What Is the CJRB Doubletap?
The CJRB Doubletap is the brand's biggest Recoil Lock folder: a 3.86-inch D2 drop point on a flat grind, with thumb studs that pull double duty as the lock release. It's the knife CJRB builds for people who want a full-size, hard-use everyday carry with a crossbar-style lock you can operate with gloves on.
We covered the mechanism itself in our Recoil Lock explainer, but the Doubletap deserves its own guide because CJRB sells it in more handle configurations than almost anything else in the lineup: G10 in three colors, carbon fiber, 7075-T6 aluminum, and a crystal titanium flagship with an upgraded steel. Prices run from $69.99 to $300 — a huge spread for what is technically the same platform.
Recoil Lock V2: The Lock That Defines the Doubletap
Recoil Lock V2 is CJRB and Artisan Cutlery's take on the crossbar-style lock. A spring-loaded bar travels back and forth inside the handle, perpendicular to the blade. The thumb studs on both sides of the handle are attached to that bar — that's why the Doubletap is sold as a "thumb stud & Recoil Lock" knife. The studs aren't just for opening; they're the lock release.
Pinch both studs and pull toward the rear: the bar slides back, clears the notch on the blade tang, and the blade drops shut on ceramic ball bearings. Let go, and the spring drives the bar forward — the "recoil" — locking the blade again. Because the bar engages both sides of the tang, lock-up feels symmetric, and your fingers never sit in the blade path while closing. If you're new to the family, our crossbar lock explainer walks through how these locks work, and we've compared which folding knife lock is strongest if you want the physics behind the different designs.
What separates the Doubletap from CJRB's other Recoil Lock knives is size. The Hectare, Prado, and Maximal are compact to mid-size carries; the Doubletap goes the other direction, with a 9.1-inch (230mm) overall length and a 5.2-inch (132mm) closed length. This is a big knife.
The Blade: 3.86 Inches of D2
Every Doubletap except the crystal titanium flagship uses D2 tool steel, heat-treated to HRC 59-61. D2 is a semi-stainless with noticeably better edge retention than budget stainless steels like 8Cr13MoV or 9Cr18MoV, which is why it's a favorite for hard-use budget folders. The trade-off is corrosion: it has enough chromium to resist light moisture, but in humid climates you'll want to wipe it down after heavy use.
Knife Steel Nerds' steel ratings{:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"} place D2 mid-pack on edge retention — well ahead of the budget stainlesses, a step behind premium powder steels like S35VN. For a $70 knife, that's a strong value position, and it pairs well with the Doubletap's 0.19-inch (4.8mm) blade stock: a thick, flat-ground drop point that's built for real cutting rather than slicing competitions. We rounded up more models in the same steel in our best D2 budget knives guide.
Blade finish depends on the handle you pick: black PVD coating on the black, desert, and carbon fiber versions; stonewash on the blue G10 and the gray aluminum version. Both finishes resist fingerprints and light scratches well.
Every Doubletap Variant, Compared
The G10 Trio — $69.99
The entry point, and where most buyers start: three G10 handle colors at the same price. The blue G10 version gets a stonewashed blade, while the black and desert versions ship with black PVD. All three weigh 8.5oz (241g) and carry a steel pocket clip. G10 is grippy, durable, and texture-agnostic — it works wet or dry, which suits the Doubletap's outdoor-leaning personality.
Carbon Fiber — $74.99
The carbon fiber Doubletap costs five dollars more and swaps the G10 scales for carbon fiber over black PVD. It's the dressiest of the standard variants — carbon fiber reads more "EDC enthusiast" than "work site" — though it's worth noting the weight doesn't drop much: 8.64oz (245g). The blade, lock, and hardware are identical to the G10 trio. Pick this one if the look matters more than shaving a few grams.
7075-T6 Aluminum — $79.99–$80
Three aluminum versions sit just above the carbon fiber: a gray stonewash-handled edition at $79.99, plus gray and green 7075-T6 aluminum models at $80. Aerospace-grade 7075-T6 is stiffer than the G10 and gives the handle a machined, industrial feel. Again, the spec sheet stays the same — 3.86-inch D2, Recoil Lock V2, ceramic bearings, 8.64oz. If you like metal handles and a bit more structure in hand, the aluminum versions are the pick.
Artisan Cutlery Doubletap — $93.33
Artisan Cutlery, CJRB's sister brand, sells the same 3.86-inch D2 platform as the Artisan Cutlery Doubletap (1888P) with a G10 handle and stonewash/black PVD blade. It carries a prototype-model lineage and a slightly higher price tag. If you already own Artisan knives and want the Recoil Lock experience in a matching collection, or you simply prefer the Artisan badge, this is the same knife with different branding.
Crystal Titanium + CPM S35VN — $300
The outlier. The crystal titanium Doubletap keeps the 3.86-inch blade length but upgrades to a CPM S35VN blade and a crystal titanium handle. S35VN is a powder-metallurgy stainless with better corrosion resistance and toughness than D2, and crystal titanium is a showpiece material that catches light in a way G10 never will. At $300 it's a different class of purchase — a collector's take on a budget platform rather than a value pick. For most buyers, the G10 trio is the smarter spend; this one is for people who want the Doubletap silhouette in premium materials.
The Doubletap in Hand
Because every variant shares the same chassis, the feel in hand is consistent across the lineup: a wide, flat-grind blade that gives you plenty of cutting edge, and a handle with room for a full four-finger grip even with gloves. The 0.19-inch blade stock and 8.5oz-plus weight make it a deliberate, planted cutter rather than a quick fidget knife — this is a tool you grip, not a knife you flip open one-handed for fun. That's not a criticism; it's positioning. CJRB built the Doubletap for users who wanted the Recoil Lock's ambidextrous, gloved-hand-friendly release on a bigger blade than the compact models offered.
The steel pocket clip rides tip-up, and the ceramic ball bearing pivot gives the blade a smooth, controlled drop once the lock bar clears the tang. If you've handled other crossbar-lock knives, the Doubletap's closing motion will feel familiar: pinch the studs, let the blade fall, ease it shut. The action is consistent across the G10, carbon fiber, and aluminum versions — the handle material changes the look and grip texture, not the mechanics.
Specs at a Glance
| Variant | Handle | Blade | Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue G10 | G10 | D2, stonewash | $69.99 | 8.5oz |
| Black G10 | G10 | D2, black PVD | $69.99 | 8.5oz |
| Desert G10 | G10 | D2, black PVD | $69.99 | 8.5oz |
| Carbon Fiber | CF | D2, black PVD | $74.99 | 8.64oz |
| Gray Stonewash Aluminum | 7075-T6 | D2, stonewash | $79.99 | 8.64oz |
| Gray Aluminum | 7075-T6 | D2, black PVD | $80 | 8.64oz |
| Green Aluminum | 7075-T6 | D2, black PVD | $80 | 8.64oz |
| Artisan Doubletap | G10 | D2, stonewash/PVD | $93.33 | ~8.5oz |
| Crystal Titanium | Titanium | CPM S35VN | $300 | — |
All variants share: 3.86-inch (98mm) blade, 0.19-inch (4.8mm) stock, flat grind, drop point, HRC 59-61, Recoil Lock V2, ceramic ball bearing pivot, 9.1-inch overall length, 5.2-inch closed length.
Which Doubletap Should You Buy?
- First Doubletap, best value: the blue G10 at $69.99 — the whole platform for the lowest price.
- Dressier everyday carry: the carbon fiber version at $74.99.
- Metal-handle preference: the green or gray 7075-T6 aluminum at $80.
- Artisan collection: the Artisan Cutlery Doubletap at $93.33.
- Premium materials: the crystal titanium S35VN at $300.
One honest caveat: the Doubletap is heavy. Eight and a half ounces is a lot of knife in the pocket, and the 5.2-inch closed length means it needs real estate. This is not a fifth-pocket knife — it's a belt-adjacent, hard-use folder for days when you actually use it. If you want the Recoil Lock in a lighter, more pocket-friendly package, CJRB's compact crossbar models in our best CJRB crossbar lock knives roundup are the better daily companion, and the CJRB buying guide covers the rest of the brand's lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lock does the CJRB Doubletap use? The Doubletap uses Recoil Lock V2, CJRB and Artisan Cutlery's crossbar-style lock. The thumb studs attach to the spring-loaded lock bar, so you pull both studs back to release the blade and let go to lock it.
Is the CJRB Doubletap a good knife for daily carry? It's a capable, hard-use folder, but at 8.5oz and 5.2 inches closed it's on the large side for everyday pocket carry. It suits users who want a full-size Recoil Lock knife and don't mind the weight.
What steel is the CJRB Doubletap? Standard variants use D2 tool steel at HRC 59-61. The crystal titanium Doubletap uses CPM S35VN.
How much does the CJRB Doubletap cost? The G10 versions are $69.99, carbon fiber is $74.99, aluminum versions are $79.99-$80, the Artisan Cutlery Doubletap is $93.33, and the crystal titanium S35VN version is $300.
Does the Doubletap have a thumb stud opener or a flipper? It opens via thumb studs — the same studs that release the Recoil Lock. There's no flipper tab on the Doubletap.
Is D2 steel stainless? D2 is semi-stainless. It resists light moisture but can develop patina or rust spots in humid conditions, so wiping the blade down after use is a good habit.