CJRB Is Coming for the CEO with This Sleek, Super-Affordable Gentleman’s Knife

The streamlined flipper riffs on the renowned Blade Show winner while bringing its own unique style to your breast pocket.

Black metal pen clipped to the pocket of a gray textured blazer worn over a white shirt.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published December 19, 2025

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Updated January 6, 2026

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Way back in 2019, a little knife made big headlines at Blade Show with its unique silhouette and disruptive design.

Designed by Richard Rodgers for CRKT, the super-slim CEO was in the mix for “Knife of the Year” and ultimately came away with “Best Buy,” spawning several spinoffs CRKT still sells.

Black folding knife with gold pivot, black click pen, and black USB flash drive on black textured surface. — As you can see here, the handle of the Lanky is similar in size and shape to your average ballpoint pen.

But now it’s (nearly the end of) 2025, high time for a fresh take on a lean, mean gentleman’s knife.

Answering the call is CJRB’s fittingly named Lanky, which balances CEO vibes with its own unique aesthetic and fresh functionality.

Slim keeper

The Lanky is the brainchild of Jake Diaz, a South Australia-based industrial (and pocket knife) designer who previously created the Fugly for CJRB.

That’s a much different knife than this new one, which is specifically designed to ride in the chest pocket of a dress shirt or the breast pocket of a suit jacket.

Black folding knife with a sharp pointed blade and a gold thumb stud on a gray textured surface. — Made of AR-RPM9, the wharncliffe blade measure a generous 3.58 inches long.

With its thin silhouette, closed length of 4.53 inches and weight of just 1.36 ounces, it can essentially mimic a pen, meaning the reversible clip can hang over the pocket without causing the whole thing to wilt as it might with a traditional pocket knife.

Unlike the CEO, that clip is mounted on the tail end of the aluminum handle, rather than up near the pivot point, which should make it a bit more pleasant to actually use.

Three slim folding knives with straight-edged silver blades and handles in black, bronze, and teal colors on a dark surface. — In addition to the black PVD-coated blade and black handle, the Lanky is also available with a sand-polished blade and champagne or blue handle.

Another big departure from the Blade Show darling regards the business end’s shape, size and material. The Lanky stands out here, courtesy of a 3.58-inch wharncliffe blade made of AR-RPM9.

The budget-friendly proprietary steel of CJRB’s parent company, Artisan Cutlery, this material is notably balanced and easy to sharpen while carrying solid edge retention and corrosion resistance.

Open and shut case

Regarding functionality, from the looks of an Instagram clip posted by Diaz, the Lanky is pretty buttery.

It can be deployed two ways, via the thumb stud on the blade, just above the logo, or using the front flipper jutting out the top.

Black folding knife with textured handle and "HAPPY AS LARRY." text near the blade pivot. — In case you’re wondering, Happy as Larry is the whimsical name of Diaz’s design brand, which has the cheeky slogan: “I don’t do this because it’s easy, I do this because I thought it would be.”

Considering the former is not ambidextrous, the latter will be a godsend for the lefthanded among us.

In any case, a ceramic ball bearing ensures swift, smooth deployment, with the blade held in place by a sturdy liner lock.

Hand holding a black folding knife with a gold pivot cutting a wood shaving from a stick outdoors. — Though its looks indicate it is probably most at home on a desk, the Lanky’s tough materials and robust construction do qualify it for some level of rugged outdoor use.

And though it is a bit, you know, skinnier than the average EDC blade, the gentleman’s knife looks are absolutely on point, as are the chops for gentlemanly everyday tasks.

You know, like opening letters and boxes, slicing an apple or accidentally carving up your desk because you mistook your knife for a pen.

Availability and pricing

The CJRB Lanky is available now for $50.

Black folding knife with a slim handle and a sharp, pointed blade partially serrated near the base.

CJRB Lanky

This sleek gentleman’s knife echoes CRKT’s award-winning CEO while bringing its own unique energy to the table. Highlights include a 3.58-inch wharncliffe blade made of AR-RPM9 steel, an aluminum handle and a 1.36-ounce total weight, enabling the steel clip to hang over the edge of a suit jacket’s breast pocket without causing the whole thing to wilt as it might with a traditional pocket knife.

$50 at CJRB Cutlery

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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