A portable, hand-operated rescue tool is provided for rescue and extreme duty operations where an object needs to be cut, crushed, pierced and separated, or lifted. The rescue tool includes a body, a support handle and articulating jaw force members used to impart high forces on an object. The tool includes a manually-operated, pivoting actuation handle connected to a high pressure fluid displacement system to pivotally rotate the jaw force arms in a selected direction or mode of operation to suit the situation.