SOG 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.

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

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.

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.

Love this knife. Carry it almost every day with me. The case it comes with is also very cool because you don't have to slide your belt onto it before putting it on your pants. The case pops open from the back allowing it to be attached on to anything. The knife is mad a out of a great steel that hold an edge for a long time. I would highly recommend this item to anyone that wants a high quality knife with a cool sheath.

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.

this SOG Pillow is a beautiful knife Made in USA! it will turn heads. when i hold it in my hand it doesn't feel cheap. i can feel the quality. it's well balanced and feels very good wielding it. imo this is a hybird combat/surival/utility knife. it has many uses. i used this knife for a week now and it does everything i wanted it to do. it came w/a good sheath and a belt clip. this setup imo is much more comforable. the knife locks tightly into place when you push it in and it won't fall off. i wore this on my belt w/the knife upright, sideways, and upside down. i ran and walked, i bent over and the knife never fell off the sheath. imo all sheaths should be like this. i wore the knife all day and i didn't even feel i had a knife on me. only issue i have w/the knife is the high price. i would have never bought it if it didn't went on sale and when it did i wasted no time buying it. the Pillar is a good knife and i will put it in my rotation.

Holds a razor-sharp edge, love the knife, the scabbard attachment needed replacing, but hey not being picky very good edc blade for the money.

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