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![holding two CJRB Prado Knives](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_TheKnives-1024x576.jpg)
CJRB Prado Review
- Pros: Incredible value. Slim, lightweight handle that melts into the pocket. Beautiful Ray Laconico blade shape with slicey flat grind. Buttery smooth action with multiple deployment methods. Solid lockup with well-tuned crossbar lock. Premium material options (G10 or wood, AR-RPM9 blade steel). Ambidextrous, deep carry pocket clip. Comfortable, hand-filling ergonomics despite thin profile.
- Cons: Some may find the overall size too large for EDC. Pocket clip is a bit plain compared to the rest of the knife. Wood handles add to the cost compared to G10.
Greetings, knife enthusiasts, and welcome back! Today, I have a full CJRB Prado review ready for you. It’s a budget knife that I’ve absolutely fallen in love with. After carrying it for several days, I don’t have many bad things to say—lots of good things, though!
We’ll go over all the specs, but first, there’s something else I want to show you.
![CJRB Prado Key Takeaways](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_KeyTakeaways-1024x576.jpg)
Key Takeaways
- The CJRB Prado is an absolute banger and easily one of the best budget EDC knives.
- Its slim handle (just 0.436″ thick) and lightweight design make it exceptionally well-suited for carrying a larger knife.
- The blade has all the classic Ray Laconico style: an elegant swedge, slicey hollow grind, and a satisfying, accessible cutout.
- Action is super smooth and consistent across both G-10 and wood handle versions.
- Multiple deployment options: middle-finger flick, thumb flick, or slow-roll – all work great.
- CJRB nailed the crossbar lock tension, and the lockup is rock solid with no blade play.
- This is an insane amount of quality, performance, and design for the money—huge kudos to CJRB and Ray!
CJRB Prado Specifications
![holding CJRB Prado with brown handle](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_Specs-1024x576.jpg)
The CJRB Prado is a bigger knife, but that slim handle makes it carry extremely well for its size. Let’s see how it compares to some other knives.
SPECS | |
Overall Length | 8.50″ |
Blade Length | 3.75″ |
Cutting Edge | 3.50″ |
Blade Width | 1.125″ |
Blade Thickness | 0.09″ |
Blade Material | AR-RPM9 |
Hardness | 59-61 HRC |
Blade Style | Clip Point |
Blade Grind | Flat |
Finish | Polish |
Edge Type | Plain |
Handle Length | 4.75″ |
Handle Width | 1.00″ |
Handle Thickness | 0.06″ |
Handle Material | G-10 |
Weight | 3.42 oz. |
Pocket Clip | Tip-Up |
Opener | Thumb Hole |
Pivot Type | Bearings |
Lock Type | Crossbar Lock |
Designer | Ray Laconico |
Country of Origin | China |
Size Comparison
This is the point in our CJRB Prado review where we see how this bad boy stacks up against some of its peers in the big knife world. Make no mistake, the CJRB Prado is a large and in-charge kind of blade. But how does it compare?
Kershaw Iridium
![CJRB Prado Size Comaprison With Kershaw Iridium](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_SizeComaprisonWithKershawIridium-1024x576.jpg)
Now, the Iridium is no slouch in the size department, but when you put it next to the Prado? It’s like comparing a Great Dane to a Chihuahua. The Prado just towers over it in terms of overall length. It’s not even a fair fight.
Kizer Brat
![CJRB Prado Size Comaprison With Kershaw Iridium And Kizer Brat](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_SizeComaprisonWithKershawIridiumAAndKizerBrat.jpeg-1024x576.jpg)
This is a much closer matchup. These two knives are pretty darn similar in terms of overall size. If you’re comfortable pocketing the Brat, then the Prado should feel right at home in your EDC rotation.
CIVIVI Conspirator
![CJRB Prado Size Comaprison With Civivi Conspirator and Kizer Brat](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_SizeComaprisonWithCiviviConspiratorandKizerBrat-1024x576.jpg)
Now, I’ve got the wood-handled version of the Conspirator here, just to keep things interesting. And let me tell you, the Prado makes its little brother look like a kid playing dress-up. It’s a full-on “don’t talk to me or my son ever again” situation.
Blade Impressions
The CJRB Prado’s blade is a stunning example of Ray Laconico’s iconic design language. The 3.76-inch clip point shape is enhanced by an elegantly swooping swedge, adding visual interest without compromising utility.
Crafted from AR-RPM9 steel at 0.099 inches thick, the blade offers a great balance of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and slicing performance. The full flat grind and 0.019″ blade stock thickness behind the edge (BTE) create a wonderfully thin geometry that glides through material with ease.
![Holding the CJRB Prado handle by the curve](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_Holdingthehandlebythecurve-1024x576.jpg)
The ample blade cutout is perfectly shaped and positioned for intuitive middle-finger flicking, and jimping along the spine provides traction for slow-roll opening. The satin finish looks classy and low-maintenance, with just enough flash from the swedge to catch the eye.
CJRB and Ray knocked it out of the park with the Prado’s highly functional, fidget-friendly, and gorgeous blade design. The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail here is incredible for a budget knife.
Handle & Ergonomics
![Holding the CJRB Prado Knife With Both Hands](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_HoldingKnifeWithBothHands-1024x576.jpg)
All right, folks, let’s talk about this handle. Because holy smokes, CJRB knocked it out of the park here. The first thing you’ll notice is just how darn thin this thing is. I mean, we’re talking a measly 0.436″ thick. That’s crazy thin for a knife this size!
Usually, when you’re getting into the 8.5″ overall length category, you’re looking at half-inch thick handles or more. But not with the Prado. Nope, Ray Laconico worked some voodoo magic here to give you a big ol’ blade with a svelte, pocket-friendly handle. And man, does it make a difference in carry!
![Full Grip on The CJRB Prado Handle](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_FullGriponTheHandle-1024x576.jpg)
But here’s the kicker—even with that slim profile, the Prado still feels amazing in the hand. The shape is spot on, too. You’ve got this gentle swell towards the back that fills out your palm perfectly. And the little bit of jimping on the spine gives your thumb a nice, comfy spot to perch on. The scales have this nice taper to them, almost like they’re hugging your fingers as you grip the knife.
So yeah, the Prado’s handle is an absolute gem. It’s thin where it counts for pocket carry but still meaty enough to be satisfying in the hand. It’s a master class in functional minimalism—two very enthusiastic thumbs up from me on this one, guys.
Action & Lockup
Holy cow, guys, the action on this thing is mind-blowingly good. I mean, we’re talking “fall shut with a light shake” levels of smooth here. And the best part? It’s extremely consistent between my G-10 and wood handled Prados. No variation, just buttery goodness across the board.
You’ve got a few deployment methods to choose from, too. First up is the middle-finger flick, which is my personal go-to. With that perfectly placed cutout, it’s beyond effortless to kick that blade out with a quick flick. If you prefer the thumb flick, no worries – it’s totally doable on the Prado. A little trickier for me, but some practice and you’ll be flying open in no time.
Oh, and for my slow-roll fans out there, you’re in for a treat. The Prado has one of the smoothest slow openings I’ve tried in a while. Seriously, your grandpa could probably open this thing with ease—it’s that good.
Lockup is just as impressive as the action. CJRB absolutely nailed the crossbar tension. It’s not too stiff where it’s a pain to disengage, but not too soft, either. Goldilocks would be all over this one – it’s “just right” in every way. No blade play, no lock stick, just solid, reliable performance.
I gotta give major props to CJRB for the action and lockup on the Prado. It’s incredible how they managed to make it feel like a much more expensive knife in this department. Whether you’re a fidgety flicker or a slow-roll savant, this knife has got you covered.
Video Review
Conclusion
So, as I close out this CJRB Prado review, I have to say that the Prado is an absolute banger and easily one of the best budget EDC knives around. I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t end up in my top 3 budget blades.
![holding two CJRB Prado Knives clip side up](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CJRB_Prado_Conclusion-1024x576.jpg)
Granted, I’m a sucker for big knives and Ray Laconico designs, so take that as you will. But objectively, this is just an insane amount of quality and performance for the price. Amazing job by CJRB and Ray!
Let me know what you think of the Prado down in the comments. And as always, thanks for spending some time here today. Until next time, stay sharp!