P-38 Can Opener

[bmsm]

This is my trusty P-38 can opener. Many of you younger folks probably never got to use this handy little item. The one I carry around on my key chain was made by Mallin. The two can openers still in the original wrappers are made by Mallin Hdwe. and J.W. Speaker Corp.

Bob

[Brian Wolfe]

Ah, the memories of yesteryear.

I've never used this particular opener but the one with a similar cutter with a long metal handle was common place in my youth.

Thanks for posting these.

Regards

Brian

[bmsm]

Things we use today are history tomorrow. I used to be on augmetee duty with the Security Police in Vietnam 1969-1970 and we got c rations for our meal at night. If we were lucky and got to ride around in a jeep or a V-100, we would poke a hole in the top of the can and sit it on top of the motor by the manifold and drive around for a few minutes and then have a hot meal. Always make sure to poke a hole in the can first otherwise you had a mess to clean up under the hood.

Bob

[Greg Collins]

Yep, had a bunch at one time (probably still laying around here somewhere). We used to call them "John Waynes" although I haven't a clue why. Every sailor carried one on his keyring. Thanks for posting- brings back memories.

[Hugh]

Wore 'em on your dog taq chain, where they'd snag your chest hair. Never knew the P-38 designation; always called it a John Wayne. Didn't they used to pack one in each C-ration?

Hugh

[Taurus454]

Very cool. I still have my very first one I got in basic training at FT Dix, NJ in 1979 on my key chain. I was told it was called the P-38 because if used correctly, you only need 38 cranks of the opener to open one C rat can. I remember counting it up back in the day and 38 cranks seemed right on but don't know if that is the real reason for the designation.

I also knew a Medal of Honor NCO from Nam. He was captured three times by the VC and escaped three times. He explained that he used the P-38 to escape which he sewed into his clothes. He sharpened the edge with a rock and cut his guards throat to escape. Has alot of uses I guess.

Tom

[bmsm]

Yep, had a bunch at one time (probably still laying around here somewhere). We used to call them "John Waynes" although I haven't a clue why. Every sailor carried one on his keyring. Thanks for posting- brings back memories.

Apparently John Wayne did a training film back in WW II and used a P-38 in the film and after that they were also called "John Waynes". I did a Google search and got this info.

Bob

[Tom Y]

My key chain sports one too. Back in the late fifties-early sixties every surplus store had a box of them on the counter and you could help yourself.

[Obergefreiter]

I've still got mine, hanging on my dogtag chain, with the dogtags, around the neck of a stuffed Garfield toy that I gave my wife when we first got married.

[PKeating]

We had an identical opener but in silver-grey galvanised finish in our ration packs (British) as issued from the 1970s to the 1990s. I don't know if they're still issued in current ration packs. I have a few somewhere and if I can find them, I'll post one. One of the best designs I have come across for can-opening without lacerating oneself!

PK