Who better to design a knife than someone who’s been exposed to them all? For many, David C. Andersen is a household name when it comes to knives. The face of KnifeCenter’s YouTube page, Andersen has a massive amount of knowledge and opinions that he won’t shy from sharing.
Culled from his wealth of knowledge and the traits he looks for most in a reliable outdoor knife, the Maximal from CJRB isn’t Andersen’s first knife, but it is the one garnering much of the attention in the outdoor and EDC spaces. Robust yet compact, the Maximal is designed to carry small but act big.
After a few months of carrying it with me, I’ve found its most unique feature is the shape of its handle, which fills your hand and points the blade down. This creates a unique experience that decreases the amount of effort you need to put into certain tasks. It also increases the Maximal’s ease of use and joy in using, overall.
In short: Where some knives rely on their materials to create a great experience, the CJRB Maximal relies on incredible ergonomics and pairs them with sought-after materials. The result is an affordable knife that you can use anywhere you need a reliable knife.
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The arcing ergonomics and overall shape allow you to work smart, not hard -
AR-RPM is a really great working steel -
The way the knife tucks into your palm is unique and welcomed
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Adding a lanyard can take away from the way the knife tucks into your palm
CJRB Maximal Knife Review
Design & Features
The Maximal is a medium-sized folding knife crafted from affordable, yet quality materials. It features an AR-RPM9 drop-point blade, Micarta handle scales, a cross-bar lock for superior lock-up, and a deep-carry pocket clip.
AR-RPM9 steel has come under scrutiny due to (false) claims about its composition and overall performance. However, for the sake of this review, I will testify that it is a highly corrosion-resistant steel with excellent edge retention. It’s best compared to 9Cr18MoV, which we see in a lot of budget-friendly knives. The choice to pair it here with Micarta creates a durable, dependable knife for all occasions and environments.
Starting at the butt, the Maximal’s handle fills your palm. Then it arcs and tapers to put your thumb and fingers in a position that angles downward above the pivot. This leaves you in the valley of the spine, as the blade ramps up in front of your thumb, just to dive back down into its drop point shape.
Without all of its ergonomic enhancements in the handle, you would clearly see that from the tail to the tip, the whole knife follows an arc in both the spine and belly.
This is what you want in a knife you’re going to carry in the outdoors. It aids in slicing and general maneuvering. However, Andersen found a way to enhance those properties, which amplifies its overall appeal.
First Impressions
When they were putting me together on the assembly line, they decided to give me wide, meaty paws. So, knives with swollen handles like the Maximal are always interesting to deal with. They either fit well or they don’t. Thankfully, the Maximal does. In fact, it tucks into my palm really well.
This type of grip will come in handy in doing repetitive tasks, as the butt is pushed back into the meat of my hand. It makes the knife stationary, allowing it to move and pivot on an axis.
Overall, I like the size and arcing shape of this knife. I also like Andersen’s choice to go with Micarta and AR-RPM9. Despite some opinions against it, the AR-RPM9 steel has performed really well for its price. Out in the woods or in a pinch, that’s what matters.
In the Field
Outdoors, the Maximal proved a valuable task master. I dug into pulpy wood to break up chunks for a fire. I made a handful of feather sticks for when it came time to get that fire going. And I was able to carve a great divot in a piece of wood for a bow drill.
I am confident you could use this knife to make a shelter, and I kind of wish I did.
Even after having the knife tucked into my palm while I walked a woody mile, scooping bits of wood out of the bow divet, my hand wasn’t red, sore, or bothered in the least. It tucks in and goes to work.
That said, where the Maximal could be a great EDC knife, it leans more toward the outdoors due to its advanced ergonomics. I am not saying you can’t or shouldn’t carry it around all the time. I’m urging you to carry it hiking, camping, rafting, and wandering. You’ll get a lot from it in those settings.
Conclusion: Who’s It For?
I was happy to get as much time with the Maximal as I did. I was also happy to break up that time because it allowed me to look forward to the next time. The fact is, I never really have a plan for a knife. I put it in my pocket and a lot of what I am testing it for occurs at the moment.
I had those same situations with this knife, but I also wanted to see how well it would perform in tasks that maybe would be more common to a Scout or survivalist.
With its size, materials, and modest price, it’s a great knife for folks spending a lot of time outdoors. It’s a bomber knife and will require minimal maintenance over time. This knife could have easily been a liner lock knife, but going with the crossbar kicks up the fidget factor, as well as its dependability. I look forward to whatever Andersen throws at us next.
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