CJRB Pyrite Light Review: FRN Done Right

The Pyrite Light comes in at 7.60 inches overall with a 3.34-inch AR-RPM9 blade. Blade stock is 0.100 inch thick, and the 4.25-inch handle measures 0.438 inch across. That is a little thinner than average, which I like.

The handles are FRN, but there is more going on inside them than that description suggests. Full stainless steel liners support both sides. You also get a button lock and a deep-carry clip that can move between left- and right-hand tip-up carry.

Weight is 2.82 ounces. The price at the time of my review was $39.99, about $10 less than the original Pyrite I was comparing it with. That price is a big part of the appeal, especially since you get a little more blade.

I carried the blue one on the day of my review. I’m normally an OD green guy, and I still like that version, but this dark navy blue is really good.

Beside the original Wharncliffe Pyrite, the difference in size is pretty modest. The Light feels bigger in hand than that side-by-side comparison makes it look. I wouldn’t make too much of the size difference alone.

The thumb studs also change how the blade looks compared with the original’s opening cutout. Without that cutout, the Light’s blade initially looks quite a bit wider to me. Looking more closely, there is only a small difference up toward the spine. The familiar blade shape is still there; the obvious change is how you open it.

For the earlier drop-point model with steel handles, our original stainless-steel Pyrite review covers a different version of the design.

Before getting into the blade, I have to come back to the Light name. I consider 2.82 ounces pretty average. FRN saves weight, but adding steel liners puts some of it back. I’m completely fine with that tradeoff because the liners are one of my favorite things about this knife.

If you like the original Wharncliffe Pyrite and wish it had thumb studs, this is pretty much that idea. It is a great, slicey blade. I measured about 0.019 inch behind the edge, and the nice tall flat grind gives it the geometry I want in this kind of EDC knife.

The point is aggressive, but there is still a little belly to work with. I like that combination for slicing and controlled work with the tip. The thumb studs work extremely well, and the forward choil and jimping give me what I want for a more controlled grip. For a $40 knife, this is a fantastic blade.

The handle is what makes this knife as good as it is for me. We already knew the Wharncliffe Pyrite had a useful blade. Here, CJRB gets the cost benefit of FRN without giving up the sturdy feel I want in hand.

There is a very small amount of flex, but it is not a big deal. I’ve felt a similar amount in some G10 handles. The full stainless steel liners are recessed into the FRN on both sides, and they give the handle the support that makes me enjoy it.

The finish has a very light pressed texture. I wouldn’t call it especially grippy; it feels more like smooth G10. What I don’t get is that extra slippery, flimsy feeling I sometimes dislike with FRN. This is a nice, stiff, sturdy handle, and at the original $39.99 price I’m very happy with it.

The choil feels great, but you don’t have to use it to get a full grip. There is enough handle for all four fingers behind it, too. That gives me a couple of comfortable ways to work with the knife.

The deep-carry clip is the familiar CJRB style, so there is nothing particularly special about its shape. What I do appreciate is that it works for left- or right-hand carry, with a recessed mounting position on either side. Moving it over doesn’t leave the clip sitting up on top of the handle.

The olive green and navy blue both work really well with the black blade and satin-finished button. I really dig the way these look.

And the action is phenomenal. The resistance before opening feels nice and crisp, even though this button lock doesn’t use a conventional detent ball. Thumb flicks have that satisfying whip-crack feel, and middle-finger flicks work really well, too. You can also hold the button and swing the blade open.

I couldn’t readily shake the blades out on these samples. The closed-blade resistance feels firm, and I have no issues with the action. These are fantastic, fidget-friendly knives.

At $39.99 when I reviewed it, I would absolutely put the Pyrite Light among the best knives under $40 that I’d come across. Yes, it only got under that mark by a penny, but I’ll take it.

What sticks with me is how much I like these FRN handles. The stainless steel liners give me the solid feel I want when I squeeze the handle, and that changes my whole reaction to the material here. I’m not giving up that confidence just to get a lower price.

Then you add the useful blade, excellent action and good-looking colors, and this is a very complete offering. If you already like CJRB, there is a lot to love about the Pyrite Light.

You can also compare other CJRB knives if you are deciding which model fits your carry.