The days of the standard folding pocketknife are all but gone. Today’s pocket-sized tool kits have a multitude of features and are designed to tackle big jobs. One of these is the T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool from StatGear. Designed by New York City Paramedic Avi Goldstein, the T3 is a true multi-tool but with one mission: freeing collision victims from the wreckage of their vehicles. Avi was good enough to send one my way and I was eager to see how much of a lifesaver this new gadget really was.
Right out of the box the T3 looked like a very robust pocketknife. The squared-off polymer body has a nice rubberized coating and great contours that make for an easy and secure grip, substantial in the hand but not too big to be clipped in a pocket. Weighing in at a little over six ounces, the T3 with its four folding tools is actually much lighter than it looks.
The first two of the T3’s tools are found on the outside of the polymer body. The first is a small LED light with an easy-to-reach side activation switch. The light isn’t incredibly bright but is very compact and provides just enough light for close-up work. The second and likely the most specific tool on the T3 is the spring-loaded window punch.
Simply press the punch end of the tool into a pane of glass and the spring-loaded steel tip creates just enough force to shatter safety glass and create a quick escape route. I’m fortunate enough to be assigned to a joint police and fire training facility and I put the T3’s window punch to the test on one of the fire department’s previously wrecked training cars. When the punch “clicked” into the window, the glass almost immediately disappeared. If I needed to breach a window this little punch would be the perfect solution.
Like most multi-tools, at the center of the T3 is a folding stainless-steel knife blade. At 3.25 inches in length it complements the five-inch handle well and incorporates a sharp edge with partial serrations for tough cutting jobs. The side of the blade has a small metal rivet for easy one-handed opening and a liner-locking function to keep it secure while in use. The blade on my T3 was razor sharp and very sturdy. I sawed through some heavy rubber, cardboard, and a chunk of wood while I did my best to wear out the edge on this blade and was impressed by how well the 440C stainless-steel forging held up.
For more specific cutting, the T3 has a hooked blade for cutting cords, ropes, or more importantly, seat belts. The inner edge of the hook is scalloped and razor sharp. Again, I attacked the training vehicle and was able to zip the hooked blade through seat belts as if I were cutting a piece of paper. I turned the blade to some heavy wiring under the hood and made short work of that, too. With the liner-lock to keep the blade in place and the robust handle leverage it wasn’t a problem.
Through all of my use and abuse the T3 held up very well. It fits neatly in a cargo pocket or clipped to the side of a belt and all four of its features are easily accessible, even when wearing gloves. If you’re looking for a solid rescue tool, either for your duty bag or the glove box of your personal vehicle, take a good look at the T3.
StatGear T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool
• Spring-loaded steel tip window punch
• 440C stainless steel hook blade for seatbelt cutting
• LED light with replaceable batteries
• Half-serrated 440C stainless steel blade
• Stainless steel belt clip and heavy-duty nylon belt sheath
Blade Length: 3 ¼ inches
Overall Length: 5 inches
Weight: 6.4 ounces
Price: $39.99
A.J. George is an officer with the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Police Department currently assigned to the advanced training unit as a firearms and tactics instructor.
