The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

Toollogic SL1 Survival Tool

Review by Phil Elmore

The Toollogic SL1 (which is part of a modular SL series from the same company) is an attempt to combine several useful survival tools into a single lightweight implement. Specifically, the SL1 incorporates a knife blade, signal whistle, [tiny] waterproof compartment, and LED flashlight. The entire package is four inches long closed and weighs 2.7 ounces.

The SL1 has a three-inch cutting blade that is serrated for slightly less than half its length. The serrations are ground on one side only, while the unserrated edge is ground on both sides. Steel is unimpressive and relatively soft 420 J2 steel, though this does make the blade quite rust-resistant. An oval opening hole is provided and works reasonably well (given the strange ergonomics of the thick, rounded handle, which actually doesn't feel too bad in the hand). Cutting performance is what you'd expect from such a blade -- mediocre but serviceable as long as one doesn't demand too much of it. The blade has a nice, shallow curve that improves its slicing ability.

Fit and finish are pretty good. The plastic frame is rounded to remove all rough edges and the components line up nicely. The blade opens smoothly and locks up without play (although the liner lock engages all the way to the right of the blade tang, almost resting against the plastic frame and leaving relatively little room for wear).

A metal pocket clip, which is just the right size for the knife, is fitted to the frame for tip-up, right-hand carry only. It is held in place with three screws. My sample exhibited very tight tension but also some play side to side around the screws holding it in place.

The signal whistle emits a loud, piercing wail when one blows on the handle of the knife. The light sleeve fitted to the frame has a lanyard hole above the whistle in the lower frame. No lanyard is provided with the knife.

The LED light fits snugly in the plastic sleeve built into the upper frame and can be removed to access the tiny waterproof compartment behind it (most useful for holding extra batteries; it isn't big enough for much else. It runs on four #392 (AG3) 1.5V button cells and is (nominally) waterproof, though it won't hold up to immersion of any depth or duration. Advertised as "brilliant," the little twist-on, twist-off flashlight is quite unimpressive, producing a dim blue-tinted beam. In darkness it would serve for most utility tasks.

The SL series from Toollogic consists of identical knives housing different accessories. The SL2 has a plug for the light sleeve, meaning it is simply a knife with a whistle and a waterproof compartment. The SL3 has a magnesium firestarter where the flashlight is housed on the SL1. Product literature for the knives claims a Mag-Lite Solitaire can be substituted for these accessories and will fit in the sleeve on the upper frame, but my own Solitaire would not fit in the housing.

While not nearly worth the retail price for which I've seen it listed, the SL1 is a decent little multipurpose tool that would be handy to have in an emergency. Mine rides in my on-body minimalist survival kit for that reason. There are better knives and there are better flashlights, but there are few combined with a signal whistle with a pocket clip in one simple package.

If you can find it cheaply enough, pick one up.