CJRB Pyrite Alt Review: Possibly the Best Value Budget Knife Right Now

Introduction

Some knives are good for their price. Every so often, one comes along that makes the entire budget category look different. The CJRB Pyrite Alt is that knife. After spending several weeks with it, it is hard to call it anything other than the best value budget folding knife available right now, and arguably the best knife CJRB has ever made.

At first glance it looks like the original Pyrite with FRN handles. In practice, it is a genuinely different knife, and a better-sized one.

Who This Product Is For

The Pyrite Alt is aimed at anyone who wants a capable everyday carry knife without spending much. It also happens to be an excellent gift knife, precisely because a first-time buyer who starts here will have a very hard time settling for lesser budget knives afterwards.

It suits left-handers and right-handers equally. The setup is fully ambidextrous, and it works the same in either hand, whether you deploy with a thumb or an index finger.

Main Strengths

The headline change is size. The blade measures 3.34 inches, noticeably longer than the original Pyrite’s blade, which sat just over the 3-inch mark. This is finally the size the design should have had from the beginning, and the slim, thin profile keeps it exceptionally slicey.

The steel story is the real surprise. It uses the same 9Cr steel as the original Pyrite, but at a $30 price point rather than the original’s higher cost. Even better, a current promotion brings it to around $30, and that price is expected to hold across major retailers, not just as a launch discount.

CJRB achieved the price cut by keeping their excellent button lock mechanism and dropping the more expensive milling and extra components of the original. The result is a standard steel liner with FRN handles, and the contoured, rounded handles echo the premium Kickstarter-era version of the Pyrite Alt.

The button lock itself deserves attention. CJRB uses a vertical shelf design with straight up-and-down edges, which makes accidental disengagement extremely unlikely. It has proven reliable across the whole button lock lineup since introduction.

The thumb stud is another point in its favor. Compared to a blade cutout, it is easier to deploy, and reverse flicking still works naturally.

The reversible deep carry pocket clip sits flush, and in some ways it is an improvement over the original clip design. Add in a proper forward finger choil for a comfortable choke-up grip, and the package is complete.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The FRN handles and simpler construction are the trade-off that makes the price possible, so buyers wanting milled premium scales should look at the original Pyrite instead. It is also worth noting the steel is a budget-grade 9Cr rather than a premium alloy, though at this price the value is difficult to argue with. Those who prefer the original’s blade cutout to a thumb stud may need a moment to adjust.

Buying Advice

For anyone hunting for a quality knife under $30, this is the one to beat. Compared to other budget knives in that range, including some very good ones, the Pyrite Alt offers the fullest package: a fully ambidextrous button lock, extra slicey geometry, good steel, and a superb choke-up position.

It is the kind of knife you buy as a gift, and the kind that sets a permanent new standard for what a budget knife should be. It easily rivals, and in many cases beats, entire brands dedicated to the budget segment.

Conclusion

The CJRB Pyrite Alt is a home run. A longer, properly sized blade, the same steel as the original, a refined button lock, and a flush deep carry clip, all at around $30. Few products are this hard to argue with on value, and it is very likely the best budget knife you can buy right now.