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  #1  
Old 12-17-2015, 09:29 AM
Sayoc01 Sayoc01 is offline
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How many still have their P38 can opener How many still have their P38 can opener How many still have their P38 can opener How many still have their P38 can opener How many still have their P38 can opener  
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Default How many still have their P38 can opener

My brother has his on his key ring. He was stopped from boarding a plane & the guy was going to confiscate his P38.
My brother asked him not to...explained it was from his time in the MARINES in the 70's & he had it since Parris Island.Guy looked at him smiled said keep it &let him board.
Just wondered how many sill have theirs!
Jim
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Old 12-17-2015, 09:54 AM
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still got the first one i used,keep it with my dogtags
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Old 12-17-2015, 09:56 AM
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I found one last night going thru a box of stuff.
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Old 12-17-2015, 09:56 AM
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I used to carry mine on my keychain. It cut holes
In my pocket, so I quit doing it.
Very useful item to have.
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Old 12-17-2015, 09:58 AM
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Got one on my key ring. Don't use it for opening cans much any more but it makes a nifty straight slot screw driver.
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Old 12-17-2015, 10:15 AM
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Yep, and got a nice scar to prove it; don't carry on my key ring any more for previously stated reason. Still have it though. Still works.
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Old 12-17-2015, 10:31 AM
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I had one years ago that I kept on my key chain. I don't remember what ever happened to it.
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Old 12-17-2015, 10:45 AM
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Default P38

Yep, some things we just don't toss.
tb
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Old 12-17-2015, 10:56 AM
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On my key ring, next to a dog-tag.
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:01 AM
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In my wallet.
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:02 AM
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Bought a pack of 10 P-51s on Amazon for about $7
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:06 AM
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Absolutely! ...and the key ring is a grenade pin!
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:08 AM
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Still have mine.
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:14 AM
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Default P38 can opener

I have mine on my dog tags in the display case with the medals. Brings back memories each time a view them.

Nick
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:20 AM
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I used to have one on my keychain but don't know what happened to it.
I read once it was numbered 38 as that is how many times it took to open a can of C-rats. I don't know if that is true but did take a bit of doing to get those cans opened with one.
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:27 AM
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I have a five-pack. I keep one in my desk drawer at work, one in the kitchen drawer at work, one in my kitchen at home, one in my toolbox, and one in my car.
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:32 AM
GatorFarmer GatorFarmer is offline
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My grandfather carried his from WW2 until the day he died. It still worked fine 40 plus years on.
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:37 AM
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Mine is in the drawer with my Dogtags, Ribbons and Medals.
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Old 12-17-2015, 11:59 AM
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I still have mine and still carry it on my key ring. I also have one stashed with the camping gear and actually use it often when primitive camping with the wife.
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Old 12-17-2015, 12:04 PM
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Yep, still have mine from 1954 on the bead chain with my dog tags!
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Old 12-17-2015, 12:09 PM
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I have mine from 1960, I don't carry it because the hinge got loose but it's in the drawer and I've used it a few times on dented cans that wouldn't work on the electric opener. My key ring is from the 1st hand grenade I threw and I've carried it everyday for the last 55 years.
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Old 12-17-2015, 12:09 PM
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Kept my first one. Not quite sure where it is. Now I'll wind up spending the day looking for it.
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Old 12-17-2015, 12:51 PM
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Dog tag, P38,and a Saint Christopher medal one of the guys gave me when going through Boot Camp from the 60's.

Some things you just have to keep.
I have two newer ones that I use now and then, the original is in retirement, with honors.
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Old 12-17-2015, 12:53 PM
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On my my "work" key ring!
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Old 12-17-2015, 01:21 PM
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I have the first one from my time in the Air Force and I carry one on my key chain all the time .. been there for the last 46 years .. almost have the hole worn through from just moving back and forth on the key ring ..

Guess if I ever fly I would take it off and leave it at home .. wouldn't have though of it but for this thread ..

Thanks !!
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Old 12-17-2015, 03:27 PM
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I still have mine. Brought it back from Germany where I used to watch "the fence".
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Old 12-17-2015, 03:48 PM
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I have one I used to use camping. It's in a printers box now on the wall.
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Old 12-17-2015, 04:05 PM
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That, my dogtags, and a set of strips from my last uniform.
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Old 12-17-2015, 04:14 PM
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I was issued Mine in March of 1974 and I still have it.
It's funny how You lose some things but for some reason You hang on to others.
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Old 12-17-2015, 04:29 PM
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Same one since '65. Finger nail clippers, one dog tag and a drilled out .45 that was still live at the time. Wouldn't surprise me if that primer was still good.

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Old 12-17-2015, 05:20 PM
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Default I've got a few......

I wasn't in the service but I have a few of them around. The reason I keep them isn't to open cans (I hope) but as a mechanical designer I'm in awe of the size, simplicity, effectivness and manufacturing cost of such an item.

I was looking to see who invented this marvelous thing and came across this:

He was gone forever, the Soldier who inside of six months had spent every waking minute with me, living and fighting in the latest conflict. A man who gave a whole new meaning to the words friend and family. I wanted to leave something with him to connect us through eternity, something that would assure us both he would never be forgotten. Ever. So I slipped a P-38 can opener into his pants pocket just before they took him away. (memories of a Vietnam Veteran)

FORT MONMOUTH, N.J. -- It was invented in just 30 days in the summer of 1942 by Maj. Thomas Dennehy at the Subsistence Research Laboratory in Chicago.
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Old 12-17-2015, 09:20 PM
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I have it somewhere. I quit carrying it on my key ring after the point slid between my nail and finger.

Used to keep one in the truck glove box for canned stuff when hunting to heat stuff on a little fire.
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Old 12-17-2015, 09:55 PM
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I never had a P38 but I figure my P225 should be just as good for opening cans.



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Old 12-17-2015, 10:33 PM
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Carried on on my key ring for years. Still got a couple around here.
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Old 12-17-2015, 10:47 PM
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Got one on my key ring for 45 yrs. My old man really liked them
for some reason( he was WW2 Squib ) anyway I use to send him
on in every letter home. When he passed away we found all of
them in his desk drawer.
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Old 12-17-2015, 10:57 PM
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Yes, I still have mine and cary it every day on my keychain. Got it sometime during the month of April of 1969 at Fort Dix New Jersey while in boot camp.
The following is a pretty good website that gives much history of this mity mite of a tool:

terry

P-38 Can Opener The Armys Greatest Invention

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Old 12-17-2015, 11:28 PM
RoseanneCBarnett RoseanneCBarnett is offline
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Yep, still have mine in the garage somewhere.
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Old 12-18-2015, 12:43 AM
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I still carry the first one I was given back in boot camp, it is marked US SPEAKER. I remember having to sharpen it a couple of times in Vietnam but other than that it remains as issued, although highly polished from over 40 years of being attached to my House Key Ring. The HKR only has the two keys necessary to open my house, the P38, an equally old Proto key ring screwdriver, and an aluminum beer bottle opener from the Winnipeg Hotel, Grand Forks, B.C. I only carry the car key and electonic device attached to it for whatever car I am driving, my wife's car only requires the electronic unit, it is keyless.
I can't tell you the number of times that my small key ring of tools has gotten me or somebody else out of a problem or at the least saved somebody a long walk for tools, I have saved the day on camping trips when folks forget they don't have their electronic can opener with them, fed myself easily, opened hundreds if not thousands of beers for others as well as myself. Adjusted loose mirrors by simply rolling the window down and tightening a screw that came loose.
Thanks for reminding me about how useful those few small tools have been in my life, I've always enjoyed being self reliant. I was visiting my cousins a couple of months ago and I met one of their old friends, now that guy was prepared...he had a leatherman tool and a Swiss Knife Multi-Tool on his belt along with a belt mounted cell phone pouch, I don't remember being impressed. I figure if I ever am forced to carry a cell-phone around with me I might resort to something like that.
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Old 12-18-2015, 12:52 AM
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I still have mine...I keep it in my little basic small survival pouch that I carry when I go out into the big woods. Kinda stupid I guess...as if I might be out there a few days and stumble onto some caned goods!!!
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Old 12-18-2015, 12:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by model70hunter View Post
I have it somewhere. I quit carrying it on my key ring after the point slid between my nail and finger.
Still have my original, darkened steel. Plus a few of the later inferior types that stay shiny. Not sure how many cans of Beef w/Spiced Sauce the original has opened but the later models gave up after a short time.

...and yes, I quit carrying mine around for the exact same reason.


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Old 12-18-2015, 01:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by old tanker View Post
Absolutely! ...and the key ring is a grenade pin!
LOL, Ditto
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Old 12-18-2015, 01:28 AM
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Still got it.

LTC
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Old 12-18-2015, 02:30 AM
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Been carrying mine in a wallet since leaving active duty in '67 change out wallets back goes the P38. Frank
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Old 12-18-2015, 03:40 AM
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I quit carrying mine because I always have a multi tool or SAK on me. 2 of my sons were in at the Y2K time frame, years after the last C-rat was eaten on duty, yet they each carry one at all times. The Marine also carries a fold up spoon in his wallet too.

I was cleaning out the garage this summer and came across four C-rat/MRE cardboard cases full of old cans and accessory packs. There was a box of about ten P-38's in paper wrappers, just about everything else went in the trash. I did save a 4 pack of cigarettes as a conversation piece.

Ivan
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Old 12-18-2015, 03:43 AM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
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I have one, but don't carry it unless camping or travelling. My Swiss Army knives have can openers if one is needed unexpectedly. And they won't cut my leg or trousers like a P-38 on a key chain will.

BTW, I was once cut by a tiger shark tooth worn on a necklace, so I quit wearing that.
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Old 12-18-2015, 04:16 AM
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In my time we use to get one of these in each 24 hour ration pack


Australian food history timeline - F.R.E.D. the soldier's friend

Last edited by FastFossil; 12-18-2015 at 04:18 AM.
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Old 12-18-2015, 07:46 AM
Shark Bait Shark Bait is offline
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On a spare key ring in my truck. The modern knock-offs aren't made as well as the originals.
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Old 12-18-2015, 12:42 PM
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Absolutely! I keep mine on my key ring!
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Old 12-18-2015, 01:15 PM
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I have one in my pocket change purse (along with lots of other small utility items which are not coins), and have carried it for many years. However, I have yet to ever use it. I remember that C-rations always included one of them in the accessory pack.
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Old 12-18-2015, 01:16 PM
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Still have mine as well. Remember my first lesson on how one utilized it from a Marine sgt. Taught me how to vent the bottom on can etc. to make a small stove, pinch of c-4, end of a cigarette and u have fire. Didn't know anything about c-4 other than it goes BOOM, using it to cook with induced anxiety which he had a lot of fun with.
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