“Field searches are complicated,” I thought to myself having almost deftly hurdled a relatively low barbed-wire fence. Hanging upside down by my pant leg as my partner cut me free with his multitool, I had some time to reflect. I thought, “I should get a tactical multi-tool for police.”
Selecting a tactical multi-tool
Over the following months, I decided to look for the best multi-tool for law enforcement and consequently purchased several models. Most of them sucked. The blades on the knives were not sharp. The tolerances were poor. They were difficult to use and easy to break.
Granted, my ignorance initially led me to the cheapest stuff out there, but I eventually dropped some decent money on one and was still not terribly satisfied. I mostly gave up until I was approached by NEXTORCH. Please note: This is not a sponsored article. It’s just something I wanted to do.
NEXTORCH Pioneer multi-tool
NEXTORCH sent me its Pioneer multi-tool described as, “rescue shears and first responder multitool.” The name sounds like mere marketing until you dig a little deeper. A lot of thought went into this tool and it is definitely geared toward cops, medics and fire folks. Still, it would serve almost anyone well as a durable tactical multi-tool.
Rugged and tight
The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was the obvious ruggedness of the Pioneer and its stonewashed finish. This thing is well put together with tight tolerances, but still isn’t that heavy at 9.6 ounces. Compare that to my high-quality everyday carry folding knife that weighs 6.3 ounces.
I carried it together with my pocket knife both on and off duty for a week and forgot it was there until I had an excuse to use it — and then I used it every chance I got. I passed it around the department and got the same two questions from everyone, “How much,” and, “Where do I get one?”
Shears
The primary tool, that is the one that opens first upon unfolding, is a solid pair of shears with rounded tips to avoid causing secondary injuries. I cut a tin can in half with it. I’m not sure why I’d need to cut a tin can in half on duty, but this unit would definitely work to remove the heaviest of clothing to expose injuries for treatment.
Wire cutters/pliers
The next unfold exposes the obligatory 2-1 needle nose pliers but with an extra feature. These pliers have wire cutters with replaceable blades. I could see many uses for this part of the tool, like cutting oneself free from a barb wire fence. I tested it on some barb wire and a gun lock cable and the carbide blade made quick work of both. The shear and pliers are spring-loaded, which isn’t just convenient but also helps with fatigue and speed of use.
Knife
The knife blade is usually the weak point on these items. Even multi-tool brands considered high quality have mediocre blades, in my opinion. They’re rarely sharp out of the box. That isn’t the case with the Pioneer. This thing is as sharp as any quality folding knife. You’ve been warned.
Saw
I found the same to be true with the saw, which is on the opposite side of the knife. I was able to saw through a one-inch dowel rod in about 20 seconds. Both the knife blade and saw use liner locks so even the clumsiest among us can keep all our digits.
Plastic cable tie restraint cutters
Have you ever been involved in a large arrest where plastic restraints are used? I don’t know how many times I’ve cringed at watching officers use their pocketknives to cut restraints off. Think about it. You have an open blade and an unrestrained arrestee in close proximity. The Pioneer has a spring-loaded restraint cutter that would be nearly impossible to be weaponized against an officer.
The Pioneer also has a screwdriver (or optional handcuff key, which is still in development), a seat belt cutter, an oxygen tank wrench, a ruler and, of course, a bottle opener. This multitool is less expensive than my everyday carry knife and has more utility. It’s obvious to me that a lot of thought went into the production of the Pioneer. Usually, when you wear out a multi-tool you throw it away. If you can wear a part of this tool out, you just order and replace that part. This thing is made for long-term use. I encourage you to look at the NEXTORCH Pioneer multi-tool.
