Introducing CJRB & Locust:

At CJRB, we believe that a great knife is more than just a tool—it’s an extension of your lifestyle. As a subsidiary of Artisan Cutlery, we’ve focused on creating folding knives that provide exceptional value, blending high performance with accessible pricing. Over the past six years, we've seen a growing demand for affordable knives that don’t compromise on quality, and we're proud to be part of that movement. Our goal is simple: to offer knives that excel in function, design, and affordability, delivering more than you’d expect at a price that won’t break the bank.

The Locust is a reflection of this mission—a balanced fusion of classic design, premium materials, and practical everyday use. Inspired by the iconic Fairbairn-Sykes combat knife, the Locust is for those who appreciate a knife that performs just as well as it looks. Designed with versatility in mind, it’s not just a tool, but a piece of craftsmanship. With handle variations ranging from rugged carved copper to sleek carbon fiber and titanium Damascus, the Locust series offers options to suit a variety of tastes and needs.

What started as a small offshoot of Artisan Cutlery has grown into one of our most exciting endeavors, and we're proud to see it gaining attention in the knife community. The Locust represents our commitment to offering well-crafted knives that provide excellent value—whether you're a collector or someone looking for a reliable tool to carry every day.

Safe and Sound:

A button lock is already a reliable and secure locking mechanism, but we know that extra safety can always make a difference. That’s why we’ve introduced the Button Lock with Safety Switch—a smart addition that brings an extra layer of security to your knife, ensuring it stays safely locked in both open and closed positions.

The safety switch works just like the safety on a power tool or firearm. When engaged, it reinforces the lock, preventing any unintentional blade movement. The beauty of this design is that the safety button is positioned right alongside the button lock, so you can only deploy the blade or release the safety with deliberate intent.

This ensures that every step—from deploying the blade to securing it back into the handle—is controlled and intentional, eliminating the risk of accidental activation. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep your knife exactly where it should be—secure, functional, and ready when you are.

Design Philosophy:

Minimalist Design With Classic Lines:

Minimalism was one of the key factors we wanted to focus on when designing the Locust, paring down the overall shape of the knife to something simple and universal. In the development phase we kept coming back to one singular design, the classic Fairbairn-Sykes British combat knife. We drew a large amount of our inspiration from the distinctive dagger-like shape of the Fairbairn-Sykes as well as several other iconic combat knives of that same era. The Locust has been designed to evoke those same classic lines while still performing as a practical, every-day tool.

The minimalist profile of the Locust offers us an incredible opportunity to add some tasteful embellishment to this design in the form of premium materials. We are offering a variety of accent options to suit every taste. From durable and stylish bare copper, sleek and classy carbon fiber, premium titanium and Fat Carbon, all the way to ultra-premium titanium Damascus, we want the Locust to fit your carry style perfectly!

A Versatile Blade with Premium Steel:

S90V Blade:

A truly exceptional American Made steel. CPM S90V is made by Crucible Industries and features incredibly high corrosion and wear resistance, allowing an S90V blade to take and hold a keen edge for an extended period of time even with heavy use. Thanks to its powder metallurgy structure S90V maintains a fine grain structure with large, durable carbides allowing blades made with it to glide through even the roughest cuts with ease. S90V is a slicing beast that sits at the top with some of the best premium knife steels in the industry. In our own testing we found that it outperformed several of our previous high end steels and we are very happy to offer it on all versions of the Locust.

The classic spear point blade is finely ground to create an acute tip that’s excellent for a wide variety of tasks while the reverse edge of the knife has been ground to give the Locust a distinctively dagger-like appearance. We have intentionally left the reverse edge of the blade unsharpened for safety purposes. We wanted to focus on recreating the iconic blade shape of the Fairbairn-Sykes without making the tip of the knife overly fragile and we feel like this is the perfect blend of functionality and style.

MagnaCut Blade:

The MagnaCut blade in the Magna Dressed Up version of the Locust is designed for those who demand top-tier performance without sacrificing practicality. Developed specifically for cutting tools, MagnaCut is a powder metallurgy steel that offers a rare combination of toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. It has quickly earned a reputation among knife enthusiasts and professionals alike for its ability to hold an edge under demanding conditions while still being easy to maintain.

For those who have no desire to compromise on steel quality, MagnaCut strikes the perfect balance between hardness and toughness, ensuring that your knife performs exceptionally in a wide range of tasks. Its corrosion resistance makes it ideal for everyday carry, while its ability to hold a fine edge ensures that you don't need to worry about frequent sharpening. The sand polish finish elevates the already high-performing steel, giving the blade a refined, smooth surface that's both functional and visually striking.

The Tiers:

Tier 1: Carved Copper

Copper is an incredible material that develops a unique patina over its lifetime and will become a unique piece of art over its lifetime of use. We wanted the first series of the Locust to be stylish and unique with a material that is seen less often in the EDC world. The Carved Copper Locust is built with two solid copper scales that have been carved with a frag grenade pattern. The blade is with a copper colored thumb disc. This version of the Locust is hefty and rugged, a perfect tool for someone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty and wants their knife to age beautifully with use.

Tier 2: Classy Carbon

For those who are looking for a little lux. The Classy Carbon Locust hits all the right notes, it’s stylish, it’s modern, it has just a little bit of “pop”. The classic combination of black and gold along with a contoured carbon fiber scale makes this knife look like something out of a classic Bond movie. The Diamond-Like Carbon(DLC) Coating finish blade rounds out the esthetic making this knife the perfect accompaniment to a nice suit.

The Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) Coating finish blade provides strong scratch resistance!

Tier 3: Suit and Ti

Now we get into the if-you-know-you-know territory. This version of the Locust gets the full EDC treatment, Premium titanium scales and Arctic Storm Fat Carbon scales. This version is a treat for the senses with smooth matte gray titanium and the shimmering blues and blacks of one of our favorite Fat Carbon colors. The titanium scales are ultra durable and hard-wearing while also being lighter than either of the previous models. This version was made to turn heads, like pulling out a stylish pen or flashing a high end watch the Suit and Ti version of the Locust was designed to elevate what you carry.

Tier 4: All Dressed Up

This is it! The ultimate piece for collectors and enthusiasts. We select our titanium Damascus specifically for the bright blue tones and tight patterns that come out of it after the final etching process and the results are nothing short of stunning. The All Dressed Up Locust is pure pocket jewelry, with the beautiful jewel tones of the titanium Damascus and the fully hand polished blade this is an absolute show stopper and absolutely worthy of being our most premium version of the Locust that we are offering.

Tier 5: Magna Dressed Up (Limited)

For those who love the aesthetic appeal of titanium Damascus but seek a more practical blade steel, the Magna Dressed Up version of the Locust is the perfect choice. This series takes the stunning beauty of titanium Damascus and pairs it with MagnaCut steel, known for its exceptional performance and corrosion resistance. The MagnaCut blade is finished with a sand polish, offering both a sleek, refined look and superb edge retention for everyday use.

The Magna Dressed Up combines the elegance of premium materials with the rugged durability you need in a daily carry knife. If you've been drawn to the allure of titanium Damascus but want something that's equally functional and practical, this version strikes the perfect balance. Whether you're using it for everyday tasks or adding it to your collection, the Magna Dressed Up delivers both style and substance.