EDC Review: CRKT Pilar III (D2 Version)

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The CRKT Pilar III is the third iteration of the popular Pilar knives designed by Jesper Voxnaes. Here is a fun fact — Did you know that Jesper Voxnaes named the CRKT Pilar after Ernest Hemingway’s beloved boat? If you did not, now you know. Even though the original CRKT Pilar has more visual cues from Hemingway’s vessel, the CRKT Pilar III retains the moniker. On looks alone, the Pilar III looks sleeker and more streamlined than the original. Will the CRKT Pilar III live up to its name? Or will it make you abandon the ship?

CRKT Pilar III Blade

Spear Point Blade

One distinct difference between the CRKT Pilar III and the original Pilar or Pilar Large is the blade shape. The latter two have sheepsfoot blades. The Pilar III is unmistakably a spear point. A spear point comes with several advantages over its sheepsfoot counterparts. Like a clip point or a drop point, the tip is more controllable. I do not find myself doing much fine-tip work these days, but the Pilar III does not disappoint when my son asks for his colored pencils to be “scary sharp.” 

Speaking of a tip, the Pilar III actually has one. While I understand the reasoning behind the sheepsfoot shape, an EDC knife without a point does not feel quite right. Spear point tips are typically strong and sharp. The blade point on the Pilar III is not lacking in either department. In addition, there is a slight concavity of the blade spine. It matches perfectly with the generous finger choil. I feel very comfortable when choking up on the Pilar III, even for my large man hands.

D2 Blade Steel

First, let me mention that I am reviewing the D2 version of the CRKT Pilar III. There is also a version made from 8Cr13Mov steel. Besides the sudden onset of dyslexia, I do not have a personal vendetta against 8Cr13Mov steel. That said, I recommend paying extra for the D2 version. D2 is going to be harder and have much better wear resistance. This translates to less time on a sharpener due to a longer-lasting edge.

D2 is considered tool steel and not actually stainless steel. D2 has high chromium content, but not enough to be fully stainless steel. For my EDC purposes, I have never had D2 rust or become discolored. Even when cutting fruit or after hitting the trails during the heat of summer. If you are worried about rusting, then the 8Cr13Mov Pilar III is the knife to get. 

D2 has become pretty ubiquitous in the knife steel department — For good reason. As a mid-range steel, you get a nice balance between edge retention, hardness, toughness, corrosion resistance, and affordability. I have heard that D2 isn’t the easiest steel to sharpen. However, I have had no issues sharpening the CRKT Pilar III D2 on the Work Sharp Precision Adjust Elite Sharpener. 

Testing the CRKT Pilar III

Everyday Carry

I have owned the CRKT Pilar III for almost two years. Being one of my favorite knives to spydie flick, I carry the Pilar III often. That said, nothing is a better test than day-to-day use. I’ve peeled and cut many apples, broken down scores of boxes, and no mail is safe from the Pilar III. In addition, it has gutted freshly caught trout, helped gather many vegetables from the garden, and cut rope a time or two. The CRKT Pilar III does not miss a beat as an EDC knife.

The D2 blade has held up well. The Pilar III remains sharp for long durations, especially if you regularly use a strop. I’ve only had to sharpen the CRKT Pilar III a few times. Even then, I think it was more of a therapeutic sharpening session rather than edge maintenance. Sometimes you need to slow down and have a good sharpening session to disconnect from the busyness of life. Anyways, the Pilar III certainly does not disappoint for day-to-day tasks.

NOTE: Don’t know what I mean by spydie flick? Read my spydie flick tutorial here. Never used a strop? You can find my stropping tutorial here. These are skills every knife enthusiast should learn.

Fire Starting – Feather Sticks

I have knives better suited for bushcraft-type activities — Namely, the Giant Mouse ACE Grand or the more budget-friendly OKC RAT I. However, I believe the CRKT Pilar III is up to the task of some light bushcraft work. We will test to see if we can start a fire with the Pilar III.

First things first, make a feather stick. The feather stick is a quintessential fire-starting bushcraft technique. It’s simply a length of wood shaved down with a sharp knife with the shavings still attached. This technique is helpful in wet conditions. The feathers (wood shavings) readily ignite, while the quill (stick) provides a longer-lasting burn.

Softwood works best when feather sticking. Luckily, I do not have a shortage of pine trees in the backyard. I selected a branch about an inch in diameter. As I begin, I am surprised how easily the CRKT Pilar III creates the long curled shavings needed for an effective feather stick. The flat grind of the blade allows for thinner shavings for easier ignition. The D2 edge remained sharp throughout the process. Needless to say, feather sticking was a success.

Fire Starting – Ferrocerium Rod

When I am in the woods for an extended period, I always carry a ferro rod. They are small, relatively inexpensive, and can shower sparks over 5000°F (2760°C). To strike a ferro rod well, you need a 90-degree edge. While you could strike a ferro rod with a knife edge, I would not recommend doing so. It will dull the blade and potentially cause damage. Instead, use the spine of the blade. 

So the CRKT Pilar III can feather stick with the best of them. What about striking a ferrocerium rod? Unfortunately, not very well. While it feels smooth to the touch, the spine is too rounded to effectively strike a ferro rod. The best I could manage was a spark or two. The CRKT Pilar III does not create the firework of sparks needed to start tinder. To be fair, the Pilar III is marketed more towards EDC. Not an outdoor adventure knife like the OKC RAT I — The best folder for striking ferro rods I have tested.

Fit and Finish

If it was not clear up until now, the Pilar III is made by Columbia River Knife and Tool Company (CRKT). Having been in business for almost 30 years, they are not newcomers. Hell, their motto is “Confidence in Hand.” The CRKT Pilar III is a clear-cut example of their expertise in knife manufacturing. The blade came perfectly centered. Likewise, there were no discernible machine marks on the blade or the stainless steel frame. 

The CRKT Pilar III certainly exudes confidence when being held. There is plenty of real estate to get a comfortable hold on the Pilar III — Even more so when using the finger choil. For reference, large gloves in most brands fit comfortably snug for my hands.  

CRKT Pilar III Pocket Clip

The pocket clip has good tension and feels secure in the pocket. I like that the clip attachment is recessed into the stainless steel frame. As a result, the pocket clip is low profile. Due to the integrated design of the clip, there is only one configuration. This means there is no tip-down carry option. Sorry lefties, you are out of luck as well. Also, I wouldn’t consider the CRKT Pilar III a deep-carry knife. I guesstimate about 3/8 inch (~10mm) protrudes from the pocket. What is sticking out is essentially the lanyard hole portion of the brass backspacer.

G10, Stainless Steel, and a Touch of Brass

Initially, I was unsure of the mismatched G10 and stainless steel handle combo. Rest assured, the G10 side provides plenty of grip. You can thank the light texturing on the G10. Both the stainless steel and G10 are chamfered around the edges to minimize hot spots. The chamfering continues along the brass backspacer, which also functions as a lanyard hole.

There is something about the look of black G10, stainless steel, and the touch of brass. I would say it gives the CRKT Pilar III a timeless appearance. It reminds me of the 1966 Mustang Shelby GT350H Fastback you could rent from Hertz back in the day. For the record, I am not that old. I love old American muscle cars. A note about the brass backspacer — It is only available in the D2 version of the CRKT Pilar III. 

Frame Lock

The CRKT Pilar III is a frame lock knife. For those unfamiliar, a frame lock is similar to a liner lock. The primary difference is the frame of the knife serves as the handle and the lock. On the flip side, a liner lock has a metal liner that serves as a lock. That explanation was a little on the nose, but not all of us are knife fanatics, yet. Frame locks are typically prone to lock-stick, but the Pilar III lock is as smooth as a well-worn button.

At the same time, there is a sticking point. On the inside of the frame lock, beneath the lock face, resides a detent ball. The detent’s job is to keep a closed knife from accidentally opening. When closed, the detent ball rests in a hole on the blade. That is certainly a good design feature. However, when closing the CRKT Pilar III, the detent can get caught on the tang(butt of the blade). This is a common issue with frame and liner locks with detents. The solution is straightforward — Push the lock further out to bypass the tang face. Jesper Voxnaes also included a lock-stop to prevent the frame lock from being pushed too far.

CRKT Pilar III is All About the Details

Speaking of Jesper, he and Jens Anso designed one of my all-time favorite knives, the Giant Mouse ACE Grand. I only mention the GM Grand because the Pilar III shares a similarly designed thumbhole. As a fan of spydie flicking, this pill-shaped thumbhole rivals the round holes seen on Spydercos. The thumbhole is not too big, but not too small — It’s just right for the tip of my flicking finger. If you prefer the more traditional thumb deployment method, you will have no issues doing so. The thumbhole combined with the IKBS bearings makes the CRKT Pilar III a dream to open. Drop shuts like a dream too.

Jesper made pushing the frame lock a little easier as well. He designed indentations in the frame lock that are depressed just enough to catch a fingernail. It is these types of small details that make Jesper Voxnaes one of my favorite knife designers.

CRKT Pilar Disassembly

The CRKT Pilar III was one of the more difficult knives I’ve had the pleasure of disassembling. For disassembly, you will need two different Torx sizes. T8 for the pivot screw and T6 for everything else. However, you will actually need two T6 bits. Two screw posts run through the G10, brass backspacer, and stainless steel frame. If you only use one T6 bit, the screw posts will do nothing but spin in place. The pocket clip and frame lock stop will also require T6. Although, they don’t need to be removed to access the blade and IKBS bearings for routine maintenance.

Needing two T6 bits was not the difficult part. I had a heck of a time removing the T8-sized pivot screw. It might just be my particular Pilar III, but the screw head was a little loose for my T8 but too small for the T9 bit. Not only that, but the pivot screw was on tight. I am talking size 12 feet in size 8 shoes tight. Ultimately, I had to bust out my cigar torch and throw a little heat at the pivot screw. It’s amazing what a little heat can do for a seized screw. I am not sure what the issue was since there didn’t appear to have any Loctite on the pivot screw.

PRO TIP: When reassembling, add a drop or two of KPL Original Oil or any mid-weight knife oil to each side of the IKBS bearings. This will protect the bearings and provide ultra-smooth operation. I also added a drop of KPL Heavy Oil to the detent ball. Doing so will minimize the effect of “detent-stick.”

Final Thoughts

Ernest Hemingway was not only an author but a WWI veteran, sailor, fisherman, and hunter. The time spent on his boat, Pilar, influenced his books — Most notably, The Old Man and the Sea and the posthumously published Islands in the Stream. In addition, during WWII, he used Pilar to hunt German u-boats in Caribbean waters. It is a tall order for the CRKT Pilar III to live up to the name of Hemingway’s legendary vessel. Mission accomplished in my book. I can’t speak for Mr. Hemingway, but I think he would have appreciated the versatility of the CRKT Pilar III. 

From a price-to-value perspective, the Pilar III is an excellent choice on a budget. It is well-designed with timeless aesthetics, an all-purpose blade, and top-notch ergonomics. It is truly a do-it-all EDC knife. Don’t hesitate to add this knife to your rotation. It’s nothing but smooth sailing with the CRKT Pilar III.

Technical Specifications

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