- A practical knife with a Sheepsfoot blade
There are many companies on the market that have products in all price ranges, from simple to exclusive models. The latter may sometimes be more for attracting attention at shows and exhibitions, while the basic range includes more utility-oriented knives.
One of the manufacturers that does this is Artisan Cutlery/CJRB. Like many others, they have branched out into a budget brand for the simpler knives. This does not necessarily mean that the quality is worse, but that the materials are simpler.
Today's review item, Lyrid, comes from there and is a typical example of a knife that is aimed at everyday use.
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| CJRB Lyrid |
This knife is designed by Christain Porterfield. According to his own statement, he was looking to refine a knife model that he had in stock. The idea behind it was simply to make something small and agile with a Sheepsfoot blade. I can quickly check off those criteria and conclude that that is exactly what we have in front of us.
Lyrid is available in three colors: black, blue, or, like here, green. If you choose the black version, the blade has a black PVD surface treatment. Now the steel is quite rust-resistant as it is, so it is more a question of aesthetics. I myself am not a big fan of blackened blades, which simplified the choice for me.
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| A knife designed by C Porterfield |
Short version: CJRB Lyrid, a medium-sized brown dog of the knife world. Maybe not the most striking in terms of appearance, but very loyal and faithful.
Blade
We have already touched on the blade shape, and it is, as I said, a Sheepsfoot. This means a straight or almost straight edge and a back that slopes steeply down to a rather rudimentary tip. In that case, the blade follows the template almost to the letter but is modified with a slightly curved edge. A detail I appreciate, as it makes the knife much easier to handle on flat surfaces such as planks or cutting boards.
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| Lyrid has a slightly modified Sheepsfoot blade |
The blade is 80 mm long, 24 mm high, and only 2.7 mm thick. The latter, together with a full flat grind down to a thickness behind the edge of 0.4 mm, makes the Lyrid a useful little knife. An interesting detail to note is that the dimensions of the blade are almost identical to those of another knife from CJRB that I have reviewed, namely the Hectare.
The finish is stone-washed, and the marking is discreet as it is found on the ricasso. On one side, you can see the CJRB logo, and on the other, you can find the designer's logo and model designation.
The steel used is one that this company has been involved in developing, and the designation is AR-RPM9, which can probably be considered a budget steel, mostly in terms of price. I would probably compare it a little carelessly with Sandvik 14C28N, even though I think I prefer the latter. My experience is that 14C holds its sharpness slightly better, but I have not, in truth, made any comparison between them, so take it with a pinch of salt. Overall, however, it is a good steel.
The factory edge was satisfactory but perhaps not the sharpest I have experienced. Speaking of which, the Lyrid does not suffer from the problem with the lock that has been brought to attention recently. What has happened is that some models with a transverse bolt have been designed so that they rest too far out on the blade, which affects the geometry when the knife is reground and ultimately theoretically becomes unusable. However, that has not happened yet, so the future will tell. But in any case, this knife is not included in that illustrious group.
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| The finish is stone-washed, and the marking is discreet. |
The blade is otherwise just as practical as you would expect. Well, except for the tip. That goes with the territory of Sheepsfoot blades. Lyrid has a tip, and it's fairly sharp but apparently not very thin. That makes it less useful for really small jobs, like removing skewers from hands and the like. But for more normal knife tasks like opening boxes, cutting tape, and carving a barbecue stick, this is a really good little knife.
In addition, the knife works great as a small paring knife in the kitchen. I don't advocate folding knives in that situation, but if you are going to do it, this is a candidate.
But beyond that, the Lyrid is an excellent knife, not least because it is easy to pull out of your pocket, open it, make a few cuts, and put it away again. Exactly what a pocket knife is most used for.
Handle
The handle is almost as generic as it gets. Here we have a full steel frame, which is not lightened on the inside, and on the outside we find flat sides of G10. The knife is open at the back, and there are two hourglass-shaped spacers. It is at these two points, along with the pivot screw, that the handle is screwed. The size of the heads is T6, and the adjustable pivot screw is T8. Everything is standard so far.
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| Handle sides made of green G10 with a light pattern |
What adds a bit of complexity is the type of lock. Since they contain tensioned springs, you should be either knowledgeable and experienced or handy to take them apart. It works well, but it can be a bit tricky to get the omega springs back again.
The G10 sides are 3 mm thick, the frame is 0.8 mm, and that gives a total thickness of the handle of 11 mm, which is thin. The pattern is found in two levels, with some kind of micro squares and then lines on the diagonal. It gives something to look at and a better grip. Otherwise, the G10 material in this case is not particularly rough.
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| The steel frame is unusually not lightened, which shifts the balance slightly backwards. |
But as you can see. No surprises at all. Especially not, as all edges are rounded and polished as they should be. Nothing to complain about there either. What can be added is that there is a lanyard hole for those who want one. Well, by the way, there is a small surprise, and that is that the frame is not drilled for reduced weight. But since Lyrid is still a well-balanced, albeit somewhat rear-heavy flyweight, it doesn't matter. On a theoretical level, it makes the knife somewhat stronger.
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| All grips work despite the small size |
Once Lyrid is put to work, the handle works as it looks. That is, without major complaints. Long enough to fit all four fingers in both a hammer grip and a saber grip. The only fly in the ointment is probably the rear end of the clip. A recurring detail with deep ride clips is that they stick out behind the handle and thus come into contact with the hand. It becomes quite clear here.
So, a good but not perfect handle for a small knife.
Opening and Lock
Like all knives with a cross-bar lock, the blade can be folded in and out with its help. Just pull back the lock bolt, and then the blade swings freely. Especially since it runs on ball bearings, which makes the action both smooth and very fast.
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| Thumb studs are the main way to open the knife, but two hands or using the lock is also possible. |
Otherwise, the Lyrid is intended to be opened with thumb studs. Like most things on this knife, they are well-functioning and well-thought-out, although nothing spectacular. They just work. They are barrel-shaped with a pyramid top, which provides just the right amount of friction against the finger. They are also placed a bit out from the handle, which makes them easy to reach. The placement also helps to provide a little more leverage, which gives the blade good speed. The knife can be opened both slowly and quickly, depending on your mood. Using your index finger on the back of the knife also works in the same way for those who prefer that method..
For these reasons, this is also a completely ambidextrous knife. Right or left doesn't matter, and the clip is flippable.
It's also good that the thumb studs are positioned so that they are quite close to the handle, on the ricasso itself, and not the blade, when the knife is open. This means that they are out of the way when cutting.
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| A cross-bar lock |
The lock is a flexible version of a cross bar, and CJRB has succeeded quite well with a couple of details that can otherwise be difficult to get right. One is to create a lock bolt that does not move sideways,so that it "wobbles". This occurs when the tolerances are not sufficiently small and the springs are too weak.
The latter fulfills another important function, and that is to act as a "detent ball" to hold the blade in place in the closed position. On this type of knife, that detail is taken care of by the lock. If the tension is too loose, the blade risks opening involuntarily, and the opening does not feel distinct. If it is too tight, it is difficult to open and close the knife.
Here, all the details work, and the blade is also held in place as it should be in the open position. No play movement in the blade on this specimen. Otherwise, there can sometimes be a small problem with this type of lock. There may be a tendency for the blade to move vertically.
Since the lock is well trimmed, it is also easy to disengage. It can be done with one or two fingers, regardless of which side you do it from.
To Carry
Lyrid is one of those "pocket gems". No protruding flipper fins from the early era of the phenomenon, no edges or strange corners. Just a fairly slim and, above all, thin shape in the pocket. A very good pocket knife in one of the points that such a knife should not fail.
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| The dimensions and weight make for an easily carried knife |
A contributing factor is, of course, the low weight. Even though the frame is not lightened, the entire knife weighs in at under ninety grams. In addition, it is quite normal in length with its 108 mm. So, not an extreme knife by any parameter, but it still ends up being very easy to carry.
Especially as the clip works well enough with the material underneath so that it does not snag on fabric. This also makes the knife easy to pull out and put back in a pocket. That is also a non-negligible part of a pocket knife's everyday life. Most everyday tasks do not require hours of cutting. Just pulling the knife to make a cut or two is a fairly common task.
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| Lyrid sits deep and secure in a pocket |
The clip is otherwise nothing extraordinary. At least not in terms of appearance. It is a clip that does its job fairly well. Not the best on the market, but good enough for a regular steel clip. The tension is sufficient, and there is room underneath for most things except really thick pants or maybe jacket fabric.
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| But a clip that sits so far back also creates a point that can cause hot spots. |
The clip can be removed or switched sides as desired. It is mounted with two screws in tandem. However, some money has been saved by not recessing it into the handle side, which, together with its location far back, causes the problems mentioned earlier.
To Conclude
The risk was imminent that I would think that this is just another "small pocket knife with flat G10 sides and a cross-bar lock". That combination is very common right now. As I already wrote in the presentation of this knife, the Lyrid is definitely one of those.
But it would turn out to be a really nice example of a well-made knife. Then I will be honest and say that its main advantage is not that it is original. I will not go too far, but all the parts just work. It is a damn handy little EDC knife. That has meant that it has been used a lot during this test period.
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| When harvesting rosemary, Lyrid is an excellent helper |
It can also be said that the person who designed the knife has a good eye for harmony in proportions and is good at ergonomics. The handle is good for being so small. Because size matters in the knife world and helps set limits on what they are good at. Lyrid is therefore not the best for heavier tasks.
But that was not the goal either, and it is clearly noticeable by combining a Sheepsfoot blade with a thickness of 2.7 mm that is also flat-ground. A small slicing machine, in other words. There you have the basic reason why this is a good pocket knife. Sure, I personally sometimes miss a more distinctive tip, but the one that is there works surprisingly well.
Part two is the handle, and there are also some positives to highlight. Mainly, the neutral shape and the rounded corners and front and back ends mean that you get a comfortable grip and can use the entire length of the handle. The latter is important on smaller knives in order to be able to use their full potential.
Then the Lyrid is a breeze to handle. Easy to open, soft in the hand, and just as easy to put away again. This applies to both getting the blade out and putting the knife back into a pocket.
It is also very discreet and light, so it feels very little where it sits. This means that I have often carried it in the leg pocket of a pair of shorts, for example.
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| CJRB Lyrid is also a good companion during spring excursions like this |
With this in mind, the Lyrid is a knife I can highly recommend to anyone who likes compact, light, and agile pocket knives. But you have to be fond of Sheepsfoot blades and the limitation in tip and belly that entails. Then it can possibly be said that the design is not the most fun. This is primarily a practical knife.
A little more fun is the price since the MSRP is $50, and in Europe, the price of the CJRB Lyrid varies from 30 to 90€, so choose your dealer carefully!
Specifications:
Length Overall: 188 mm
Length Folded: 108 mm
Weight: 89 g
Blade Length: 80 mm
Blade Thickness: 2,7 mm
Blade Steel: AR-RPM9, HRC 59-61
Handle: G10
Lock: Crossbar Lock
Produced by: CJRB, made in China
/ J - feels knifey
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