Pillar Fixed Blade Knife- Full Tang 5 Inch S35VN Steel Blade Survival Knife, w/ Linen Micarta Handle and Kydex Sheath, Made in the USA (UF1001-BX)

This is my 4th purchase of this knife. The three previous went to others. SOG has really hit a grand slam with this knife, and it's definitely my all-time favorite fixed blade. First, the most critical aspect: the steel. CPMS35VN is a high-grade steel ideally suited for blades that will see heavy use. It's strong, durable and easy to sharpen. The linen micarta handle is tough as a Marine Corps drill instructor, and the ergonomics of the handle give you a solid and comfortable grip. Some purchasers have stated that the handle's color often is not black, with gray/black being a common descriptor. When micarta becomes dry, the color can appear to fade a bit. To bring out the full black color, simply apply some oil to the handle with a shaving brush or a small paintbrush and then wipe off the excess with a cotton rag. This will restore the handle to a dark black. The thumb notches atop the spine are robust and feel great, and the solid tang simply adds more strength to an already solid piece. The strike pommel is equally solid, and the lanyard loop is ideally positioned. The blade's cutting edge is uniform and very sharp, and the tip is pointed and strong. The stonewashed finish is equally uniform and looks very nice. The knife feels great in the hand and is easy to wield. Some reviewers have criticized the sheath, but I have found it to be very durable. The knife locks securely into the sheath with an audible click that you can also feel. The belt clip is strong and attaches to the sheath using two supplied screws, both of which have to be placed on the same edge of the sheath, either right or left as you choose. While this might not seem to be the most secure method, it works just fine. I recommend using blue Loc-Tite on the threads to help prevent them from working loose and becoming lost. On top of all these great features is the fact that it is American made, and this means a lot to me. There are many good knives of foreign manufacture on the market, but I did not spend 22 years in a branch of the military to subsidize Asian communists. While physical appearance is always secondary to performance, this is a great-looking knife, and for me the five inch blade is an ideal length. Let's also not forget the SOG lifetime warranty and sharpening service. This knife would be at home in your camp, on your hunting trip, on your web gear, or on your person for everyday carry. I know that some see the price as a negative value factor, but I disagree. Sure, it's not a $30 blade but then it's not meant to be. The Pillar best serves one who wants and needs uncompromising quality. There are many knives out there costing a heck of a lot more that are nowhere near as nice. I feel that value is the sum of an item's quality, practicality, and price. In my opinion, the Pillar is an exceptional value, and I recommend it highly.

It’s hard to know where to begin. I have been eyeballing this knife for several weeks due to its perfect size(5 inch blade), its CPM S35VN steel, and attractive blade design. As you might have guessed, I am a knife lover and avid collector, though I tend to shy away from the super pricey ones due to the fact that I would become homeless rather quickly if I purchased all the ones I want. When the price of this one dropped by nearly $40, I was willing to gamble on it since there was no guarantee that the price would remain that low for long. The arrival of the blade was much anticipated and I quickly opened the box upon arrival. I was quite apprehensive about the color of the micarta handle since the product description showed it to be black but several reviews mentioned the coloring to be grey. I was happy to see that for the most part it was black with only a little bit of grey mixed in. The handle feels solid and comfortable, although I have felt better on some less pricey knives. The blade steel is excellent, with a mixture of stonewashed and satin finishing, the look is awesome. The S35VN steel is razor sharp and high quality. As far as the knife itself goes, it’s 5 stars. The sheath, on the other hand, left something to be desired. Despite the fact that it comes with adjustable fittings to accommodate a variety of carrying options, the knife doesn’t snap in place or even sit firmly when sheathed. I found that it wobbled and would probably fall out if carried sideways or blade up. At this price point of a knife normally near $200, I would expect a better quality sheath to match the excellence of the blade. I have included in the provided pictures some of the other knives and sheaths that are of similar size that I have purchased for comparison. None of those blades cost me more than $50. I am still giving this knife a five star rating because the blade is good enough to make up for the shortcomings of the sheath, and it’s easier to find a better sheath at a reasonable price than it is to find such an excellent knife and quality sheath together for a cheaper price. If you’re on the fence about this one, the knife itself is worth it. Just be prepared to find a quality sheath or use the one provided in tip down configuration only as you will not want to drop or lose a knife in this price range.

If you're in the market for an exceptional tactical/hunting knife in the under $200 dollar range, I found two quite similar & excellent choices. Unhindered by budget, common sense or domestic bliss; I bought both for comparison purposes because even after many years; my knife collection isn't quite complete. First to arrive was the SOG Pillar, which is a brand new knife on the market that not a lot of folks have seen yet. This new offering from SOG is USA made and says so on the right side of the blade. Forged from CPM-S35VN premium stainless steel this a highly durable full tang blade that will resist corrosion while keeping it's edge under harsh conditions. The five inch blade has a scalloped upper spine, with heavy duty jimping at the grip for enhanced retention in wet or bloody conditions. The clip point manages to keep a nice width at the tip for prying or piercing without worry of breaking. I like the contoured beveling on the blade, it gives the knife a distinctive look that is all business. The protruding knurled skull popper on the butt (with lanyard hole) says this is a tactical design, yet one that will also serve hunters quite well. I've seen a man field dress a caribou with the knife blade on his Leatherman tool, which proves you can do that if you are experienced, its just that some knives will be better suited for the task than others. The SOG Pillar's blade has just enough belly on it to be a damn decent skinning blade for any hunter of any game. The canvas micarta handles are very comfortable, and the knife feels natural and balanced in the hand, though it is a tad heavy on the back end. The Pillar comes with a kyndex tactical sheath that utilizes a very tight friction fit to do away with safety straps; rendering the knife instantly accessible no matter how or where you rig it. The sheath is molle compatible, and features an adjustable low profile locking mount. Some might shy away in sticker shock but a knife of this quality is worth every cent, especially when you come to depend upon it over time. This is a really great blade. This tale of two knives is continued with my review of the Benchmade fixed Contego 183 reverse tanto: Benchmade - Fixed Contego 183, Plain Reverse Tanto, Satin Finish

I wanted a fixed blade knife primarily for camping but one that could also be used for self defense. After researching and reading numerous online reviews, I narrowed my search down to two SOG knives - the Seal Pup Elite and the Pillar. I chose the more expensive Pillar because it has full tang construction, is made from S35V steel, was available in a satin finish and it is made in the USA. Once delivered I found it’s the perfect size and weight for me, feels balanced in the hand and like other reviewers stated was extremely sharp out of the box. I have to admit I was reluctant to purchase from an Amazon third party vendor. But, after carefully examining the knife and packaging - I’m certain that what I received is a genuine SOG product. More than one reviewer made negative comments about the sheath. I found it to be a quality build that holds the knife very securely. Attached is a photo of the sheathed knife clipped to my backpack. This photo is included primarily to show the size/scale of the knife. I doubt I would ever carry it attached to my pack’s shoulder strap.

Carried this guy for about a year in the Marines. Overall fantastic knife, holds an edge, doesn’t rust too bad, great balance and feel, awesome edge geometry, and it’s very light so it won’t pull on your belt or anything. Comes in a thin compact package so you can fit it on your gear without taking up a lot of space. Great blade I highly recommend for your utility, camping, or tactical rig if you can swing the price. I do have 3 minor complaints, one is the bolts in the grip strip very easily. I needed to get under there because I got salt water on it and noticed it starting to rust under the grips but the bolts immediately stripped so be aware of that. Second quirk is this knife won’t throw sparks on a striker rod due to the stonewash finish you you can imagine my disappointment when I needed to start a fire in the field and it wouldn’t throw (I used the edge to start it though I don’t recommend that), you can rub the finish off the spine to fix this by the way but still cmon SOG they should have thought of that. Third is the sheath, I’ve had it fall out when mounted horizontally or upside down, I would like the assurance of a strap around the grip or a locking mechanism you know, and it does start to rattle over time but it’s not bad.

The knife comes razor sharp from the box. It is made from exceptionally good stainless steel, great for bushcraft, batoning, and a tip almost impossible to break. I’ve put it through it’s paces, and the tip has held up, but don’t get stupid and baton with a rock or something. The handle is micarta, doesn’t slip, and I haven’t noticed any hot spots. I have rather large hands, so it would have been nice to have a bit more bulk in the handle, but it really doesn’t bother me much. Excellent product. Plan on buying another one for my bug out bag. EDIT: my second Pillar was delivered yesterday afternoon. It’s truly a well-rounded knife that will serve campers, bushcrafters (and I suspect tactical purposes). The steel ( CPM S35VN) is one of the newer “super steels”. It exhibits the hardness and stain/rust resistance of typical stainless steel, but is far less likely to have the edge roll/chip or the tip break when under stress. It is definitely a bit more difficult to sharpen than high carbon steel, but with regular maintenance and stropping, the edge holds up for a looooong time between required heavy sharpening. A good high carbon blade is still good to have, but if you’re going to be in an extremely humid environment or are near salt water, having a solid stainless knife like the Pillar is just smart. It can take a beating, holds an edge, and has a durable micarta handle that can tolerate any environment/lots of abuse. Oh, and the spine is a sharp 90 degrees, so it strikes a ferro rod easily. Highly, highly recommend.

The design and execution of this knife and sheath are excellent. After collecting and using many knives, this blade size (4 1/2" - 6") seems to be the best all around knife for any work less than a machete or hatchet is needed for, and in this size and price range, this is my new favorite. The scales have great grip and the finger choil with gimping right behind it is really comfortable. Also the gimping has been rounded off just enough to be very comfortable for extended fine work, yet still provide traction to keep your thumb in place. I've not noticed any hot spots on the handle during use. The grade of steel is a perfect blend for great edge retention, yet not all that hard to put a razor sharp edge back on (and I was pleasantly surprised at the sharpness out of the box when I got it.) The Kydex sheath locks up tight with absolutely no wobble, and while the belt lock is nice and has not failed me, I wish it had more anchor points than the two screws (minor issue). If you carry right hand draw I would suggest moving the belt clip screws to the spine side of the sheath instead of the blade side which is the way mine came and I've had a few instances where the point of a branch tried to wedge the clip from the sheath. Of my extensive collection, this is my favorite! Bravo Zulu, SOG! Build more knives here in the USA, and continue with this grade of steel.

I own the Fallkniven A1 Pro, S1 Pro and F1 Pro.s. All are made with Lam CoS (fantastic) steel and are functional works of art. I keep the A1 and F1 in my trailer when we camp as the A1 is great for working with firewood at the campfire and the F1 for everything else. I keep the S1 in my large B.O.B. as its' size is a good compromise between the A1 and F1. These knives are wonderful but they're heavy. I purchased the Pillar for the B.O.B. I might have to carry as it's a stout, beautiful knife but 25% lighter than the S1 yet similar in blade size (5'), though the SOG has a 1/2" inch choil so the 5" blade has a 4 1/2" sharpened edge. I like the way that big choil allows me to insert my index finger for detail work. I also like the exposed tang/pommel for smashing. The micarta handle is comfortable but nothing flashy. The spine is jimped at the handle, curved to accommodate a baton and sharp enough to throw great sparks off a fire stick, What a great all around bushcraft knife! The SOG also comes with a great sheath that's reversible for left hand use. For a fraction of the price of a Fallkniven you also get CPM S35VN (fantastic) steel that comes razor sharp! Wow, what a deal.

La calidad de la hoja es excelente. Las cachas de micarta y la funda son muy buenas.