CRKT Pilar · problems & reliability report

CRKT Pilar problems: what real owners report

14% of 84 verified CRKT Pilarowners don't recommend it — based on real owner comments from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

For balance: 69% recommend it. This page collects the complaints so you know what you're signing up for — read the full owner report for both sides. How we score

Most common complaints

In owners' own words

“My Pilar broke.”
— @VinnyS9143101982 on YouTube
“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”
— Alpharibo on Reddit
“I cannot ever endorse tip down carry. Tip down only is an abomination!”
— @robhimself79 on YouTube
“In cutting performance the pilar isn't even close.”
— @diamondcutsteel on YouTube
“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.”
— r6201 on Reddit
“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.”
— jodaewon on Reddit
“The CRKT pilar 2. It is the thickest knife I own”
— IsaiasRi on Reddit
“I dont know if id ever buy it.”
— @prolessness9699 on YouTube
“i dont recommend it. while aus 8 and 8cr13 are very similar my experience with crkt is that their neat treat is very poor and will hold an edge barely better than a sherpened butter knife”
— kaozer on BladeForums
“I used to have a pilar and really disliked it. The pivot was free spinning making it a pain to disassemble and the edges of the handle were sharp.”
— samelel on Reddit
“a knife maker I know just did a teardown comparison between a clone Pilar and a genuine Pilar guess which one came out on top?”
— NCJohn62 on Reddit
“CRKT have some sweet designs (the Pilar included) but in my experience have a lot of QC issues. And I mean a LOT.”
— Fire Beard on BladeForums

Setup quirks & things to watch for

Not complaints — practical notes from owners that didn't affect the score.

“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😩”
— Esoteric_Derailed on Reddit
Weighing it up? The full report has the other side — what 69% of owners like about it, who it's for, and every sourced quote. Full CRKT Pilar owner report →