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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: GOLD HUNTER on May 30, 2011, 07:52:09 PM

Title: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: GOLD HUNTER on May 30, 2011, 07:52:09 PM
This is the smallest can opener I've ever had and have used it for over 24 years.  I carry it with me still.  Everytime we have a cookout or family reunion and someone yells "Does anyone have a can opener?"  I pull it out and there are always 2 or 3 people who don't know what it is or how it works or have never seen one.  We have had contests to see who can open cans the fastest, those with the old crank opener or my army can opener.  I usually end up winning.

Here's a quick video of the smallest can opener which is an army can opener.  

Have any of you ever seen or used one of these?  I believe they are a dying breed.  

play video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr_B3j76bLM

(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh97/STRIKER1300/100_0015.jpg)

Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: TRKYHTR on May 30, 2011, 07:56:29 PM
Never seen that before. Thats nice I want one.

TRKYHTR
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: CASH on May 30, 2011, 07:57:31 PM
Still have the one my grandpa used in WWII
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: bird on May 30, 2011, 07:58:18 PM
The Ol' P38

I keep one in my survival pack and on my key ring.

bird
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: OLE RASPY on May 30, 2011, 08:00:10 PM
My uncle has one and have used it a couple times.Neat posting.

Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: fl panhandler on May 30, 2011, 08:05:07 PM
I have one and more importantly know how and still do use it.
Rick
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: WIRE PALADIN on May 30, 2011, 08:08:55 PM
HEY BRIAN

i have never seen one befor .......thats cool  and nice video !!!

p.s.  you opened the can in less then 15.sec :you_rock:

pat
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: Sherrell on May 30, 2011, 08:24:47 PM
Used one since I was a young un'.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: redarrow on May 30, 2011, 08:44:24 PM
I tried to carry one on my key ring and punctured my leg. Dont carry it any,ore.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: guesswho on May 30, 2011, 08:52:39 PM
Used one many a time.   I have one on one of my key rings somewhere around here.  For the people who said they want one, you can get them at any Arm Surplus store.  Just tell them you want a P38.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: bird on May 30, 2011, 08:53:59 PM
Quote from: redarrow on May 30, 2011, 08:44:24 PM
I tried to carry one on my key ring and punctured my leg. Dont carry it any,ore.

Been there done that.... leaves a good puncher mark don't it!
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: TheTwistedOne on May 30, 2011, 08:56:57 PM
Used to carry one on my keyring until I got tired of explaining what it was a few times at airport security checks!  Amazingly, that was pre-911.  After that I took it off.  I don't know where it is now.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: ILIKEHEVI-13 on May 30, 2011, 09:01:14 PM
Quote from: WIRE PALADIN on May 30, 2011, 08:08:55 PM
HEY BRIAN

i have never seen one befor .......thats cool  and nice video !!!

p.s.  you opened the can in less then 15.sec :you_rock:

pat

Me neither.   That was pretty cool.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: bird on May 30, 2011, 09:07:41 PM
Before MRE's we use to get the P38 with our C-Rations.

Here's my P38 on my keyring along with a choke tube wrench, led red light and a lens cloth. 


(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/OldGobbler%20and%20Others/P1000176.jpg)
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: BHMTitan on May 30, 2011, 10:01:27 PM
Nice.  I have one on an old key ring and has traveled many miles with me.... I need to dig it out of storage.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: mossy835 on May 30, 2011, 10:19:53 PM
Nice post and great video.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: stone road turkey calls on May 30, 2011, 10:42:51 PM
I have the one my father gave me stamped USN from WW2, it still works fine. wont leave home without it. thanks reminded me of the day he gave it to me. i wil pass it to my son.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: savduck on May 30, 2011, 10:56:06 PM
I still carry a Stainless P38. My dad gave it to me back when I was 14, Had it on my key ring ever since.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: OldMarine on May 30, 2011, 10:59:26 PM
I have two P38's on two sets of keys that I used in Vietnam 1968 & 1969.We ate C rations for 9 months of the 13 month tour in Vietnam and they were a necessity we kept on our dog tags.Mine is as sharp today as it was  40 something years ago.They sell reproduction P38's @ cheaper than dirt and Sgt Grit and other Marine Corps sites.Today C rats are about obsolete and the P38's ,since  MRE's are the soup du jour.

These weren't anymore army P38's then they were Marine Corps P38's.They were issued with every case of C rats.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: hootn on May 31, 2011, 12:12:55 AM
i used the one i keep in my lunch box last night. mine is used all the time.

scott
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: spurman on May 31, 2011, 07:26:36 AM
I picked one up during basic training at Fort Knox in the winter of 58, I still have it on my key ring.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: kamski1151 on May 31, 2011, 12:59:16 PM
The Ol  P38 carried one many years ago.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: doepee on May 31, 2011, 01:31:14 PM
Quote from: bird on May 30, 2011, 07:58:18 PM
The Ol' P38

I keep one in my survival pack and on my key ring.

bird

P38 bird beat me to it!!! ;D    I used to have a bunch of them
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: mnturkey on May 31, 2011, 03:38:30 PM
They always come in useful, have one in my day pack just in case.  I used to carry one on my key ring and also punctured my leg (carry my keys in the back pocket so it was not my leg) and quit carying it around.
They sure do the trick on cans.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: CB on the run on June 01, 2011, 07:47:38 AM
  Just looked at mine the other day.  It's going on 40 years old and was purchased when I was a Boy Scout.  I used it last when we moved into our current home in 2006 and everything was still packed.

CB
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: Gobble! on June 01, 2011, 08:13:57 AM
just ordered myself one from ebay for $2 shipped
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: TheTwistedOne on June 01, 2011, 10:21:01 AM
This thread got me looking for my P38.  Found it :)!
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: BigGobbler on June 01, 2011, 10:50:30 AM
WOW!! Its amassing how some would be  outdoors persons and not know what one was or have one. I gave one to my boys when they started going to the woods with me. Thats something that most that do have them have got them from there gramps or dad when they were young,nothing like passing them on for generations.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: loner on June 02, 2011, 05:48:51 AM
i have used them for years but now most canned goods have the tab open tops. the old 'c' rations could not be opened without the p-38.i don't know about the newer meals.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: Beretta686 on June 02, 2011, 11:03:30 AM
My father has one on his key ring, it has been there as long as I can remember (45 years). I have one in my pack, use it rarely, but whn you need a can opener it is there.
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: bird on June 02, 2011, 11:17:28 AM
I also remember that there is a larger version of the P38 and I can't remember what they were called.  Now those you rarely see at all.  I also remember that we also use to call the P38 a "John Wayne" too. 
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: ghillie on June 02, 2011, 11:42:12 AM
Just a warning....they will cut through jeans if you bend over just right!!!
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: gobbler74 on June 02, 2011, 04:03:50 PM
Quote from: bird on May 30, 2011, 07:58:18 PM
The Ol' P38

I keep one in my survival pack and on my key ring.

bird


Ive got some layin around. A mom and pops store near me sold them for the longest time. I wonder if they still have them?
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: gobbler74 on June 02, 2011, 04:10:52 PM


Maybe the other was a p51. Seen that when searching for the p38.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/100-pk-mil-style-p-38-can-openers.aspx?a=372726
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: bird on June 02, 2011, 05:51:17 PM
Quote from: gobbler74 on June 02, 2011, 04:10:52 PM


Maybe the other was a p51. Seen that when searching for the p38.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/100-pk-mil-style-p-38-can-openers.aspx?a=372726


You are correct.... P51 is the larger opener.

Thank You  :icon_thumright:

bird

Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: GOLD HUNTER on June 03, 2011, 02:12:16 PM
I'D HATE TO SEE THE P51 ON A KEY RING............. IT WOULD CUT YOUR LEG OFF !!! :TooFunny:
Title: Re: THE LOST ART OF THE ARMY CAN OPENER !!!
Post by: flintlock on June 03, 2011, 03:38:06 PM
I usually have to smash it with a rock.  That is a lot cleaner.