CJRB Latitude Family Guide: Top Liner Lock, Glow-in-the-Dark Handles & Every Variant

The CJRB Latitude lineup in one paragraph

The CJRB Latitude (model J1975) is a 3.47-inch AR-RPM9 folder built around two things CJRB does not do on every model: a top liner lock and glow-in-the-dark handle options. The standard G10 versions run $54.99, the glow-in-the-dark G10 and micarta editions run $69.99, and across seven currently available variants the Latitude gives you a choice of blade finish, handle texture, and scale material — plus one detail that makes it genuinely easy to find in the dark. It is one of the most complete everyday folders CJRB sells right now, and it has not gotten anywhere near the attention of the Pyrite family.

Specs that stay the same across the family

Before we break down variants, here is what every Latitude shares:

The blade is a workmanlike drop point with a flat grind and a fairly robust 3.7 mm of stock — cut for slicing, not stabbing, with enough spine behind it for normal daily chores. AR-RPM9 is the steel CJRB uses across its value line: a powder-metallurgy stainless with around 18% chromium, it resists corrosion well, sharpens easily, and holds an edge respectably for the price. The steel is heat-treated to 59-61 HRC here, and the brand's own AR-RPM9 explainer is worth a bookmark if you want the full metallurgy.

What is a top liner lock?

Most liner locks cut the lock bar out of the liner on the side of the handle, and you release them by pressing the exposed liner through a cutout in the scale. The Latitude uses a top liner lock instead: the locking liner sits along the upper edge of the handle, and you disengage it by pressing the bar at the top of the knife. It is the same concept Vosteed helped popularize on models like the Kroc, and it keeps the sides of the handle clean while giving you a very natural one-hand close — your thumb lands on top of the handle and presses down.

If the naming is new to you, our button lock vs clutch lock vs top liner lock comparison explains how the mechanism relates to its cousins, and the Vosteed Kroc family guide shows a sibling implementation. One practical note: top liner locks generally feel snappy and easy to close one-handed, and the Latitude is no exception — the lock bar has good tension out of the box, with none of the mushiness you sometimes feel on budget liner locks.

The G10 tier: four takes on the same handle ($54.99)

The base Latitude is a black/G10 knife, but CJRB gives you four distinct textures and finishes at the same $54.99 price:

• Black G10, stonewash blade (J1975-BK) — the standard-bearer. Stonewashed AR-RPM9, black G10, clean and understated. At 120 g / 4.23 oz, this is the reference Latitude.
• Green G10, black PVD blade (J1975-BGN) — same weight and feel, but the black-coated blade changes the character completely. Green and black is a classic outdoors palette.
• Purple CNC-textured G10, stonewash blade (J1975-PU) — the scales get a machined geometric texture that adds grip and a lot more personality than flat G10. One of the most distinctive-looking budget folders in the lineup.
• Black CNC-textured G10, black PVD blade (J1975-BBK) — the textured take on the all-black build. If you like the purple version's texture but want something less colorful, this is the one.

The CNC-textured scales make a real difference in the hand: the machined pattern gives your fingers something to bite into that smooth G10 lacks, and it changes the character of the knife more than you would expect from a handle tweak. Our handle materials guide explains why G10 remains the default for good reason.

The lightweight exclusive: 3D-textured G10 ($54.99)

One more $54.99 variant deserves its own callout: the black PVD 3D-textured G10 Latitude (J1975-NBK). This is the outlier of the family at 102 g / 3.6 oz — nearly 20 g lighter than the standard G10 versions — thanks to thinner, sculpted scales with a three-dimensional surface. If you weigh your knives and want the Latitude that disappears on a belt or in a pocket, this is the one. It carries an exclusive tag in the current lineup, which means stock comes and goes; if you see it, it is worth grabbing.

The glow-in-the-dark tier ($69.99)

Here is the Latitude's party piece. Two variants use glow-in-the-dark material in the handles:

• Glow-in-the-dark G10, stonewash blade (J1975-GD) — 116 g / 4.09 oz. The standard G10 recipe with photoluminescent pigment mixed in.
• Glow-in-the-dark micarta, black PVD blade (J1975-GDBN) — 112 g / 3.95 oz. Same glow effect in a micarta build with the darker coated blade.

Charge them under a light for a few minutes and the scales throw a soft green glow that lasts for a while in the dark — genuinely useful when you drop the knife in a bag, on a nightstand, or in the bottom of a backpack, and a fun detail that sets the Latitude apart from every other CJRB folder in the catalog. These two also carry exclusive tags, and at $69.99 they cost $15 more than the standard G10 versions for the glow and the material change. Whether that premium is worth it depends on how often you dig around in the dark — for campers, night-shift workers, and anyone who keeps a knife in a gear bag, it earns its keep.

For the record, glow-in-the-dark material does not change handle durability in any meaningful way; it is the same G10 or micarta base with added pigment. And if you want to compare how micarta and G10 feel side by side, the CJRB buying guide covers both across the wider lineup.

What about the titanium Latitude?

Earlier exclusive runs of the Latitude also included a titanium version with a 154CM blade. Those were limited, and they sell through quickly — if you see one on the secondary market or a dealer restock, it is the premium expression of the same platform. For the everyday buyer, the G10 and glow families are where the action is.

Which Latitude should you buy?

• Everyday default: the black G10 stonewash (J1975-BK) at $54.99. It does everything, matches everything, and is the best value in the family.
• Outdoorsy look: green G10 with the black PVD blade (J1975-BGN) — green scales, dark blade, zero glare.
• Textured grip: purple or black CNC-textured G10. Same price as standard, noticeably better traction.
• Lightest carry: the 3D-textured G10 exclusive (J1975-NBK) at 102 g.
• Find-it-in-the-dark: either glow variant at $69.99. The micarta one (J1975-GDBN) pairs the glow with a black PVD blade for the stealthiest look of the two.
• A CJRB with different lock DNA: if the top liner lock appeals, compare it with CJRB's button lock and crossbar models in our CJRB button lock guide and CJRB crossbar lock roundup — the same brand, three different mechanisms.

If the 3.47-inch blade is bigger than you want, the CJRB pocket-size lineup has plenty of company: the Pyrite family guide covers the button lock side of the brand, and the CJRB budget guide above is the best starting point for the catalog as a whole.

Verdict

The Latitude is CJRB at its most practical: a proven steel, a robust flat-ground drop point, a lock type you rarely see from the brand, and a handle lineup that runs from plain black G10 to glow-in-the-dark micarta. Nothing about it is exotic, and that is the point — at $54.99 to $69.99 it delivers a complete everyday folder with more real choices than knives twice the price. The glow-in-the-dark variants are the headline, but even the plain black version is one of the best-value 3.5-inch carries CJRB sells today.

Shop the lineup: Black G10 · Green G10 · Purple CNC G10 · Black CNC G10 · 3D-textured G10 · Glow G10 · Glow micarta

You can see the current stock on the Latitude glow G10 product page, dig into the steel in the brand's AR-RPM9 steel article, and read up on the scale material on Wikipedia's G-10 page.

FAQ

What is the CJRB Latitude?

The CJRB Latitude (J1975) is a 3.47-inch AR-RPM9 folding knife with a top liner lock and thumb stud opening. It is available in several G10 configurations starting at $54.99, including glow-in-the-dark G10 and micarta editions at $69.99.

Is the CJRB Latitude a good EDC knife?

Yes. It combines a corrosion-resistant AR-RPM9 blade hardened to 59-61 HRC, ceramic bearings, and a snappy top liner lock in a sub-$70 package. The flat-ground 3.47-inch drop point handles normal everyday cutting comfortably, and the textured and glow-in-the-dark handle options add genuine variety.

What steel is used in the CJRB Latitude?

All standard Latitude variants use AR-RPM9 powder-metallurgy stainless steel. Limited titanium versions used 154CM instead.

Does the CJRB Latitude glow in the dark?

Two variants do: the glow-in-the-dark G10 (J1975-GD, stonewash blade) and the glow-in-the-dark micarta (J1975-GDBN, black PVD blade). Both are $69.99 and use photoluminescent material that charges under light and glows in darkness.

How much does the CJRB Latitude weigh?

Standard G10 versions weigh about 120 g (4.23 oz), the glow G10 is 116 g, glow micarta is 112 g, and the 3D-textured G10 exclusive is the lightest at 102 g (3.6 oz).

Where can I buy the CJRB Latitude?

The Latitude is currently stocked at Artisan Cutlery's store (link above), which carries the G10, CNC-textured, 3D-textured, and glow-in-the-dark variants. The titanium exclusive appears only in limited runs.