Hands-On: Victorinox’s Rescue Tool Is the Survival Tool That You’ll Actually Want to Carry

Victorinox’s history dates back to 1884, when Karl Elsener had an idea for the first Swiss Army Knife™. By 1891, he was producing official knives for the Swiss Army before patenting his original “Swiss Officer’s and Sports Knife” design a few years later. 

Over the decades, the Swiss Army Knife™ has taken different forms, with tools created for different purposes, such as the highly-specific (and very useful) Nail Clip 580 or the all-in-one 33-tool Swiss Champ. Today, we’re getting hands-on with perhaps the most important Victorinox product to have in your arsenal: the Rescue Tool.

Obviously, any piece of survival equipment is one of those items that’s totally necessary, even though you pray you never have to use it. From first aid kits to backup generators to bugout bags, these items are crucial despite taking up significant space in your vehicle or backpack. On the other hand, not every emergency tool needs to be cumbersome. That’s precisely why we love Victorinox’s Rescue Tool, because it gives you 13 actually useful functions that can assist you when things go sideways.

Spending years developing the Rescue Tool, Victorinox consulted with professional rescuers on the design for this ultimate life saver. Stretching just 4.4” in length and weighing a mere 5.9oz, the device is robust enough for you to grip when you need it but hides away in your pocket easily. 

While most of the brand’s Swiss Army Knife™ models stick with the classic and iconic red scales, the Rescue Tool opts for a hi-vis yellow with red markings, which makes it incredibly easy to spot on a dime in a crowded backpack or waist pack. Best of all, it even glows in the dark! Even if you opt to keep this in the included nylon sheath, you’re looking at a bright red with highlighter yellow lining.

Within this polyamide handle, the Rescue Tool houses an impressive 13 tools, including a large partially-serrated stainless steel blade, a bottle opener, a wire stripper, a screwdriver 7mm, a reamer/punch, a Phillips screwdriver ½, a seatbelt cutter, a shatterproof glass saw, a window breaker, tweezers, and a toothpick. On one end, you also have a key ring with a lanyard attachment.

What we especially loved about the Rescue Tool is how useful it was even in non-emergency situations. It’s easy to forget about your survival gear if you’re only using it for survival. But simply because of the versatile utility of this tool, we found ourselves keeping it close by at all times. In just a few days, we used the Phillips-head and steel blade for various things like replacing batteries to opening boxes. With its easy deployment, the bottle opener got arguably even more use than the others.

In terms of the emergency-specific items, we didn’t go around bashing windows or sawing glass, but we did notice how powerful the window breaker was against wood, powering through a sturdy log with its dense steel nub. Likewise, the scales provide excellent matte grip, even when our hands were wet.

We should also note that the array of serrated blades can serve you multiple ways if you find yourself stuck in the wild, whether you’re needing to cut rope or debone game. Also, the frame lock on the steel blade felt super secure during even the most rigorous slicing we put it through.

If it weren’t already obvious, we absolutely love the Rescue Tool. From the thoughtful design to the hi-vis colorway, this 13-function device offers you peace of mind while also making a strong case why it could be your de facto multi-tool on hand, regardless of emergency scenarios. Heritage aside, Victorinox simply makes some of the most thoughtful multi-tools on the market, and this survival Swiss Army Knife™ is a must-have for any upcoming adventure, or even just to keep in your car just in case!

Priced at $115, the Rescue Tool is available now from BladeHQ’s website.

Recap

Victorinox Rescue Tool

The originator of the Swiss Army Knife™, Victorinox has evolved its legendary tool with the Rescue Tool, which provides peace of mind and utility in case of emergencies but makes a case for its necessity, even if you’re not in survival mode.

Learn More: BladeHQ