There are such a lot of folding knives aimed on the outdoor today that there’s sure to be some overlap. In some circumstances, that overlap would possibly even be intentional — so intentional, actually, that if you Google one knife and one other one comes up within the outcomes, you possibly can affirm you’re not loopy. That is actually taking place.
For years, the Benchmade Bugout has been a dream come true for these of us who need a sturdy, dependable, medium-duty folding pocket knife with out the heft. At 1.85 ounces, Benchmade aced the load problem. It additionally hit a house run with the selection to go together with S30V blade metal, a depraved well-liked chrome steel. And the cherry on high, the knife carried Benchmade’s Axis lock. For lower than $200, the Bugout turned a no brainer on the earth of EDC knives.
This yr, CJRB Cutlery reached out to see if I needed to check out its latest outdoor-focused knife, the Hectare. CJRB deemed it the model’s “first EDC-focused knife that includes a quick and dependable crossbar lock.”
Wanting on the footage and studying the specifics, I couldn’t ignore the similarities it drew to the Bugout: roughly the identical dimension, sub-3-ounce weight, and a really comparable, albeit much less refined, design. It matches nicely within the “Climbing and Backpacking” knife class.
Accepting the provide to check and evaluation the Hectare was a no brainer.
Briefly: The CJRB Hectare proves which you could get extra bang on your buck. By taking cues from one of the crucial desired climbing and backpacking EDC knives available on the market, CJRB created a $50 knife that questions the necessity for a $200 one. If you happen to don’t need to spend so much on a knife however need to expertise the hype surrounding the Benchmade Bugout, the Hectare will get you there.
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OAL
7.35″ -
Blade size
3.15″ -
Blade metal
AR-RPM9 -
Blade form
Drop level -
Grind
Flat -
Hardness
59-61 HRC -
Lock sort
Crossbar lock -
Carry
Deep, left or proper hand, tip-up -
Weight
2.69 oz. -
Value
$67 (however seemingly all the time on sale for $47)
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G10 deal with scales -
General efficiency of the metal -
Crossbar lock -
Value
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The roughness of the crossbar lock buttons -
Preliminary crossbar lock resistance
CJRB Hectare Knife Overview
Design & Options
The CJRB Hectare is a light-weight, sturdy, dependable backpacking knife. It includes a skeletonized metal body and G10 deal with scales, and deep-carry pocket clip. For a lock, the Hectare depends on a crossbar-style lock. The Hectare has an general size of seven.35 inches, 3.15 of which make up the AR-RPM9 drop-point blade.
Moreover, the Hectare is available in at a trim and lean 2.69 ounces — a shoo-in for backpacking and EDC necessities.
Final month, Knife Metal Nerds, which I think about to be the authority on knife metal, claimed that Artisan, the dad or mum firm of CJRB, made false claims about its AR-RPM9 metal. Dr. Larrin Thomas, the brainpower behind Knife Metal Nerds and inventor of MagnaCut metal, claimed that AR-RPM9 metal was not a powdered metal as Artisan had claimed.
In the long run, Artisan apologized for the error; nevertheless, it looks as if the way forward for AR-RPM9 hangs within the steadiness. It might have to be reevaluated and renamed. The “P” stands for “Powdered” and the “9” stands for the variety of parts within the metal, however there are solely 7.
Nonetheless, it’s practically similar to 9Cr18MoV, a Chinese language high-carbon chrome steel identified to excel in edge retention, toughness, abrasion resistance, and corrosion resistance. So politics apart, 9Cr18MoV stands as a wonderful funds metal.
First Impressions
I take no concern with an organization like CJRB making a knife so much like a well-liked knife made by a premium model. I used to be desperate to see how a knife that prices greater than $100 much less compares to the knife that impressed it. Whereas I didn’t count on this knife to behave just like the Bugout, when it arrived, I used to be pleasantly shocked.
Although all crossbar lock mechanisms look and carry out in a selected means, there are quite a lot of totally different variations of it available on the market. Out of the field, the crossbar lock on the Hectare was just a little immune to being activated. That’s as a result of some variations in machined tolerances and using heavier springs.
CJRB’s option to go together with caged ball bearings across the pivot enhances the axis lock properly, permitting the blade to swing open easily and lock up tight like a tiger.
I like CJRB’s resolution to make use of G10 deal with scales. They’re sturdy and supply a wonderful grip. On the Hectare, CJRB machined them to permit the knife’s metal body to nest into them. This will increase the general basis of the knife with out impacting its dimension. And it retains the load underneath 3 ounces.
However even with this full body embedded into the deal with, the Hectare nonetheless displays the identified flex that the Bugout has if you squeeze its deal with with the blade open. It is a clear indication that it is a light- to medium-duty pocket knife.
Within the Discipline
Out on the earth, the Hectare carried out rather well for a $50 knife. Heck, its general efficiency was on par with a $200 different. I had some issues it wouldn’t maintain up to make use of and abuse on the stage I deal with the knives I take a look at. However these all washed away throughout the first few makes use of.
I by no means thought it could collapse on me, however $50 sits on the low finish of the spectrum for what I think about a dependable knife. So, whereas I’m not shocked that the Hectare made it by means of a number of months of dwelling with me, I’m shocked at how nicely it held up general.
I hate to be the man who says he spent quite a lot of time reducing rope and cardboard together with his knives, however I really did with the Hectare. Each rope and cardboard (together with meat) can boring a knife edge rapidly. I’m comfortable to say that wasn’t the case right here. After 4 months, the blade wanted to be honed to return to its manufacturing unit sharpness, but it surely was removed from boring.
After opening and shutting the knife by way of the crossbar lock a number of occasions, I made a decision to rub it down with a Scotch Brite pad. The machined-in tapers on the buttons had been just a little annoying and bought caught on my thumb, irritating my pores and skin. It’s both a course of CJRB missed or didn’t assume was mandatory. It’s not at all a deal-breaker, although, and is straightforward to repair.
Like all the knives I take a look at, the Hectare spent loads of time within the parts and filth getting moist and gritty. At no level did it falter. Even now, the knife doesn’t present any indicators of damage or tear.
However I’ll say that the pocket clip on the Hectare is just a little delicate. In some unspecified time in the future, the clip pulled away from the floor of the deal with scales. It’s not rather a lot to trigger any points in carrying, but it surely ought to be famous.
Ergonomically, I had no points utilizing the Hectare in demanding conditions. It nonetheless has the flex that’s related to the Benchmade Bugout, however I’ll chalk that as much as being the character of the beast. Although it’s famous and noticeable on each knives, it doesn’t influence efficiency.
In Conclusion
It’s key to remember the fact that any light-weight knives, from any model, are medium-duty at greatest. You may’t baton the backbone to separate kindling or pry with them. They’re designed to prep a tinder bundle and meals for the fireplace, or open packing containers from Amazon — stuff like that.
Although the shape and end of the Hectare is likely to be lacking a few of the geometry that make the Bugout look extra refined, it’s laborious to disregard the truth that each knives operate the identical. That features the AR-RPM9 metal.
No, I’m not saying that AR-RPM9 is nearly as good as S30V in the long term, but it surely’s adequate for the day-to-day use the common individual doles out. It might flip into sand after 20 years of abuse, whereas S30V will nonetheless be using excessive. Perhaps I’ll swing again round and write a long-term evaluation about it then.
All in all, the Hectare serves as one other indicator that funds knives have their place within the viable EDC knife market. Manufacturers like CJRB, CIVIVI, and SENCUT show you may get a top quality knife at a cheaper price.
The metal might not have a buzz-worthy title, however that received’t influence the way in which it performs. Within the case of the Hectare, you received’t discover any points until you need to. This knife exceeded my expectations, sore thumb and all. Anticipate to see the Hectare within the subsequent replace of the Finest Knives for Climbing & Backpacking.