Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).



	1.	Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only). THIRD AVENUE MANAGEMENT LLC (EIN 01-0690900)

	2.	Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
		(a)
		(b)

	3.	SEC Use Only

	4.	Citizenship or Place of Organization: Third Avenue Management LLC is a Limited Liability Company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With
			5.	Sole Voting Power: 7,186,848

			6.	Shared Voting Power: 0

			7.	Sole Dispositive Power: 7,186,848

			8.	Shared Dispositive Power: 0

	9.	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person: 7,186,848

	10.	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

	11.	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 14.47%

	12.	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): IA

Item 1.
	(a)	Name of Issuer: Pioneer Drilling Co.
	(b)	Address of Issuer's Principal Executive: 1250 NW Loop 410, Suite 1000, San Antonio, TX 78209

Item 2.
	(a)	Name of Person Filing: Third Avenue Management LLC ("TAM"). (TAM is sometimes referred to hereinafter as Filer)
	(b)	Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: 622 Third Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10017.
	(c)	Citizenship: United States of America.
	(d)	Title of Class of Securities: Common stock, par value $0.10 per share
	(e)	CUSIP Number: 723655106

Item 3.	If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
	(a)	[ ]	Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).
	(b)	[ ]	Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
	(c)	[ ]	Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
	(d)	[ ]	Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8).
	(e)	[X]	An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
	(f)	[ ]	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
	(g)	[ ]	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
	(h)	[ ]	A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
	(i)	[ ]	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
	(j)	[ ]	Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4.	Ownership.
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
	(a)	Amount beneficially owned: 7,186,848
	(b)	Percent of class: 14.47%
	(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:
		(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 7,186,848
		(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
		(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 7,186,848
		(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0


Item 5.	Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].

Item 6.	Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
Third Avenue Small Cap Value Fund, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, has the right to receive dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, 2,200,472 of the shares reported by TAM, Met Investors Series Trust-Third Avenue Small Cap Portfolio, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, has the right to receive dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, 4,468,646 of the shares reported by TAM, Touchstone Variable Series Trust-Touchstone Third Avenue Value Fund, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, has the right to receive dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, 225,774 of the shares reported by TAM. and various separately managed accounts for whom TAM acts as investment advisor have the right to receive dividends from, and the proceeds of the sale of, 291,956 of the shares reported by TAM.

Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company
Not applicable.

Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
Not applicable.

Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group
Not applicable.

Item 10.	Certification
		By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

[X]	Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ]	Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ]	Rule 13d-1(d)