SOGPillar 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)

A fine addition for my collection.

Nothing not to like about about this knife. Feels perfect in the hand; very nice and sturdy clip point blade; top quality all around.Not “inexpensive” by any means, but considering the above I consider it quite worth it. Others may argue that there are other products that are comparable or better for the same or less money, and I am no expert, neither will I argue or debate that. I too considered some others, but at the end of a couple of days of looking, reading reviews, etc. I decided on this one and am happy with that in every way.Naturally it is rather large, and as such probably not the best suited for EDC unless your line of work lends well towards that. I used to do tree work, and it is just the ticket for that, but now I’m a software engineer and showing up at the office with this on my belt might raise a few eyebrows…LOL. I do own several other top quality smaller knives (both fixed blade and folding) that are better suited for discreet and/or (mostly) concealed EDC.To be honest I cook a lot and got this one mostly for kitchen food preparation use as I didn’t have a good cooks knife and my chef’s knife is kinda large for many everyday kitchen tasks. This one is absolutely perfect for that, and God forbid there should be a home invasion while I’m making salad, well, you know..;o)I found the belt clip to sheath mounting arrangement to be somewhat puzzling what with it designed to use only 2 screws and mounting points. It would have been nice if they included some instructions towards optimal mounting for standard blade down vertical belt carry. It’s a little weird as there are only 2 screws and in any case the mount winds up off center with respect to the sheath. (I had expected 4 screws/mounting points and centered alignment). For others convenience I have attached a photo depicting the “optimal” attachment for that carry option. (Well, “optimal” according to the folks at SOG, as I harvested the photo from their own product release YouTube video…

I wrote the following review on 23 April 2022. Since that time I bought two more as gifts. The following review still holds true, plus a couple additional comments. SOG has really hit a grand slam with this knife. It is spectacular. 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, sturdy and comfortable grip. The thumb notches atop the spine are robust and feel great. The solid tang simply adds more strength to an already solid piece. The glass-breaker on the butt is equally solid and the lanyard loop hole is ideally positioned. The edge is quite sharp and the tip is pointed and strong. The stonewashed finish is 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 into the sheath with a secure and audible click, and the belt attachment has proven itself to be strong and reliable. On top of all these great features is the fact that it is American made, and this means a lot to me. I know that 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. Let's not forget the SOG lifetime warranty and sharpening service. You can't beat this. This knife would be at home in your camp, on your hunting trip, on your web gear, or on your person for everyday carry. Dollar for dollar, the SOG Pillar is a 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.