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Unit of (6) P-38 Collapsible Can Openers
The WWII P38 Can Opener is a G.I. folding can opener that is made to original U.S. Government specifications. Our P38 can openers are constructed of cold rolled steel that will not easily bend or break.
Our P-38 Can Openers are 100% made in the U.S.A.
The P38 will work on just about any size can that has a sealed rim. A great friend to have around when disaster strikes. Each P38 opener has a convenient hole for placing in on a keyring for backup.
Ideal for any emergency preparedness plan, emergency survival kit, backpacking, boating or hunting trip.
The old GI's "Golden Rule" is 'AWAYS make sure someone has a P-38'!
A Bit of P38 Trivia:
During the WWII, Korean and Vietnam Wars (the days before the now famous MRE's) when hungry GI's were ready to open their metal sealed canned food C-Rations, or later the K-Rations, they used their trusty P-38s to open the cans. These tiny 1.5" lightweight P-38 collapsible can openers were originally developed in the Summer of 1942 by the Subsistence Research Laboratory in Chicago in just 30 days.
It's official designation is 'US ARMY POCKET CAN OPENER' or 'OPENER, CAN, HAND, FOLDING, TYPE I', but it is more commonly know by its nickname the P-38. The origin of the name is not exactly clear. Some say the "P" stands for puncture; the number "38" is how may times it took to go around the WWII "John Wayne Candybar Can" and the hole in the top of the P-38 was used to dip it in boiling water of your dog tag chain to clean after use!!
Some say that they were known as a "John Wayne" by those in the Navy and Marines because John Wayne was shown opening a can of C-Rations using a P-38 in a WWII training film. From then on Sailors and Marines referred to them as a "John Wayne".
Others say it performed with the speed of a P-38 fighter plane. Whatever the case, this little device has been considered one of the most perfect inventions ever designed for use in combat and is often called "the Army's Best Invention".
Originally, P-38s came wrapped in brown Kraft paper packets with a diagram and directions how to use printed on it. About a dozen P-38s came packed in a case of C-Rations but eventually because everyone was hoarding them, only 3 were included in a case.
Most troops during WWI, Korea and even Vietnam carried it on their dog tags. Even today, many servicemen carry it in the field even though longer uses for military ration opening.
More than "just" a can opener, over the years P-38 acquired 1001 uses: all-purpose toothpick, fingernail cleaner, screwdriver, bottle opener, box cutter, scrapper, digger, letter opener, chisel, scraper, stirrer, etc.
The WWII P38 Can Opener is a G.I. folding can opener that is made to original U.S. Government specifications. Our P38 can openers are constructed of cold rolled steel that will not easily bend or break.
Our P-38 Can Openers are 100% made in the U.S.A.
The P38 will work on just about any size can that has a sealed rim. A great friend to have around when disaster strikes. Each P38 opener has a convenient hole for placing in on a keyring for backup.
Ideal for any emergency preparedness plan, emergency survival kit, backpacking, boating or hunting trip.
The old GI's "Golden Rule" is 'AWAYS make sure someone has a P-38'!
A Bit of P38 Trivia:
During the WWII, Korean and Vietnam Wars (the days before the now famous MRE's) when hungry GI's were ready to open their metal sealed canned food C-Rations, or later the K-Rations, they used their trusty P-38s to open the cans. These tiny 1.5" lightweight P-38 collapsible can openers were originally developed in the Summer of 1942 by the Subsistence Research Laboratory in Chicago in just 30 days.
It's official designation is 'US ARMY POCKET CAN OPENER' or 'OPENER, CAN, HAND, FOLDING, TYPE I', but it is more commonly know by its nickname the P-38. The origin of the name is not exactly clear. Some say the "P" stands for puncture; the number "38" is how may times it took to go around the WWII "John Wayne Candybar Can" and the hole in the top of the P-38 was used to dip it in boiling water of your dog tag chain to clean after use!!
Some say that they were known as a "John Wayne" by those in the Navy and Marines because John Wayne was shown opening a can of C-Rations using a P-38 in a WWII training film. From then on Sailors and Marines referred to them as a "John Wayne".
Others say it performed with the speed of a P-38 fighter plane. Whatever the case, this little device has been considered one of the most perfect inventions ever designed for use in combat and is often called "the Army's Best Invention".
Originally, P-38s came wrapped in brown Kraft paper packets with a diagram and directions how to use printed on it. About a dozen P-38s came packed in a case of C-Rations but eventually because everyone was hoarding them, only 3 were included in a case.
Most troops during WWI, Korea and even Vietnam carried it on their dog tags. Even today, many servicemen carry it in the field even though longer uses for military ration opening.
More than "just" a can opener, over the years P-38 acquired 1001 uses: all-purpose toothpick, fingernail cleaner, screwdriver, bottle opener, box cutter, scrapper, digger, letter opener, chisel, scraper, stirrer, etc.
Item Number:2060-6
Ship Weight:0.06 lbs.
Customer Reviews
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Effective military can opener without equal Review by Joey Jingles
Quality When you need a can opener you need one. No rock, stick, or other nature supplied help will suffice and using a knife can be extremely dangerous out in the sweet by and by. I have one of these P-38 military can openers that I originally received during a military campaign in 1973. Then it resided on my dog tags and now rides on my key ring. I cannot begin to estimate how many cans this one tool has opened. These folding can openers are astonishingly simple and long lived. Once the hang of using them is mastered you might open a can faster than your Kitchenaide at home ! There is a half hole on the tool that sits on the cans edge. Place your thumb on the raised seam and simply rock the tool forward letting the tool pierce the cans top. Next move the entire cutter rearward a tad and go again always moving backward and not forward for speed. Once you learn the distance of this cut you can work on speed. Bon Appetite' (Posted on 7/20/11)
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