EverydayCommentary: CRJB Mini Pyrite Review

Now that the ARPM9 issue has been sorted out, I feel like I can review this knife. It’s pretty good. But it is quirky, with mystifying design choices (aluminum scales AND skeletonized stainless steel liners?), but ultimately I thought it was worth reviewing as it is a pretty heavily iterated knife in the CRJB line up.

Let’s get the steel issue out of the way first. I delayed this review because of it, so let’s deal with it and then get on to the review. Artisan, CJRB’s parent brand, claimed that ARPM9 (for “Artisan Rare Powder Material 9”) was a powder steel exclusive to them. This was huge deal because at the time of the announcement there were NO powder steels of Chinese origin. It was also interesting because it allowed Artisan/CJRB to claim superior steel performance at a significantly lower price. They had powder steels without the need to import it. And so we had knives that were $30-$40 with powder steels blades.

I remember covering the ARPM9 dust up, and Dr. Larrin’s setting the record straight. The Pyrite and it’s offshoots really are CJRB’s flagship models.

Read the whole thing at EverydayCommentary.com

https://www.everydaycommentary.com/www.everydaycommentary.com/2025/10/30/crjb-mini-pyrite-review