- increases competition in the class
CJRB is back! Or rather, they have never disappeared, but here on the blog, I mean. The first knife, Prado, received a glowing review from me. From there, it's pretty close to becoming curious about the brand and getting another knife to see if it was a one-off or if they are actually that good.
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| CJRB Hectare |
This time the choice fell on a slightly smaller knife. A model whose appearance combined with size, material, and lock type means it ends up in what is now often referred to as the "Bugout class". That is a lightweight knife with a blade around three inches equipped with some variation of a crossbar lock.
CJRB's contribution is called Hectare.
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| Another competent knife in the category of knives that includes about three-inch blades is light in weight and has this type of lock |
Short version: CJRB Hectare, competes in a class of knives where competition has become fierce but does so with honor. The category is lightweight knives with a "Crossbar" lock
Blade
Hectare has a fairly modest blade shape. There is nothing that screams design except for the color. It is a drop point that is flat ground. The length is 80 mm, the height is 27 mm and the thickness is 2.7 mm. Or at least that thickness is stated on the website but in practice, it is 2.8 mm due to the coating.
The marking is naturally discreet and consists of the brand name on one side of the ricasso and the steel type on the other in minimal text. I wrote "naturally" as it is probably difficult to do otherwise as this version has a spray-painted blade. Something I didn't know when I ordered the knife. I didn't do my homework I must admit. Judging from past experience and pictures I therefore assumed the blade was covered with some kind of coating. But it turned out to be painted. Something which, by the way, is clearly stated on the website.
It does some interesting things with the blade. Among other things, it becomes glossy and has a slightly strange feeling to hold. It feels kind of rubbery. The paint has proven to be reasonably resistant to general wear and tear. As long as you are cutting in soft materials, no problems arise. I have simply avoided too demanding materials to cut as I know that would cause more scratches than the ones that have already occurred.
So if you know you often perform tasks that include cutting in rough materials choose another version of the knife is my advise.
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| The most distinctive thing about the blade of this particular version of Hectare is not the blade shape but the color |
The steel is, if I understand correctly, something that Artisan Cutlery/CJRB has been involved in developing and is called AR-RPM9. There was a bit of an uproar online about it for a while as they happened to say too much about how it was manufactured. But it turned out to be more of a translation mistake than anything wrong and the storm turned out to be housed in a teacup.
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| The steel is an unusual choice and is called AR-RPM9 |
The factory edge was quite sharp, so it got my approval. It can also be said that despite the color the blade measures no more than around 0.4 mm behind the edge. Coupled with the full flat grind, Hectare cuts well. The blade also works decent in, for example, cardboard because it is smooth and almost slippery.
Overall, the Hectare is a knife that performs well as an EDC knife. One feature I appreciate is that this steel responds well to being stropped. It's my primary method of maintaining edges as long as the knife hasn't become dull. A couple of strokes on first a little coarser leather, then a little finer, and most of the sharpness is back.
As you can see, the blade shape is quite "all-round". By that, I mean that it is not extreme in any direction. There is a small notch for the index finger if you want to hold closer to the blade although I rarely use it. Otherwise, there is a piece of straight edge where I work most. A little belly is also present as well as a good tip. It is easy to "find", i.e. it sits at the height of the knife's imaginary center line, so you don't have to break your wrist just because you want to use it to cut tape, for example.
Another positive feature is that it is easy to pull this knife, do what you need to do, and then put the knife back in your pocket again.
Handle
The fairly straight handle is built around a frame that most closely resembles a truss. It is thus very greatly weight relieved. On top of that frame, you find sides of G10 with the same fairly finely patterned surface found on other CJRB knives.
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| The handle is quite simple but well-shaped and the sides are made of G10 |
The construction is screwed with an open back. Two hourglass-shaped spacers house the two screws that are pulled from each side to hold the knife together. They, like the pivot screw, are painted and colorful to match the blade. The size is T6 and T8 respectively, which has almost become a standard for smaller folding knives. Personally, I would have preferred the T8 straight-through as usual. But here the screw heads are flat, which is positive.
Then there is a lanyard hole which certainly fulfills its function but which on this specimen is actually not drilled straight.
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| The back is open and here you can also see the steel frame, which is lightened |
The length of the handle is 107 mm, the height is around 22 mm, and the thickness is just over a centimeter. Not an enormously large handle but works well with most hand types. Just don't expect a handle that fills the entire hand. But that's not what this category of knives is best at either. Here, as with other knives in the class, a significant balance has been made between how easy the knife is to carry and ergonomics.
In this case, the CJRB has struck a good balance in that regard.
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| Hectares can be held in a multitude of different ways without any problems. A good handle of the thinner variety |
Opening and Lock
Like other knives with this type of lock, it can be opened in at least three ways. Using two hands is the old-fashioned way, you can also pull back the locking bolt and let the blade fall out one way or another. It can be done either slowly or very quickly with a little flick of the wrist. Either way works great in this case.
Then we have the third and main way and that is using the hole in the blade. One that is oval in this case as can be seen.
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| Ett blade hole is the main way to open the knife but it may not be the best executed on the market |
Unfortunately, it does not work very well. There are a couple of details that are not quite right. First, the hole itself is a bit too narrow. At least for my fingers. But now you shouldn't have the whole top of your thumb in it so it might have worked if it wasn't for the color of this particular specimen. Since it is not a coating but a color, it gives a surface that is very glossy and rounds the corners even more than intended. The result is little friction and thus a poor grip for the thumb.
But worse is that unlike, for example, the previously reviewed Prado, the recess for the index finger does not facilitate access very much. In the middle of the hole, a small piece of the handle side sticks out, while the blade sits quite deep in the handle. It is not a successful combination, which overall makes the hole tricky to use.
What saves the day and prevents the knife from getting really negative remarks on this point is that the ball bearings mean that not much force is needed to open the knife. That and the locking bolt opening of course.
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| The crossbar lock is well built with good function |
Better is the function of the lock. It is, as previously mentioned, of the "crossbar" type. As such, it works flawlessly. It holds the blade in the desired manner without movement in the open position. In addition, the spring tension is well balanced to make the lock easy to disengage while at the same time performing its dual function.
In such constructions, it is the lock that also acts as a detent ball. That is, keep the blade in place when the knife is closed.
To Carry
If I write - under one hundred grams, flat sides in a not-too-rough material and rounded edges. And tells you that the length is just over ten centimeters and that the handle is as thin as 10.6 mm, you understand which way I'm going with this.
If a capable clip is added to the mix, it becomes obvious that this knife is good in a pocket, whether it is carried loose or, which is perhaps more common today, with the help of the clip in a pocket.
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| The clip is of the standard type for CJRB and in this version is very yellow. A color that also rubs off gradually |
The clip on the Hectare is easy to review as it is exactly the same type found on the previously reviewed Prado. Consequently, the same things that I wrote about it then apply here. The only difference is that this clip is painted in the same bright yellow color as the blade. It can also be noted that it is less good as the paint naturally wears off after a while.
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| The ramp is good and the space underneath as well, but if it had been recessed in the handle side it would have been even better |
The clip is of the "deep ride" variety, which means that the knife sits deep in the pocket and very little or rather nothing is visible when the knife is there. Now it matters less in this case as the bright yellow color reveals that something is happening in the vicinity of your pocket anyway. If you want to be discreet, I can recommend a black version of the knife instead.
The steel clip is removable and is attached with two T6 screws. They are mounted in tandem on the side of the handle. However, it is not recessed in any way, which is one of the few details that has the potential for improvement. It simply reduces the space under the clip.
Otherwise, it can be said that the tension is substantial and that the ramp may not be perfect but good. In addition, it can be moved to the delight of all left-handed people. Since the lock is also not tied to one side to release, the knife is completely ambidextrous.
To Conclude
It can quickly be seen that, to the delight of all knife buyers, there is increasingly fierce competition in this class of knives. "Bugout" was not the first and may not even be the best-selling anymore but that model quickly became famous. Now there are also knives like Kershaw Heist, SRM 255, and Al Mar Payara just to name a few.
And of course this one, CJRB Hectare. It blends naturally with the aforementioned gang without being ashamed. The materials are on par with the competitors and so are the build quality. The design is nothing extraordinary, but it also stands up well in the context.
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| The Hectare is a good EDC knife, both for leisure and work |
Speaking of design or rather looks, yes I know I should have chosen a different color on the blade. It was just so enticing in pictures. Then I realize it's very...yellow.
It is also possible that the color actually makes the knife a notch worse, as strange as that sounds. But partly the surface wears faster than if it had been unpainted. That property mainly applies to the clip. But that is purely a cosmetic detail.
A more practical one is that the slightly smooth surface provides less traction when the knife is to be opened. Just a shade less good but still. However, the knife is saved by the fact that there are alternative ways to open it, read with the help of the lock
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| CJRB Hectare with a sunny yellow blade to match a beautiful summer day |
But on most parameters, the CJRB Hectare is a very nice folding knife. A breeze to carry and easy to both pull and put away. When combined with having a nice action, smooth to open, well as long as you avoid the hole with cold and calloused fingers, and easy to close, you get a good everyday companion. A tool ready for most things. Especially as the flat ground blade cuts well in most materials.
In addition, the price is not a deterrent. Currently, you pay around €65 in Europe and for that money, you get a lot of knife. Or rather a very light knife. In any case, an excellent knife.
Specification:
Length Overall: 187 mm
Length Folded: 107 mm
Weight: 75 g (weighed by me, stated 77g)
Blade Length: 80 mm
Blade Thickness: 2,7 mm
Blade Steel: AR-RPM9
Handle: G10 on a steel frame
Lock: Crossbar
Produced by: CJRB, made in China
/ J - basking in the shine of the knife blade
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