LOL, Ditto
How many still have their P38 can opener
- Thread starter Sayoc01
- Start date
LOL, Ditto
Frank46
US Veteran
Been carrying mine in a wallet since leaving active duty in '67 change out wallets back goes the P38. Frank
Ivan the Butcher
Member
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
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
Texas Star
US Veteran
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.
BTW, I was once cut by a tiger shark tooth worn on a necklace, so I quit wearing that.
FastFossil
Member
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
Australian food history timeline - F.R.E.D. the soldier's friend
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On a spare key ring in my truck. The modern knock-offs aren't made as well as the originals.
Absolutely! I keep mine on my key ring!
DWalt
Member
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.
caduceus
US Veteran
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.
DWalt
Member
Re my #49, all this talk inspired me to open up my change purse and retrieve my P-38. It was fairly grubby (coated with some kind of scum), so I cleaned it up and made it shiny again. To commemorate the occasion, I used it to open a can of refried beans. It was slow, but it worked. As they say, better slow than not at all. Upon doing a little research, I found there was (is?) also a larger version of the P-38 called a P-51. Obviously the designer had the hots for neat WWII fighter planes.
I have one on a keyring that I used to put in my pocket when i was going out in the desert. The keyring had a few other things on it: a screwdriver, spark striker for starting fires and some other stuff I don't remember. Had an SAK in my pocket so I didn' really need it, I guess.
Two years ago i got this rather ratty 1930 Transitional Mauser at a Dallas gun show. It had a rawhide lanyard thrugh the lanyard loop with a P 38 attached to it. The guy I bought it from said it had belonged to his father and he brought it home from the war. I presumed he meant WW II, but the P 38, an all steel one, was stamped US Koolaire, 1952 so it was probably a Korean war relic.
Two years ago i got this rather ratty 1930 Transitional Mauser at a Dallas gun show. It had a rawhide lanyard thrugh the lanyard loop with a P 38 attached to it. The guy I bought it from said it had belonged to his father and he brought it home from the war. I presumed he meant WW II, but the P 38, an all steel one, was stamped US Koolaire, 1952 so it was probably a Korean war relic.
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Skeptic 9c
Member
I got mine mate!
Geoff
Who keeps a couple around just in case.
Geoff
Who keeps a couple around just in case.
DWalt
Member
Stamping on mine is US SHELBY CO. I do not see a date stamp.
From Wikipedia: The original U.S.-contract P-38 can openers were manufactured by J.W. Speaker Corporation (stamped "US Speaker") and by Washburn Corporation (marked "US Androck"); they were later made by Mallin Hardware (now defunct) of Shelby, Ohio and were variously stamped "US Mallin Shelby O." or "U.S. Shelby Co."
From Wikipedia: The original U.S.-contract P-38 can openers were manufactured by J.W. Speaker Corporation (stamped "US Speaker") and by Washburn Corporation (marked "US Androck"); they were later made by Mallin Hardware (now defunct) of Shelby, Ohio and were variously stamped "US Mallin Shelby O." or "U.S. Shelby Co."
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carpriver
US Veteran
I still have mine, with my dog tags. I remember heating rations on a pinch of C-4. Could heat water for really bad instant coffee.
I got my P-38 in 68.
I got my P-38 in 68.
Isn't is really amazing......
Reading the posts here, isn't is amazing that a tool that cost a nickel to make (more like a penny in the old days) could be so appealing to so many people. If I get into the bug-out business I'm going to make sure I have one in my bag because just knowing it was there will make me feel more secure.
Lessee.....string, fishhooks, matches in waterproof container, P38, Swiss army knife, snake bite kit (wait a minute they don't use those any more do they?)...
Reading the posts here, isn't is amazing that a tool that cost a nickel to make (more like a penny in the old days) could be so appealing to so many people. If I get into the bug-out business I'm going to make sure I have one in my bag because just knowing it was there will make me feel more secure.
Lessee.....string, fishhooks, matches in waterproof container, P38, Swiss army knife, snake bite kit (wait a minute they don't use those any more do they?)...
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REM 3200
US Veteran
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.
I lost my P-38 as well as my TL-29 when we lost our house during Katrina in 2005.
didn't they include...
Didn't they include two cigarettes in a box of C rats? I wonder how they fought over those.
Didn't they include two cigarettes in a box of C rats? I wonder how they fought over those.
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