How do the various style can openers compare?

[kozak6]

Sometimes I find myself eating a lot of canned food, so I'm a bit curious how the different style can openers compare. What have you guys used? What did you think of them?

Here's Wenger's style, as demonstrated on their EvoGrip 10. This is the only one that I have direct experience with. It seems to work fairly well. It also seems like most multitools, such as Leatherman, use a variation of of this style. It rocks towards you as it opens the can.

There's Victorinox's basic can opener, which I understand is intended to be rocked forward. It certainly looks quite interesting. How does it compare to Wenger's? Here it is demonstrated on the Spartan:

How well do the combo tools work, and how well do they tend to work as bottle openers?

Here's Victorinox's, as demonstrated on their Waiter:

And Wenger's, on their Evolution 63:

Then, there's this style, as demonstrated on Victorinox's Heritage Knife. Many vintage scout knives seem to have this style. I'm not quite sure how it's supposed to work.

Finally, there's this type, as demonstrated on the Rough Rider utility knife. It also seems to turn up quite a bit on vintage scout knives. I'm not quite sure how this one works either.

 

[supratentorial]

I don't have any Rough Rider knives but they seem to be widely available for cheap. Are they any good? The opener is similar in style to the openers on some of my vintage knives. The stud rests on the edge of the can while cutting but sometimes also works well (if the backspring is not too strong) for one hand opening (might be useful if the can is in your other hand).

The opener on the Heritage knife is the same as on my 1940s Soldier knife. I don't think I've used it to open any cans (I usually buy pull top cans)--I'll have to give it a try later.

Here are a few test cuts with the first three on your list (None of the openers will leave your cat hungry.):

 

[Gareth UK]

In order of preference for me it goes something like this:

1) Standard Vic
2) Wenger
3) Vic combo tool
4) Vic/Wenger crab claw type.

TBH it's a close call as for first and second, both are really quite good. The Combo tool makes for a far better cap lifter than can opener (in fact I think it's better than the standard Vic cap lifter) but you wouldn't starve if that was all you had.

I've put the crab claw at the bottom as I have used one but found it to be a PITA. That may be just a question of practice though.

I'm not sure I've ever used the Wenger combo tool but I do have one so I'll have to give it a go sometime.

 

[Gareth UK]

BTW supratentorial, what is the SAK with the Combo tool? It's not standard is it?

 

[kozak6]

I don't have any Rough Rider knives but they seem to be widely available for cheap. Are they any good?

Over on the Traditional forum, they are regarded as being very good for the price. However, they are Chinese made if that is an issue for you.

 

[Lock1454]

BTW supratentorial, what is the SAK with the Combo tool? It's not standard is it?

Victorinox Waiter, it's a current model
http://sakselector.info/cgi-bin/sak_selector.cgi?model=waiter&buy=1&metric=1&pictures=1

And in regards to the tools. I've never had call to use my can openers, but I decided to open a few cans when making dinner at home just to try them.

The standard Vic and Wenger ones works just fine for me. Seemed like the Wenger cut a bit faster and didn't slip off of the lip of the can as much. The combo tool worked but not as nicely as the two dedicated tools - it definitely got the job done though.

 

[ufox9al]

BTW supratentorial, what is the SAK with the Combo tool? It's not standard is it?

Victorinox Waiter, it's a current model
http://sakselector.info/cgi-bin/sak_selector.cgi?model=waiter&buy=1&metric=1&pictures=1

Gareth has a good eye, Plus scales and Phillips on the back - this is no Waiter!

 

[supratentorial]

It's the Techline Swiss army knife (made by Victorinox).

 

[Lock1454]

Gareth has a good eye, Plus scales and Phillips on the back - this is no Waiter!

Woops, went and looked at the SAK with the combo tool in the original post! My mistake

 

[Gareth UK]

It's the Techline Swiss army knife (made by Victorinox).

Ah, that explains it. A company specific model, not part of Vic's normal line-up. Very cool. :thumbup:

 

[davide]

I prefer the combo tool on the Leatherman Wave for opening cans over the Victorinox can opener. The fact that it locks in place makes things much easier. The only problem is that as a bottle opener I don't find it to be too user friendly.

 

[Toyz]

I think Vic kicks butt - as a matter of fact - when camping - I will use the Vic even though I have a conventional opener nearby.

 

[cdf]

A Vic. can opener is my only can opener in the kitchen . It's also a fair/good field expedient phillips driver .Also comes in handy for opening pesky split rings .

Chris

 

[znapschatz]

A Vic. can opener is my only can opener in the kitchen . It's also a fair/good field expedient phillips driver .Also comes in handy for opening pesky split rings .

Chris

Can opener capability has never been a deal breaker for me, less so now that so many cans open with a tab. Still, every once in a while the implement comes in handy, so I don't like to be without. Over decades I have used a variety of can openers on SAKs and multitools. Some worked better than others but they all got the job done. If I had to rank them, Vic would place first for cleanest cut, but most others get lids off as fast and easy. Of them, though, current Vic openers are the most versatile, usable for a lot of other chores, like opening packages, spreading split rings, scoring orange skins, ph driver etc. Bringing up the rear is the Juice combi tool, but even that works well enough.

 

[frank k]

Strictly for opening cans, I like the birds beak shaped ones like Wenger uses, they are fast and make nice clean cut edges, but you need a light touch with them or they will fold up and jam.


The newer Leatherman tools work just as well, but since they lock you can use more force than with the Wengers. Leatherman's can openers are supposed to function as bottle openers, but they only barely work, often slipping off the cap without lifting it.


I find the standard Vic opener to be a slightly slow and finicky but it gets the job done and it has the little screw driver tip which sometimes comes in handy.


The Vic combination blade I find to be fairly slow and awkward, prone to folding and jamming and leaving ragged edges, but again it does work and has a decent sized screw driver tip. Also works as a bottle opener, freeing up a space for another tool.

 

[JNewell]

I've used a bunch of different openers on #10 (biiiiiig) cans and my personal preference is for the classic Vic style. YMMV...

 

[supratentorial]

I picked up some beer in case we need to test the bottle openers later!

 

[sm2]

My preference in order:

Vic Standard (such as on a Spartan)
Vic Combo ( as on the Bantam)
P-38 (GI Issue)
Leatherman
Wenger

It has been too long since I used the old vintage style. There was a time I was quite fast with one of these.

My fastest times are with the Vic standard and Vic combo.

Doesn't everyone have competitions with these?