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CRKT Pilar

CRKT Pilar

Scored on 84 verified owner verdicts, from 1,008 comments read across 5 communities
TL;DR
A tank-tough budget EDC loved for its compact size, comfortable ergonomics, and Voxnaes design. The big finger choil shortens the cutting edge, and the stock D2 steel can be a bit stubborn to sharpen.

69% of 84 verified owners recommend the CRKT Pilar, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

See the problems 12 owners report →

What 84 owners say
1,008 comments reviewed · scored on the 84 clearest verdicts
69%
Recommend
58 owners
17%
Neutral
14 owners
14%
Don't recommend
12 owners
Source
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
73%
66
Other forums
50%
16
Independent blogsino affiliate links
100%
2
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
YouTubeiowner comments
61%
38
Affiliate blogsipaid commission
100%
3
No clear verdictiSetup, tips & quirks
1

Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 69%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.

The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. YouTube and Affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.

What owners like
  • Outstanding value, a tough workhorse for the low price · 22 · 26%
  • Comfortable, ergonomic grip that fills the hand · 12 · 14%
  • Beloved Voxnaes design and blade shape · 9 · 11%
  • Satisfying, smooth, flickable deploy action · 7 · 8%
  • Cheap enough to beat on and not worry about · 7 · 8%
What owners flag
  • QC issues and low-end materials (Teflon washers, 8Cr steel) · 6 · 7%
  • Blade ground too thick behind the edge · 6 · 7%
Who it's for
A great fit if
  • EDC carriers wanting a cheap, replaceable beater
  • Tradespeople and factory workers needing a tough cutter
  • Fans of the ergonomic Voxnaes design and comfy grip
  • Smaller hands wanting a compact pocket knife
Look elsewhere if
  • Anyone wanting a thin slicer, the blade runs thick
  • Buyers expecting flawless fit, finish and QC
  • Those needing lasting edge from the 8Cr version

Synthesized from what CRKT Pilar owners say — not a spec sheet.

How buyers rate it elsewhere

Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.

Top quotes, sourced

1,008 reviewed · 125 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube— neutral

Own both, love both, but the tuff lite i have abused for years now and has held up great so I think it's a little better.

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

My Pilar broke.

Reddit▲ recommend

CRKT Pilar is my fave but mine has strong detente and isn’t that fidgety if you care about that. And it comes in copper which is nice.

Reddit▲ recommend

Since I bought it, it has been my dominant/ primary EDC knife … honestly my #1 knife I’ve ever owned!!

Reddit— neutral

I carry a CRKT Pilar that I paid $20 for. It replaced my Kershaw Leek that I paid $25 for.

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

The Pilar came with a stripped screw so I can’t take it apart, blade stock was way too thick for my preference, uneven grind, a little too heavy, and mine isn’t able to be flicked open

Reddit— neutral

The CRKT Pilar is pretty indestructible, but I don’t carry it much for some reason.

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

I cannot ever endorse tip down carry. Tip down only is an abomination!

Reddit▲ recommend

CRKT Pilar, perfect size to carry and still be useful without getting in the way.

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

In cutting performance the pilar isn't even close.

Reddit▲ recommend

My favorite knife still is the inexpensive CRKT Pilar in D2 with copper scale. The ergonomics along with the fact I can cut, pry, screw & not think twice. The blade can take a beating.

Reddit— neutral

it’s a Crkt Pilar with 8Cr13MoV steel so I don’t expect it to hold an edge for a very long time.

YouTube— neutral

Stainless steel handle of Pilar is slick.

Reddit▲ recommend

If the CRKT Pilar III in D2 is still available for >$50, that thing is fantastic

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I wouldnt go for CRKT PIlar on the picture .. it has good ergonomy (Voxnaes design) but being CRKT leaves a lot to be desired in materials, action is not good, price is higher than it should be.

Reddit— neutral

CRKT Pilar 3. Perfect knife for me. I love everything about the form factor. And it’s cheap enough that it’s replaceable if something were to happen to it.

Reddit▲ recommend

Mines probably the crkt Pilar!!! I absolutely love that thing

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I have a CRKT Pilar 3 that sliced my thumb open while closed. The blade sits so far back in the scales that it caught my thumb.

Reddit— neutral

My EDC is a CRKT Pilar. I found them at Sportsmans Warehouse last year on clearance for $17. So I bought 10. If I lose it/ gets stolen/ break it. Who cares. I have more. For my needs it gets the job done.

Reddit▲ recommend

CRKT Pilar 3. People tend to ignore everything CRKT does nowadays in the budget segment but it slaps.

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

The CRKT pilar 2. It is the thickest knife I own

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

I dont know if id ever buy it.

Reddit— neutral

I like my Copper CRKT Pilar at the moment. It's not the best quality knife I own, but it does more than what I need from my knives, and I like how it looks.

Reddit▲ recommend

Also adding the CRKT Pilar to this list. Similar form factor to the Squid but *much* better ergos IMO

Showing 124 of 125

Common problems & things to know

Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.

Redditⓘ good to know

the CRKT Pilar (because the Petit is a little bit thick behind the edge). Pilar has really good ergos, but a really, really overly thick blade😩