Real owners lean toward the Kershaw Leek: 83% of 184 owners recommend it, vs 69% of 84 for the CRKT Pilar.
Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score
Owners of both budget folders call them outstanding value and a comfortable, satisfying everyday carry. Kershaw Leek owners love how thin, light and discreet it is and its fun spring-assisted opening, but a recurring thread faults a paper-thin tip that snaps under prying, an assisted mechanism or safety that can wear out, a weak clip that lets it slip and get lost, and mediocre steel that doesn't hold an edge long. CRKT Pilar owners describe a tank-tough workhorse cheap enough to beat on, with a grip that fills the hand and a beloved Voxnaes design, though they flag QC issues and low-end materials like Teflon washers and 8Cr steel, plus a blade ground too thick behind the edge to slice thin. Buyers wanting a slim, light, discreet knife for light everyday tasks lean Leek, accepting its fragile tip; tradespeople and hard users wanting a rugged, comfortable beater they won't worry about lean Pilar, accepting its thick grind and rough QC. The choice hinges on whether thin, discreet lightness or tough, worry-free durability matters more for how the knife will be used.
“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.”— reesa447 on Reddit
“Since I bought it, it has been my dominant/ primary EDC knife … honestly my #1 knife I’ve ever owned!!”— OG-BigPapa-KJ on Reddit
“My Pilar broke.”— @VinnyS9143101982 on YouTube
“ill take the leek all day. The safety is an awesome touch, the spring assist is quick and never opens in my pocket by accident whereas the blur did a few times and i quite enjoy the slightly smaller size of it”— @Beamer-Fonz on YouTube
“The safety slider was actually what sold it for me.”— @bmljenny on YouTube
“the torsion bar in a assisted knife will wear out after awhile and it won’t have enough force to fully flip open and lock in place, that’s what happened to my Kershaw leek.”— boglimaniac on Reddit
Owners of both budget folders call them outstanding value and a comfortable, satisfying everyday carry. Kershaw Leek owners love how thin, light and discreet it is and its fun spring-assisted opening, but a recurring thread faults a paper-thin tip that snaps under prying, an assisted mechanism or safety that can wear out, a weak clip that lets it slip and get lost, and mediocre steel that doesn't hold an edge long. CRKT Pilar owners describe a tank-tough workhorse cheap enough to beat on, with a grip that fills the hand and a beloved Voxnaes design, though they flag QC issues and low-end materials like Teflon washers and 8Cr steel, plus a blade ground too thick behind the edge to slice thin. Buyers wanting a slim, light, discreet knife for light everyday tasks lean Leek, accepting its fragile tip; tradespeople and hard users wanting a rugged, comfortable beater they won't worry about lean Pilar, accepting its thick grind and rough QC. The choice hinges on whether thin, discreet lightness or tough, worry-free durability matters more for how the knife will be used.
Owners point the CRKT Pilar at eDC carriers wanting a cheap, replaceable beater, and tradespeople and factory workers needing a tough cutter.
Owners point the Kershaw Leek at office and dress-clothes carriers wanting a thin, discreet knife, and eDC users prioritizing lightweight one-hand assisted opening.
The most-cited downside of the CRKT Pilar is qC issues and low-end materials (Teflon washers, 8Cr steel). For the Kershaw Leek, it's thin tip chips or snaps off easily.