CJRB Maximal J1954 Guide: David C. Andersen Crossbar EDC

The CJRB Maximal J1954 is David C. Andersen's production folder for CJRB, and it is the widest single model line the brand has: twelve listings on this site run from a 49.99 USD G10 knife with a 2.95-inch AR-RPM9 blade to a 179.99 USD titanium build in CPM S90V, plus a larger Mega Maximal variant on a completely different frame. Every one of them uses a crossbar lock, every one of them is a drop point, and every one of them carries a deep-carry clip.

This guide covers the whole Maximal family - the base specification, each tier with live pricing and availability, how the Mega Maximal differs from the standard J1954, and which of the three steels to pick.

What the CJRB Maximal J1954 Is

Andersen's design brief, in the words of the listing copy on this site, is a knife that is adaptable to everyone: the name reflects its ability to perform for the widest number of people possible. The same copy says it carries small in your pocket but has the ability to cut big when you need it, and that CJRB was chosen as the partner because they possess the technical chops, the right materials, and the ability to combine them into a knife that feels premium without the premium price tag.

That brief shows up in the specification. A 2.95-inch (75 mm) drop point in 0.10-inch (2.5 mm) stock, closed to 3.94 inches (100 mm) and 6.89 inches (175 mm) overall - a genuinely small knife that weighs between 80 g and 85 g in its composite-handle tiers. The blade plus closed length equals the published overall length exactly, so the dimensions are internally consistent.

The lock is a crossbar, which is the key ergonomic claim in the copy: it is described as providing security, ambidextrous use, and finger-safe closing operation. The pivot runs on ceramic ball bearings, and the clip is a deep-carry design that the copy says keeps the knife tucked quietly away and works for both left- and right-handed users.

CJRB Maximal J1954 Specifications

Specification	Maximal J1954
Blade length	2.95 in (75 mm)
Blade thickness	0.10 in (2.5 mm)
Blade grind	Flat
Blade steel	AR-RPM9 (HRC 59-61), AR-SFII (HRC 60-62) or CPM S90V (HRC 60-62)
Blade style	Drop point
Lock	Crossbar Lock
Pivot	Ceramic ball bearing
Overall length	6.89 in (175 mm)
Closed length	3.94 in (100 mm)
Weight	80 g to 157 g (2.82 oz to 5.54 oz) by handle material
Designer	David C. Andersen

Every Maximal J1954 Tier, Priced From Stock

Listing	Handle	Steel	Weight	Price	In stock
J1954-BK	Black G10	AR-RPM9	85 g / 3 oz	49.99 USD	Yes
J1954-RE	Red G10	AR-RPM9	85 g / 3 oz	49.99 USD	Yes
J1954-MGN	Green Micarta	AR-RPM9	80 g / 2.82 oz	49.99 USD	Yes
J1954-BMGN	Green Micarta, black PVD blade	AR-RPM9	80 g / 2.82 oz	49.99 USD	Yes
J1954-GYF	Blue G10	AR-SFII	80 g / 2.82 oz	59.99 USD	Yes
J1954-CO	Copper	AR-RPM9	157 g / 5.54 oz	59.99 USD	No - sold out
J1954G-GY	Titanium	CPM S90V	108.5 g / 3.83 oz	179.99 USD	Yes

The copper tier is the outlier in more than price: at 157 g it weighs almost twice what the Micarta build does, because copper is roughly four times the density of a composite. It is also the only Maximal configuration currently sold out, so anyone drawn to the patina option should treat it as a watch-and-wait rather than a purchase.

Between the two composites there is a 5 g gap and no price difference - the Micarta builds are lighter than the G10 builds at the same 49.99 USD, which is unusual and makes Micarta the better default unless you specifically want the G10 texture.

Mega Maximal J1954L: Same Lock, Bigger Frame

Three listings carry the Mega Maximal name and the J1954L code, and they are not simply a colour variant. The Mega Maximal is a longer knife on a different frame, all in Micarta at 54.99 USD.

Specification	Maximal J1954	Mega Maximal J1954L
Blade length	2.95 in (75 mm)	3.43 in (87 mm)
Blade thickness	0.10 in (2.5 mm)	0.10 in (2.5 mm)
Overall length	6.89 in (175 mm)	7.84 in (199 mm)
Closed length	3.94 in (100 mm)	4.41 in (112 mm)
Weight	80 g to 157 g	90 g (3.18 oz)
Steel	AR-RPM9, AR-SFII or CPM S90V	AR-RPM9, HRC 59-61
Handle	G10, Micarta, copper or titanium	Micarta
Lock	Crossbar Lock	Crossbar Lock
Price	49.99 to 179.99 USD	54.99 USD

The Mega Maximal adds 0.48 inches of blade and 0.95 inches of overall length for 5 USD over the entry Maximal, and it comes in three Micarta colourways: J1954L-MGN in green stone wash, J1954L-BBK in black with a black PVD blade and J1954L-BN in brown stone wash. All three are in stock.

One attribution note worth having, because the listings do not say it in prose: the David C. Andersen designer tag appears on the seven Maximal J1954 listings and on none of the three Mega Maximal J1954L listings. If the designer's brief is what you are buying, the J1954 is the documented version.

The Three Steels: AR-RPM9, AR-SFII and CPM S90V

Steel	Listed hardness	Tiers that use it	What you pay for it
AR-RPM9	HRC 59-61	Black and red G10, both Micarta builds, Mega Maximal J1954L, copper	49.99 - 59.99 USD
AR-SFII	HRC 60-62	Blue G10 (J1954-GYF)	59.99 USD
CPM S90V	HRC 60-62	Titanium (J1954G-GY)	179.99 USD

AR-RPM9 sits two points softer than the other two on the published scale, and it is the steel CJRB puts on five of the seven Maximal tiers. AR-SFII is CJRB's spray-form upgrade and the only middle option - a 10 USD step for two additional points of hardness, and we cover what the manufacturer says changed in our AR-SFII explainer. CPM S90V arrives only with the titanium frame, so the 130 USD jump from AR-SFII to S90V is really paying for three things at once: the steel, the titanium handle and 28.5 g of extra weight.

Who the Maximal Is For

• Small-knife carry without a small-knife feel. The 2.95-inch blade is a third of an inch shorter than a Paragon-style 3.3-inch class, but the drop point and the 3.94-inch handle keep a usable grip.
• Crossbar fans on a budget. Four tiers at 49.99 USD put an ambidextrous bar lock well under the price most crossbar folders start at.
• Anyone who wants the lightest possible version. The Micarta builds at 80 g are 5 g lighter than the G10 builds at identical money.
• Collectors of the designer. This is Andersen's CJRB production line, and the listings say so on every J1954 tier.
• Larger hands. The Mega Maximal J1954L gives 0.48 inches more blade and a longer handle for 54.99 USD.

Skip the copper tier if weight matters - 157 g is the heaviest knife in the entire Maximal family by a wide margin, and it is currently out of stock regardless.

CJRB Maximal J1954 FAQ

Who designed the CJRB Maximal?

David C. Andersen. The designer tag appears on the seven Maximal J1954 listings; the three Mega Maximal J1954L listings do not carry it.

Is the CJRB Maximal a crossbar lock?

Yes. Every Maximal and Mega Maximal listing on this site publishes Crossbar Lock in its spec table, and the J1954 copy describes it as giving security, ambidextrous use and finger-safe closing.

How big is the CJRB Maximal?

The Maximal J1954 is 2.95 inches (75 mm) of blade in a 6.89-inch (175 mm) package weighing 80 g to 85 g in composites. The Mega Maximal J1954L is 3.43 inches (87 mm) of blade at 7.84 inches (199 mm) overall and 90 g.

What does the CJRB Maximal cost?

49.99 USD for the G10 and Micarta tiers, 59.99 USD for the blue AR-SFII build and the copper build, and 179.99 USD for the titanium CPM S90V build. The Mega Maximal J1954L is 54.99 USD.

Which Maximal handle material should I choose?

Micarta if you want the lightest knife at the base price - 80 g against 85 g for G10 at the same 49.99 USD. G10 if you prefer a harder, more textured surface. Copper if patina matters more than weight, accepting 157 g.

Data note: the black-PVD variant of the green Micarta Maximal publishes its blade finish as Stone wash/Black PVD, the same combined string used by several colourways across the CJRB range. The table above follows each listing title for finish and each spec table for dimensions.

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See every tier in the CJRB Maximal collection, or browse the full CJRB Cutlery range and the Artisan Cutlery catalog - built for reliable everyday carry.