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.
How many still have their P38 can opener
- Thread starter Sayoc01
- Start date
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.
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.
Yup
On my my "work" key ring!
XAVMECH
On my my "work" key ring!
XAVMECH
Whitwabit
US Veteran
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 !!
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 !!
reddogge
Member
I have one I used to use camping. It's in a printers box now on the wall.
That, my dogtags, and a set of strips from my last uniform.
DWFAN
US Veteran
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. 
DW
DW
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.
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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model70hunter
Member
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.
Used to keep one in the truck glove box for canned stuff when hunting to heat stuff on a little fire.
mjr
Member
I never had a P38 but I figure my P225 should be just as good for opening cans.
Carried on on my key ring for years. Still got a couple around here.
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.
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.
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
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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Yep, still have mine in the garage somewhere.
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.
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.
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!!!
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
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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