Can Opener Comparison

[RLANG]

The Leatherman bottle/can opener is horrible for beer bottles. It performed so poorly that I felt compelled to test its other presumed function; then I could denounce it completely. To my indignant surprise, the can opener performed very well. It opened a Progresso soup can both smoothly and efficiently with great piercing ability. I used the opener on the Wave and the Surge. The Surge's performed better still, same blade shape but slightly larger, with increased leverage (longer handle).

For comparison, I tested the openers on a few folders (all of the can opener blades were hook shaped).Until this test, I preferred the opener on the generic US Utility folder/Demolition knife (Camillus '95). The opener is the largest I have seen on a folder, the tip of the hook is very thin and it says "can opener" on it; hard to argue with that. Its thin tip pierces well.

The other openers were from the following: Victorinox Tinker, Ulster BSA (four blade, '82), Camco 450 (four blade, mid '60s). The Vic opener had always been awkward, since its diminutive blade was forward cutting. After a few attempts it would operate smoothly, but since the cutting arc was small it was not efficient. Also, the driver tip would overly penetrate and bind. However, it was a true multiple use blade: can opener, small flat/phillips screw driver, and since the cutting edge was external- scraper. The BSA opener was fine, better than the Vic's and almost as functional as the Demo's (and nostalgic as well).

So far none of the openers performed poorly, but the Leatherman's was surprisingly best. This changed when I used the Camco's, it was short, thick, and stout. The hole punched by the opener was twice as wide as the others, yet just as facile to operate. The simple, yet dated, design was fun to use. Too bad the need for a can opener is rare.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

A couple of years ago I was going camping and taking some cans that I would need a can opener for, so I tested my options at home to see how well they worked. My Leatherman Wave can opener worked, but my Victorinox Cybertool can opener worked MUCH better. It was quicker, easier and made a better job of it. To me the Victorinox can opener beats the Leatherman can opener and it isn't even close.

YMMV

 

[znapschatz]

The Leatherman bottle/can opener is horrible for beer bottles.

Horrible may be too strong a description. Leatherman provides a combi opener, not as efficient as a dedicated bottle opener because of the piercing can opener section, but a slight annoyance, at worst. No question that Vic and some others work more effectively, but many a beer has been successfully opened by any of my several Leathermen.

A couple of years ago I was going camping and taking some cans that I would need a can opener for, so I tested my options at home to see how well they worked. My Leatherman Wave can opener worked, but my Victorinox Cybertool can opener worked MUCH better. It was quicker, easier and made a better job of it. To me the Victorinox can opener beats the Leatherman can opener and it isn't even close.

YMMV

Without ever having used a Cybertool, I can't comment on its can opener. If it is anything like the ones on other Vics, I have lots of experience with those, and I find them and Leatherman about equal.
Maybe it's a matter of technique?

 

[foxx]

For beer bottles, those hook style can openers are just about useless. I do better with a bic lighter, a stick, or a dedicated bottle opener. I have a Ti bottle opener from Nemesis Knives, and a few aluminum ones. The only work for bottles, but that's the price of a good beer.

 

[RLANG]

It may depend on who makes the beer. On cheaper beer (Yuengling) the caps lift off easier, so the hook shaped opener on a Leatherman is OK (but not good). On better beer (Victory, Belgian) the caps are tighter. Using the Leatherman opener is a struggle. It takes two or three attempts just to have the cap bent in half, but still attached. My favorite key chain bottle opener is from Gore-Tex. It was just a give away but very thick and sturdy.

Back to can openers; the most useful knife blade to utilize in opening a can has to be a pruning/ hook blade (for obvious reasons). Of course, any beater blade would be adequate.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

Without ever having used a Cybertool, I can't comment on its can opener. If it is anything like the ones on other Vics, I have lots of experience with those, and I find them and Leatherman about equal.
Maybe it's a matter of technique?

Yes, as far as I know it is the standard Victorinox tool. Maybe it is a matter of technique *shrug*
I just tried both and found the Victorinox one easier to use and it left a very clean edge around the inside of the can - I was impressed by how well it did the job. The LM Wave can opener worked (mine is the older model, no bit driver - I don't know if they did anything to the can opener design on the newer Wave) but it just didn't feel as good doing it and the can had a more ragged edge around the inside.

My personal preference - I'd rather use a Victorinox can opener.

 

[znapschatz]

It may depend on who makes the beer. On cheaper beer (Yuengling) the caps lift off easier, so the hook shaped opener on a Leatherman is OK (but not good). On better beer (Victory, Belgian) the caps are tighter. Using the Leatherman opener is a struggle. It takes two or three attempts just to have the cap bent in half, but still attached. My favorite key chain bottle opener is from Gore-Tex. It was just a give away but very thick and sturdy.

Now that is a factor I hadn't considered. Most of the caps I lift are from Trader Joe's Fat Weasel or Black Toad ale, good but cheap brands. Also, no problem with Great Lakes or some other brews, but I'm not sure if I ever opened a bottle of the fancier stuff with a multitool implement. I'll have to give it a try at next opportunity.

From the above, readers might conclude that I drink a lot of beer. They would be right.

Back to can openers; the most useful knife blade to utilize in opening a can has to be a pruning/ hook blade (for obvious reasons). Of course, any beater blade would be adequate.

Speaking of beater blades, I have opened many a C-ration with a bayonet. Messy, but I didn't have to worry about damage because I didn't own it.

 

[Modoc ED]

Get a P-38 or a P-51. Put em on your key ring and you're good to go for can opening anytime, anywhere. As for bottle caps, learn to place the cap on the edge of something and then use the heel of your hand to sharply push the bottle top down. Works every time.

 

[Gareth UK]

I think it can very much be a case of what you are used too. While I can use the hook style openers on LM and Wenger (for example) perfectly well, it's the Vic one I'd pick as a winner.

Wenger do the best bottle opener though, IMO anyway.

 

[Hard H2O]

Get a P-38 or a P-51. Put em on your key ring and you're good to go for can opening anytime, anywhere. As for bottle caps, learn to place the cap on the edge of something and then use the heel of your hand to sharply push the bottle top down. Works every time.

I have had a P-38 on my key ring forever. Then I got the bigger P-51. They both work great. I can't bring myself to take the P-38 off the ring so I keep both on there.