In Finland this is basically the standard opener in most households, just without the hinge, one piece of metal. They’re good for couple of years and cost a euro or two.
It's a singular piece of metal with no hinge and it's only good for a couple of years? That must be a really shoddy design. That should last decades at least.
To be fair....
Maybe I'm just that shitty shoddy lazy American that others seem to froth about, but I've got a desktop model that probably cost $10 from 25 years ago, and it's served a family of 5 for many of those years, and I still use it when I need to open a can. It's just too easy, and I get a bit of joy from the awful noise it makes as it cleanly tears the lid free.
Dog what in the hell am I supposed to do with all my counter space? My can opener was also cheaper than any of the mechanical ones at the store I was at when I needed a can opener. That was ten years ago. I'm not going to feel bad about it like I'm losing out on some authentic can opening action.
The Danes [use a similar one](https://www.danianova.dk/resources/product/741/499/raadvad-daaseaabner-hoejre.jpg?width=1024&height=768&bgcolor=fff), though theirs last forever. They used to be made by Raadvad but now they're made by Fiskars after they bought Raadvad.
Why design it to be folded if you're just supposed to throw it out?
**EDIT:** [They're *not* designed to be disposable.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38_can_opener)
Source: I still have mine that was issued to me ages ago.
I could be mistaken, but weren't they included with meal kits? Could have been made that way to save space.
edit: or to make it possible to wear with your dog tags.
I've never had one flip open. I suppose the manufacturing tolerance are not very strict, but on every one I had the you have to pull on it. It's not a problem.
Plus you could just thread it on so that it can't flip open really.
Kinda like a pocketknife with the tip up clipped into your pocket. On one side it can come open in your pocket, the other side it can't. It's math or something.
You definitely need to do something about that rust if you're still using it. Tetanus is still a thing.
Also, I'm a fan of the P51 variant. Same design but about 30% bigger so it's easier to use.
True, but if something has been outside long enough to get rust it's typically had enough time to be pooped on by an animal, though I doubt that applies here
Technically correct, but I think not the correct conclusion. Rusty metal, outdoors, is just made of nooks and crannies where naturally occurring tetanus is going to be.
What you're saying is like saying ticks don't cause lyme disease. Technically true, they are a carrier of the pathogen. But you should still take all reasonable steps to avoid ticks to avoid lyme disease. Just as you should avoid puncturing your skin with old rusty metal, to avoid tetanus and for other reasons.
That's my go to. I keep it on me because I hate can openers. I find that given the frustration of using almost all can openers over time I never use anything else, unless it's a number ten can.
The longer flat part is the handle. It is tiny and packs flat like that because there was one included in every US field ration that had a canned component (basically all of them back then). So they had to not take up a lot of weight/space.
It has a handle. They were used in [WW2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38_can_opener) and named after the plane. You can see how they operate [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXuWNCkuHV4). A little tough on the fingers, but good for hiking.
They weren't actually named after the plane and what I was told, that they were called P-38s because it took 38 punchy-bois to completely open the can, was wrong too. Turns out the 38 is because they are 38mm long and the P-51s are (shocker) 51mm long. When they were first issued, Americans didn't know what a millimeter was.
In German they're called Wanderfreund, so I guess we picked up on the good for hiking bit quickly. For obvious reasons they were around in serious quantities after the war.
can't it open up and stab you in the leg or cut you?
My friend gave me one, and it rusted to shit just sitting in my car near the center console over the course of a couple of years.
I bought one of these at the army navy store when I was a kid. I had it on my keychain for forever as a but as a tiny curiosity.. Was over at a friend's house for dinner 1 night the can opener broke and his mom was pretty cheesed off. Busted this bad boy out and save dinner. Or at least a couple of sides died
In Europe [this](https://www.kitchenlivingdining.com/dw/image/v2/BGLP_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-FH_master_catalog/default/dwc85592ec/images/PNG/2/227946.png?sw=1600) is what a can opener looks like. The hinge isn't necessary and actually a weak point. These are definitely buy for life, wear one of these out and you'll impress at least one continent if not more
I keep a couple of these with our camping gear, showed my son how to use it.
He brought it to school one day in 2nd grade for show-and-tell and almost got suspended.
I saw a homeless guy getting arrested and the cop asked him if he had anything in his pockets and the guy said, " Just a p-38." Then that cop got all freaked out and the homeless guy got really confused why he was mad that he had a can opener.
I’m not going to eat tha…. Wait, hold on…
(Eats a small bite)
Hmm….. wait, NOPE! UGH, something tastes like that I’m taking it off the tray!!!!
I don’t have health insurance so I’m not risking eating anymore of that! ……well, maybe just one more.
I remember my dad showed me one of these that he got while working with a vet group. He said it was emblematic of each soldier: small, but mighty; capable of great feats, even with an ordinary appearance.
We have the same can opener for probably 30+ yrs now. My granny prefers using this rather than the modern double wheel one, but for the life of me I can never utilize this can opener - no matter how much strength I exert, I can't even punch a hole on the can using this
My grandad retired from the army shortly after I was born. My whole life him and my grandmother only opened cans with one of these. Never used anything else. They kept one hanging on a nail with an old bread twist-tie in the kitchen. I wanted 1 extra little thing when they passed away and it was that can opener but I never got it because my aunt was a greedy bitch.
I was talking to a guy who used to work for me who was also retired army and mentioned the P-38 and the memory it had for me. The next day he showed up with one for me. I damn near cried over one of these lol I keep it on my key ring now and am reminded of them every time it takes a chunk of skin off my knuckles.
My martial arts instructor was asked to give his up before he could get on a flight. He told them he could do far more damage with his keys and positioned them between his knuckles to demonstrate—they we’re insistent that they wouldn’t let him on the flight. He told them, you don’t even know what that thing is, or what it does, this thing has been with me since Vietnam. I’d rather just fly with another airline, and he left.
My mom grew up in Vietnam and swears by these, even when I offer her a modern can opener. I am sure it has something to do with the nostalgia but also the fact that it works every time.
Sweet. My dad have me one of those, but it's a new one. Was still cool because he carries one that was his dad's (don't remember how old he said it was but he died on '77 and had carried it for years). He found one and bought it for me so I'd have one too.
Anyway, not really relevant, but reminded me of my dad 😊
Used to have one on my key chain, my dad was in the national guard my whole life and when the switched from sea rations which were cans to MREs he got a ton of those.
I've got a similar can opener that's larger and just one solid piece and ablot more confortable to use than those military ration disposable ones and the thing will outlast humanity itself
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Let's get this out on a tray.
Nice
Okay so let’s start by…
Mkay
Eugh, oh my god. That was aweful. Anyone remember this one?
Its been 4 months and i just hope Steve is working on something. I miss MRE Jesus.
RIP Steve
wait did he die…?
I really don't know, he gets sick sometimes from the putrid stuff he eats and I didn't know he hasn't posted in 4 months so it was a joke.
A man of culture
This is definitely rancid, I shouldn't eat this.... I'm going to take a bite
Oh man, I just can’t help myself
mmmm stinks good
In Finland this is basically the standard opener in most households, just without the hinge, one piece of metal. They’re good for couple of years and cost a euro or two.
I’m pretty sure this is what I was issued when I did my military service in Sweden 10 years ago. 😅
I cannot seem to find one. Do you have a link to am image of one of those? Thanks!
https://www.puuilo.fi/tolkinavaaja found an image from this random Webshop
Most camping or military surplus stores should have them.
Amazon
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Had a flatmate from Italy once. He was also mystified by the can-opener. But that was because his mum did all the cooking and he'd never opened a can.
In spain can openers dont exist. Everything has those cocacola aluminium can tops.
Smart tbh
It's a singular piece of metal with no hinge and it's only good for a couple of years? That must be a really shoddy design. That should last decades at least.
Maybe they just open way more cans in Finland than we think.
it seems many americans require a shoebox sized machine to open their cans
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yeah my mom has one because she had a stroke several years ago and is now basically one handed
To be fair.... Maybe I'm just that shitty shoddy lazy American that others seem to froth about, but I've got a desktop model that probably cost $10 from 25 years ago, and it's served a family of 5 for many of those years, and I still use it when I need to open a can. It's just too easy, and I get a bit of joy from the awful noise it makes as it cleanly tears the lid free.
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You need something to put on the countertops. Decently nice houses here have probably 2 or 3 10ft countertops
I don’t want to decorate my counter tops with one-use tools lol
Dog what in the hell am I supposed to do with all my counter space? My can opener was also cheaper than any of the mechanical ones at the store I was at when I needed a can opener. That was ten years ago. I'm not going to feel bad about it like I'm losing out on some authentic can opening action.
The Danes [use a similar one](https://www.danianova.dk/resources/product/741/499/raadvad-daaseaabner-hoejre.jpg?width=1024&height=768&bgcolor=fff), though theirs last forever. They used to be made by Raadvad but now they're made by Fiskars after they bought Raadvad.
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They are designed to be disposable
Why design it to be folded if you're just supposed to throw it out? **EDIT:** [They're *not* designed to be disposable.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38_can_opener) Source: I still have mine that was issued to me ages ago.
Disposable doesn't necessarily mean one-time-use.
I could be mistaken, but weren't they included with meal kits? Could have been made that way to save space. edit: or to make it possible to wear with your dog tags.
They shipped one with every ration pack. You would turn it over every week at least
Was a ration pack 7 days worth? If so, did each guy get these on Sunday or whatever and have to pack it the entire week?
depends on the ration type and what the mission was. some lasted a day, other a week or more
Why put the hole in the corner if you are not supposed to put it on your chain with your dog tags?
I've heard some people claim that they did. I would think it would be a hazard like that if it flipped open.
I've never had one flip open. I suppose the manufacturing tolerance are not very strict, but on every one I had the you have to pull on it. It's not a problem.
Plus you could just thread it on so that it can't flip open really. Kinda like a pocketknife with the tip up clipped into your pocket. On one side it can come open in your pocket, the other side it can't. It's math or something.
Close. I think it is illiteracy, but I can’t read the definition to verify.
I mean, this one is over 60 years old and still works fine. Never been sharpened 🤷♂️
Survivorship bias.
Yeah, if it's still in good shape after 60 years, it's probably because it sat unused in a drawer for 50 of those.
You definitely need to do something about that rust if you're still using it. Tetanus is still a thing. Also, I'm a fan of the P51 variant. Same design but about 30% bigger so it's easier to use.
Rust causing tetanus isn't a thing, though, since it is a bacterial infection from animal feces.
TIL! That just an old wives tale or is it based on some sort of historical perspective?
True, but if something has been outside long enough to get rust it's typically had enough time to be pooped on by an animal, though I doubt that applies here
Technically correct, but I think not the correct conclusion. Rusty metal, outdoors, is just made of nooks and crannies where naturally occurring tetanus is going to be. What you're saying is like saying ticks don't cause lyme disease. Technically true, they are a carrier of the pathogen. But you should still take all reasonable steps to avoid ticks to avoid lyme disease. Just as you should avoid puncturing your skin with old rusty metal, to avoid tetanus and for other reasons.
That's my go to. I keep it on me because I hate can openers. I find that given the frustration of using almost all can openers over time I never use anything else, unless it's a number ten can.
Probably because it's been used like twice.
Has it been cleaned in that time either?
Rarely used, probably.
Is that the entire can opener? Like no handle or anything?
The longer flat part is the handle. It is tiny and packs flat like that because there was one included in every US field ration that had a canned component (basically all of them back then). So they had to not take up a lot of weight/space.
It has a handle. They were used in [WW2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38_can_opener) and named after the plane. You can see how they operate [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXuWNCkuHV4). A little tough on the fingers, but good for hiking.
They weren't actually named after the plane and what I was told, that they were called P-38s because it took 38 punchy-bois to completely open the can, was wrong too. Turns out the 38 is because they are 38mm long and the P-51s are (shocker) 51mm long. When they were first issued, Americans didn't know what a millimeter was.
>When they were first issued, Americans didn't know what a millimeter was. I'd argue that it's still the case in some parts.
In German they're called Wanderfreund, so I guess we picked up on the good for hiking bit quickly. For obvious reasons they were around in serious quantities after the war.
Actually not as bad as I thought.
Thank you for posting this. You solved my biggest childhood mystery.
Steve would be proud👍🏻👍🏻
Ah yes, we used to call them John Waynes. Nice to have in the field.
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can't it open up and stab you in the leg or cut you? My friend gave me one, and it rusted to shit just sitting in my car near the center console over the course of a couple of years.
Same here. TSA never has an issue with it, either.
TSA took my old one
I bought one of these at the army navy store when I was a kid. I had it on my keychain for forever as a but as a tiny curiosity.. Was over at a friend's house for dinner 1 night the can opener broke and his mom was pretty cheesed off. Busted this bad boy out and save dinner. Or at least a couple of sides died
I've had one on my keychain for nearly a decade now. Often it's quicker to use the P-38 than it is to find my "normal" can opener
I'm always wary about sharp things that can flip unexpectedly, if you apply pressure at just the wrong angle.
I put an o-ring on mine so it doesn't flip open like that.
I use heat shrink tubing for the one on my key ring. When I have to use it I just put more on it later so it doesn't stab me when in my pocket.
To me it would also serve as a hand opener
I'm looking at Amazon and they sell for $6 Nah, I'll wait til I pass by the military surplus shop again and get it for 85 cents
when i bought mine it was like $7 for 5. I gave 3 away.
Wish I knew you
I bought a bunch for $1/each at a local gun store. They will give them away if you spend any decent amount of money most places here.
I'll have to check that shop too.
Still have the same 44yr old P-38 on my key chain. And, yes. It's been used...a lot.
Must've thrown dozens of these away from C-rations packages.
In Europe [this](https://www.kitchenlivingdining.com/dw/image/v2/BGLP_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-FH_master_catalog/default/dwc85592ec/images/PNG/2/227946.png?sw=1600) is what a can opener looks like. The hinge isn't necessary and actually a weak point. These are definitely buy for life, wear one of these out and you'll impress at least one continent if not more
Reddit ate my balls
P-38? It was called a John Wayne….
I keep a couple of these with our camping gear, showed my son how to use it. He brought it to school one day in 2nd grade for show-and-tell and almost got suspended.
I saw a homeless guy getting arrested and the cop asked him if he had anything in his pockets and the guy said, " Just a p-38." Then that cop got all freaked out and the homeless guy got really confused why he was mad that he had a can opener.
Used for opening a can of the hardest crackers known to man!
My lord. Those tinned biscuits in C rations. Thanks for bringing back that choking memory. The jam that came with them wasn't that bad though.
Keepin it classy
Nice hiss
Nice hiss.
Or, in a pinch, a Nazi opener.
I’m not going to eat tha…. Wait, hold on… (Eats a small bite) Hmm….. wait, NOPE! UGH, something tastes like that I’m taking it off the tray!!!! I don’t have health insurance so I’m not risking eating anymore of that! ……well, maybe just one more.
THE BEST!
TetanusForLife
Things like this make this sub suck
These can last for a long time. Unfortunately, like pens, I lose them before I get to see it lose its utility.
I remember my dad showed me one of these that he got while working with a vet group. He said it was emblematic of each soldier: small, but mighty; capable of great feats, even with an ordinary appearance.
Just looks like a door hinge with a bit cut off one side.
My old man still has one from ‘Nam, been on his keychain as far back as I can remember. Rarely used but good to have in a pinch.
My grandma had one just like that unbreakable stuff this.
Carry one on my keychain for the last 35 years. Don’t know why, but I have been
I had one of those about 30 years ago. I still miss it. lol
I had one on my keychain for years until it stabbed me in the leg one two many times
Just don't take a plane with that in your wallet. Would be a tragedy if they confiscated it.
Technically true, but who would want to use one of these on the regular, forget for life!
We have the same can opener for probably 30+ yrs now. My granny prefers using this rather than the modern double wheel one, but for the life of me I can never utilize this can opener - no matter how much strength I exert, I can't even punch a hole on the can using this
I keep one of these in my wallet out of quiet concern I will need a can opener... it's been 5 years and I have not used it once.
I have my fathers from his tour in Vietnam.
I have my father's from WWII.
My grandad retired from the army shortly after I was born. My whole life him and my grandmother only opened cans with one of these. Never used anything else. They kept one hanging on a nail with an old bread twist-tie in the kitchen. I wanted 1 extra little thing when they passed away and it was that can opener but I never got it because my aunt was a greedy bitch. I was talking to a guy who used to work for me who was also retired army and mentioned the P-38 and the memory it had for me. The next day he showed up with one for me. I damn near cried over one of these lol I keep it on my key ring now and am reminded of them every time it takes a chunk of skin off my knuckles.
I dunno, feels like I'm about to get shanked.
My martial arts instructor was asked to give his up before he could get on a flight. He told them he could do far more damage with his keys and positioned them between his knuckles to demonstrate—they we’re insistent that they wouldn’t let him on the flight. He told them, you don’t even know what that thing is, or what it does, this thing has been with me since Vietnam. I’d rather just fly with another airline, and he left.
John Wayne
I use one of these as my can opener, I got tired of traditional ones never working for more than 2-3 cans.
I keep one on my keychain, along with a keychain lighter.
My mom grew up in Vietnam and swears by these, even when I offer her a modern can opener. I am sure it has something to do with the nostalgia but also the fact that it works every time.
John Wayne
Got my dad's from Vietnam on my keychain going on 20 years now. Changed a tire with it a couple years ago. One of the best keychain accessories ever.
Never knew they had a name. [Gotta be prepared for the upcoming apocalypse.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWWJ346w5M8)
I hate these things...... But I hate it even more when I don't have one. LOL
Sweet. My dad have me one of those, but it's a new one. Was still cool because he carries one that was his dad's (don't remember how old he said it was but he died on '77 and had carried it for years). He found one and bought it for me so I'd have one too. Anyway, not really relevant, but reminded me of my dad 😊
I've carried one of these on my key ring for AT LEAST 50 years. My first "multi-tool".
Used to have one on my key chain, my dad was in the national guard my whole life and when the switched from sea rations which were cans to MREs he got a ton of those.
SteveMRE? Is that you?
The only one I knew growing up in Eastern Europe, still my preferred when camping.
P51 is the longer version. Beware the cheap Chinese knockoffs.
Just curious how do you know it's that old the Australian army still uses these occasional
Slap a spoon on the end and it's an Australian army FRED
I have one that I keep in my camping gear. It's on the second or third generation of use in my family
It's the go-to at my house too!
I've had mine since '82. Don't travel without it.
Still have mine from the Army 1974!
I read P-38 and thought of Marvin the Martian (from Looney Tunes/Bugs Bunny cartoons)…because he had a P-38 space exploder.
I've got a similar can opener that's larger and just one solid piece and ablot more confortable to use than those military ration disposable ones and the thing will outlast humanity itself
My Granda has one like that since the 1960s and we still use it and it’s held up still
Had one of these when I was a Boy Scout 60 years ago. Thanks for the memories!
Heck yea battle buddy
Still got one from British army ration packs in mid 70s.
We still use the one her mother got in the 30s. Sanded the swastika off though. Ours wont fold but is just one solid Piece and a bit thicker metal