured pocket knives, and we get it, your dollar goes farther than ever before with most budget level knives possessing features that would have put them squarely in the “premium” category just a few years ago. The quality that is seen in modern folders in unquestionable, and the team at CJRB has set out to make some of the best and most accessible knives on the market today. What started out as a small spinoff from our parent brand Artisan Cutlery 5 years ago has quickly turned into one of our most successful ventures ever, with a full catalog of products that stand toe-to-toe with our biggest competitors while maintaining the same level of quality that is seen in our higher end Artisan Cutlery brand, all while maintaining comfortable pricing that is accessible to anyone looking for the perfect tool for daily use.

It all started in 2022 when we released the prototype of the original Pyrite at Blade Show. We wanted to put all of our accumulated knowledge into a refined model that could truly be called a knife for everyone. Featuring a slim neutral handle, low-profile scales in either colored G10 or full steel, an ambidextrous deep-carry pocket clip, a fully flat-ground drop point blade with ambidextrous thumb studs, and the key feature; a finely tuned button lock running on ceramic ball bearings. With all of these features the Pyrite presents itself as an understated and refined design that is just about perfect as an everyday carry knife. Add in the smooth bearings and the satisfying action of the button lock and the Pyrite feels like a knife that punches well above its weight in both functionality and appearance. Our hard work and research paid off when the Pyrite finally got into our customer’s hands. With reviews like “Best knife of 2022” and “Best budget model EVER” we knew we had struck gold!

We couldn’t bring ourselves to stop there though, we decided to make a key change to the design of the Pyrite to truly make it one of the best designs we’ve ever produced. Enter the Pyrite-Alt or Wharncliffe Pyrite, featuring a new blade shape even more suited to daily carry and use. Now featuring a slightly wider blade with a lowered tip for more precise work and cutting ability, providing an excellent alternative to the original drop point. Most importantly we’ve changed the opening mechanism to an ambidextrous-friendly thumb hole to allow for more opening options as well as reducing the profile of the knife in pocket.

For this Blade Show 2023, we are proud to announce our latest venture, the Perfect Pyrite Project! We’ve gotten more requests for variants of this model than any other design in CJRB’s lifetime, so we’ve decided to take that question to our customers and see what YOU want to see.

By using Kickstarter as our platform we plan to fund the manufacturing of this model at an initial $10,000 goal. This will allow us to gauge where the greatest interest is and potentially allow us to move forward into fully manufacturing the most popular variants from this series of knives. We are projecting a campaign period lasting 40 days from June 2 to July 12 with an expected ship date of the end of July.

The current plan for the Perfect Pyrite Project is to produce 4 different tiers of the Pyrite-Alt in unique configurations, each with different blade steel options and handle materials ranging from budget-friendly to premium. Each tier is designed to fit the needs of our customer base in different ways so no matter what your taste in knives is, there will be a Perfect Pyrite to fit your style!

Feature Breakdown:

Blade materials:

AR-RPM9- This is Artisan Cutlery’s proprietary steel used in many of our mainline products and most current CJRB designs. AR-RPM9 is unique among entry-level steels as it is one of the only powdered metallurgy formulas available that does not demand a premiums price tag. We have engineered AR-RPM9 to meet the needs of the average knife user while weeding out some of the distinctive downsides of other steels in this price range. AR-RPM9 features a high chromium formula that is highly corrosion resistant and provides a consistent 59HRC-61HRC. The powder metallurgy process ensures that the grain structure of AR-RPM9 is especially fine, which allows for increased durability and exceptionally easy sharpening as well as the ability to take a razor-fine edge with minimal effort and maintain that same edge for far longer than most steels in the same class. For those who are looking for a wallet-friendly option that will still deliver a lifetime of use, AR-RPM9 is designed for you!

Damascus Steel- Damascus Steel has deep roots in history and a distinctive finish that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. Traditional Damascus steel is made by folding together different types of steel into intricate patterns and forging the layers together. After cutting the resulting stock and etching it with an acidic solution the beauty of the folded layers comes out in a pattern that can resemble anything from ripples to tree bark depending on the folding process. Modern Damascus takes the same idea but refines it, allowing layers of steel to be precisely placed to create stunning patterns. The steels that are used in our Damascus are VG10 and 5CR which allows our Damascus to be fully stainless while maintaining the premium cutting properties of VG10 steel. The 5CR acts as a highly stainless medium that resists the effects of the acid etching while the VG10 develops a degree of color and the stunning ripple effects of the steel come to life. Damascus steel screams “classy” and will easily turn your Pyrite into a high-class accessory that is every bit as capable as our non-Damascus blades.

S90V- A truly exceptional American Made steel. CPM S90V is made by Crucible Industries and features incredibly high corrosion and wear resistance, allowing an S90V blade to take and hold a keen edge for an extended period of time even with heavy use. Thanks to its powder metallurgy structure S90V maintains a fine grain structure with large, durable carbides allowing blades made with it to glide through even the roughest cuts with ease. S90V is a slicing beast that sits at the top with some of the best premium knife steels in the industry. In our own testing, we found that it outperformed several of our previous high-end steels and we are very happy to offer it on the highest-tier versions of the Pyrite-Alt.

The Tiers:

Tier 1: The Daily Driver

The one that gets it done while still looking good. The Daily Driver tier gives you all the advantages of our standard steel version but with some added G10 inlays for better grip and a little touch of personal style. All variants in this tier feature stonewashed or black PVD coated AR-RPM9 blades, steel scales with G10 inlays, and come with a standard deep carry steel pocket clip. This is the perfect version of the Pyrite for someone just getting into knives or for someone who is looking for a new daily use for work. The Daily Driver tier is sure to impress without putting too much hurt on your wallet. This version will also be produced in a left-handed variant for our Southpaw customers out there.

Tier 2: The Enthusiast

Something with a little more “pop”. The Enthusiast tier brings personal style to the forefront with a line of PVD coated Titanium scales and colored hardware. The titanium scales take just the right amount of weight off, making the knife feel perfectly balanced in the hand while not feeling overly lightweight. All versions on this Tier feature either a Stonewashed or black PVD coated AR-RPM9 blade and colored titanium scales in Black, Blue, Rose, Green, or blasted Gray, and a deep carry steel clip. When paired with the premium feeling of the titanium scales the Pyrite stands out as not only an incredible tool but also as a small statement against the mundane, The Enthusiast Tier presents something out of the ordinary and makes it yours.

Tier 3: The Connoisseur

Old-world class and modern machining come together to make the knives in the Connoisseur Tier truly eye-catching. While only offering two options, the Connoisseur Tier presents a tried-and-true combination of materials that is sure to impress in any situation. Polished wood inlays on a titanium frame complement a stunning Damascus blade, a fusion of the past and future. This version also sports a milled titanium clip rather than the previous steel one to add another touch of well-deserved class to this premium model. As stated before, there are only two options available for this model, matte gray titanium with gray hardware, or a PVD black coated titanium handle with black hardware. Every model made will have its own unique look due to the nature of the natural wood inserts and the pattern in the Damascus steel, giving every Connoisseur Tier knife a unique look and feel.

Tier 4: The Aficionado 

If you know you know.  Sometimes there’s no room for anything but the best, and the Aficionado tier offers just that, the most premium materials possible for those in the know. This version of the Pyrite is our love letter to the knife nerds that have supported us over these past 5 years and we’ve dressed up these 3 models to reflect not only what we know our customers love to see but what we at Artisan love so much about making knives. All blades on these models are made from ultra-premium S90V and come in either a stonewashed finish or black PVD. Each model also includes a matching milled titanium clip for that extra smooth and comfortable feel in hand and in pocket. The first option features blue anodized titanium scales with a blue and black Fatcarbon inlay that makes this model pop, evoking images of stormy seas. The second option features blasted gray titanium scales and purple Fatcarbon inlays giving this version a slightly royal touch. The final version features a carefully polished inlay of American-made green canvas micarta on gray titanium, elegant and subdued with a slightly rugged edge. Every variant in the Aficionado series shows off the very best that CJRB has to offer with models rivaling our best pieces in our premium Artisan Cutlery brand.  We also produce the left-handed version for our super tier, just like our Tier 1 model. If you expect the best, this is it! 

Update:

Due to the eager demand for sand polish, we have added this option in Aficionado. Currently, there are only 3 models that support this blade finish. The corresponding models are as follows. Thank you for your support again!

Accessory Options

If you want to add a little something extra to your Pyrite, we are also offering the option to add a milled titanium clip in a variety of colors. This is an excellent way to add a little extra flair to your knife or a pop of color. Our milled titanium clips are fully contoured and effectively remove any hot spots when gripping your knife, the slim, straight design keeps things classy without sacrificing any functionality

We are offering titanium clips in five different variations;

• Natural Gray
• PVD Black
• Anodized Green
• Anodized Blue
• Anodized Rose

Wrapping it up

Thank you for taking the time to go through our campaign, we hope that the Pyrite-Alt has spoken to you as much as it has spoken to us and our happy customers. We feel like this is an excellent way to get one of the best tools that we’ve ever produced into the hands of people who really care about what’s in their pockets. If you have been looking to upgrade your daily carry, or just add a unique version of the Pyrite to your growing knife collection, or maybe you’re just a long-time fan of CJRB, this is an opportunity that you won’t want to miss.

The Rewards