When I was younger, I used to rodeo a lot. It must have been when I was in High School or maybe the first year of college that an older cowboy, Doug Cook, told me that I needed to get out of the rinky dink associations and join the International Rodeo Assn (IRA).
5.11 Base 3DP Everyday Carry Knife
To get a card, it cost $45.00, which I didn’t have at the time back in 1972 or 73. I worked on the Hudgins ranch and only made $60.00 per week. So, Doug let me clean his horse stalls and then bought me an IRA card. That bumped me up another level and got me ready to get into the RCA (Rodeo Cowboy Assn. Now called the PRCA or Professional Rodeo Cowboy Assn.).
Live Inventory Price Checker
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5.11 Surge 4.12 inch Fixed Blade Knife - Black | Sportsman's Warehouse | $ 89.99 |
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5.11 Men's Speed 4.0 8in Side Zip Boots - Desert/Coyote 11.5 | Sportsman's Warehouse | $ 110.00 |
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Mossberg 500 J.I.C. Tact. 12ga 18.5'''' Inc. Knife & Multi Tool - Mossberg 500 J.I.C. Tact. 12ga 18.5'''' Inc. Knife & Multi Too | Brownells.com | $ 649.99 |
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5.11 Men's ATAC 2.0 8" Military Tactical Boot, Style 12391, Black - 11.5R | Bereli | $ 89.99 |
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Even though the IRA was crooked, I did learn some and got on better bareback horses before I moved on up to the RCA. When I joined the IRA, Doug told me that I needed to start carrying a G96 knife which was a large locking folder. I’d never seen a big locking folder like that before, but Doug told me it’d save my life someday due to some of the situations I’d get into rodeoing. He was the only Pro Rodeo cowboy I knew, so I did what he said.
The G96 was a cheap knife; looking back I assume a Joe Cheapo Chinese knife with a life expectancy of about 2 years. Back then, this was the only locking folder that I’d ever seen.
Now, let’s fast forward 50-something years. Oh my gosh, now the market is flooded with folders. Big ones, super big ones, medium-sized ones, petite ones, hunting folders, EDC folders, tactical folders, survival folders, thin profile and bulky folders, functional and dysfunctional designs.
There are multiple locking systems and many designs to aid in opening your folder to choose from. And also pocket clips, which I never heard of 50 years ago. And unfortunately, like with all tools, one size does not fit all. Which explains why I own probably 100-200 folders.
So with the above said, let’s get into today’s Product Review. As I said above, one folder doesn’t fit all needs/situations. The knife that I’m going to review today is the 5.11 Base 3DP Manual Folder. This knife will fit your needs if you want a lightweight, thin-profiled everyday carry knife. It’d be a great EDC to wear with a pair of slacks to Church or in a business setting. But make no mistake, it is well designed and can jump up and be used for self-defense and for your camping and outdoor needs.
Let’s get into its features and why I like it. The 5.11 Base 3DP Manual Folder is a thin, profiled, lightweight knife that makes it comfortable to carry.
To deploy the blade, it utilizes thumb studs. I am thumb stud challenged, but with a little effort, I am able to open it if I press my fingers against the pocket clip. And if you like lanyards, it has a hole so you can tie one on.
There are cut-out slots on both of the handles, which makes it easy to keep sanitary if you are going to use the 5.11 Base 3DP Manual Folder to slice bear sausage, cut cheese, etc. on your fishing trips. And it does have a one-position pocket clip.
Here’s one aspect that the 5.11 Base 3DP Manual Folder really excels in: it offers a very firm grip. For the life of me, I don’t know why all folders don’t go this route. What makes it so great? There are thumb grooves on the first portion of the top of the handle and for an inch of the blade’s spine.
When you grip your folder, your thumb is always slightly forward of your pointer finger, so you need thumb grooves on the blade’s spine to stabilize your grip.
Then, there is a definite finger groove, and grooves cut into the liner lock, which further enhances your grip. Due to all of the above features, I have a super firm grip when using the 5.11 Base 3DP Manual Folder. More so than on 99% of the other folders that I have tested.
The blade is of a drop point design, but the first third of the spine is ground down, so it has a definite point for all of your stabbing jobs. Mine came from the factory sharp and ready for use.
So, if you’re looking for a mid-size, low-profile EDC, I’d recommend that you check out the 5.11 Base 3DP Manual Folder. The MSRP IS $22.00, and as is usual, we will close with the company specs.
5.11 Base 3DP Everyday Carry Knife
- Use: Everyday Carry knife
- Lanyard hole
- MOLLE compatible
- Body: 420J2
- Blade: 8CR13MOV
- Opening mechanism: Manual folder
- Locking mechanism: Frame Lock
- Blade length: 2.75″
- Blade thickness: 2.4mm
- Blade style: Drop point
- Open length: 6.625″
- Closed length: 3.875″
About Tom Claycomb
Tom Claycomb has been an avid hunter/fisherman throughout his life as well as an outdoor writer with outdoor columns in the magazine Hunt Alaska, Bass Pro Shops, Bowhunter.net, and numerous magazines and newspapers. “To properly skin your animal, you will need a sharp knife. I have an e-article on Amazon Kindle titled Knife Sharpening #ad for $.99 if you’re having trouble.”
