CJRB Maxmial Micarta Knife Review

The CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife uses AR-RPM9 steel and a crossbar lock. The drop point blade is great for everyday carry, and the clip is deep carry, too!

---

Official Specs

Here’s a link to the CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife.

Versions

I see only one version of the CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife, but a G10 version is available, too. There are two G10 colors: red and black. A full titanium version is coming! One more option: I noticed on the designer’s Instagram that there’s a(t least one) carbon fiber version, too! Incidentally, that reel demonstrates exactly how I open Crossbar locking knives (which I’ll mention later).

Price

The CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife lists for $66.66 but has a 25% off sale price of $49.99. You can buy all versions here. Micarta and G10 are the same price. Titanium is premium, at $179.99 (and not yet available.)

---

Package and Manual

There is no manual.

What’s Included

• CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife
• Cleaning cloth
• Carry pouch

Look

I don’t think it’s a surprise that I like Micarta. That means I like the CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife even when closed. I also really love drop point blade shapes and this one is a fantastic example. (It’s reminiscent of another drop point bladed knife but the name escapes me).

The Micarta will probably wear in very nicely. Not exactly “patina,” but daily usage should show up in a very appealing way on this material. More so than on G10, in any case.

The knife is mostly green (Micarta) and steel (blade steel or accents) but there’s one little pop of gold just under the pivot screws (both sides.)

Open / Close / Lock

The CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife is a crossbar locking knife. I typically open these knives by “releasing” (or “pulling back”) the crossbar lock. This frees the blade, which can then just be flung open. (I want to say “flipped” and not “flung” but I say flung because this is not a “flipper” in that sense.)

The CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife also offers a dual-sided thumbstud for more traditional opening.

Again, it’s a crossbar lock. This mechanism is just like the Benchmade Axis lock, and is one of my favorites.

To close the knife, you just pull back on the crossbar lock, and the blade is released.

Build and Feel

I already covered above how I feel about Micarta. That lends to my feelings about the build quality of the knife. It feels solid!

Micarta has a somewhat natural feel, and I suppose it could be natural, as Micarta can be made out of all sorts of stuff.

The pivot screw is accessible on both sides. Each has a TORX slot.

The blade is perfectly centered.

You can’t really see it here, but in the pivot are ceramic ball bearings. If I had one complaint about the knife, it’d be that the action isn’t quite as smooth as I want. It’s probably on par with other $50 knives, so I’d say it’s “acceptable,” but it could certainly be cleaned up (and be smoother).

There’s no matching Micarta backspacer. CJRB uses two standoffs.

Below, you can see that the Micarta scales are lined with metal. This should add a good bit of stiffness. It also adds a reliable place to connect things such as the backspacers and pocket clip.

Here’s a better look at the Crossbar lock.

Size

Blade Length 2.95″ (75mm)
Blade Thickness 0.10″ (2.5mm)
Overall Length 6.89″ (175mm)
Closed Length 3.94″ (100mm)
Weight 80g/2.82oz

Above, you can see the CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife with the Civivi Elementum in orange G10. I use that knife so much!

Here’s the knife in hand:

Below you can see the CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!

In the photo above, you may note that the SRM (standard reference material) flashlight for comparison has changed! I used a TorchLAB BOSS 35 for ages. Now what you can see as the 18350 SRM is the Hanko Machine Works Trident. While I have not reviewed or tested the Gunner Grip version seen here, I have tested a Hanko Machine Works Trident Total Tesseract in brass. I love the Trident, and it’s a striking contrast next to the inexpensive Convoy S2+, which also makes a great standard reference material.

Steel / Cut / Oats

Steel on the CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife is stated as “AR-RPM9” and is a steel made by Artisan Cutlery (parent brand of CJRB). (More on that below.)

The blade has a drop point shape and stone wash finish. I love this blade shape! So useful.

The stonewash finish looks great, too.

Now, the steel. I am not a knife steel nerd, but there are knifesteelnerds out there. They dove into this AR-RPM9 steel, and it’s a fantastic analysis. There’s a lot of information to consume. Ultimately, about this steel, knifesteelnerds says:

It is essentially a sprayform version of 9Cr18MoV. … The sprayform technology likely improves the toughness somewhat but wouldn’t impact much else.

They don’t say if it’s a good or bad steel (nor might I expect them to), but 9Cr18MoV generally seems acceptable for knife steel.

Retention

The CJRB Maxmial Micarta knife ships with a deep carry pocket clip attached. I quite like this clip – it’s minimal and is actually deep carry. Below you can see how you still have access to the two TORX screws even though the clip “covers” them.

It’s a simple bent clip, but sufficient.

You can install the pocket clip on the other side, but either way, it’s tip-up carry. There’s also a lanyard hole, but no lanyard is included.

CJRB also includes a zippered pouch with the Maxmial Micarta knife.

Summary and Conclusion

I really like the design Maximal by David C. Andersen. Again, the blade shape is one of my favorites, and I really love “crossbar” locks (or Axis locks – my favorite.) If you can clean up the action a bit, this knife would be a super value! At 2.95″, the blade does not feel too long and the knife carries true-to-size. Micarta is a great choice, and I’m excited to see the titanium option that’s upcoming!

Notes

• This knife was provided by CJRB/Artisan Cutlery for review. I was not paid to write this review.
• This content originally appeared at zeroair.org.  Please visit there for the best experience!
• For flashlight-related patches, stickers, and gear, head over to PhotonPhreaks.com!
• Please use my amazon.com referral link to help support zeroair.org!
• Please support me on Patreon! I deeply appreciate your support!