Kind of along the same lines as the pencil sharpener

[hushnel]

In that it’s primary purpose is to scrape starter off wood, it is basically a small cabinet scraper that I cut off of a roll of stock stainless steel. Then I polished the one side to function as a signal mirror. Of course it can also be used as a cabinet scraper to take off bark and splinters for walking sticks or other bush made items. I drilled a hole so I can hang it up to flash in the breeze.

It’s a bit springy but also very flat and with a bit of wet/dry sandpaper I can redress the edge of a knife. It is very flat and thin, it virtually vanishes in my Altoids tin.

So it’s kind of functional in the sense that it can serve more than one purpose and like the pencil sharpener safer to use with frozen fingers than a knife may be.

The stainless steel stock

Modern tin fire kit

Polished mini cabinet scrapper

Every day briefcase kit with some scrapings

 

[Don Rearic]

Oh Lordy, you have a P-38 in there as well! Lectures are coming as to there relative uselessness in life. I don't agree, I'm just telling you what to expect in about the next three hours. hahah!

I saw cabinet scrapers like that in Garrett/Wade or some, similar catalog, they will make curlies very, very well. Work good for "loiding," what I refer to as "Doing the Rockford." Pushing the beveled latch of a common doorknob (not a deadbolt). You can also cut it in an L shape for reverse bevel latches.

 

[hushnel]

The P-38 is the striker for the ferro rod and a can opener. I really don't care what anyone says about the P-38, it's attributes embody the best in form and function.

 

[baldtaco-II]

I'm thinking a small section like a nutmeg grater built in to one end would expand its capabilities. I use the saw side of a hacksaw blade to fluff up fibers every bit as much as I use the other side to get a spark.

 

[dawsonbob]

+1 on having a P-38 (or in my case a P-51). Good thing to have for a number of reasons. Oh, and I like the scraper, too: a useful item, that.

 

[Scott Free]

That thing looks WAY too heavy and takes up WAY to much space!

 

[pitdog]

+1 on having a P-38 (or in my case a P-51). Good thing to have for a number of reasons. Oh, and I like the scraper, too: a useful item, that.

A Trivia Note: The P-38 Can opener got its name because it took 38 movements to open a standard military C-Rations can. Having canned food for an emergency does you no good if you can't get in to it.:thumbup:

 

[KuRUpTD]

Good piece piece of trivia Pit :thumbup:

so does it take 51 movements with the larger P-51?

 

[Don Rearic]

Trivia, Trivia...P-38 was also the replacement for the 9mm Luger, the Walther P-38. Was a fighter plane, the oddball of WW2, P-38 Lightning. P-51, obviously the Mustang.

The P-38 can opener is an awesome little can opener. It's better than the Vic-SAK can openers but not better than the Camillus "Demo" Knife style of can opener, also on a lot of Cub Scout as well as BSA and GSA style knives. They are about even with those hawkbill-like can openers.

Almost indestructible as well. If only we could have a knife made out of that steel.

 

[Bushman5]

good looking kit! i'm a big fan of the mini cabinet scrapers.

 

[hushnel]

I wish I had access to a sheet metal shear, I could knock out a bunch of these in a heartbeat then pass them out to friends. This one I cut on the band saw then had to flat file the 4 edges then draw the curl.

 

[banana-clip]

thats a great idea

 

[BlackHills]

The P-38 can opener is an awesome little can opener.

As nice as a P-38 (can opener type) is, have you tried the British version? I have one and IMO it's better. It's pretty much the same design but it's longer.

 

[dawsonbob]

As nice as a P-38 (can opener type) is, have you tried the British version? I have one and IMO it's better. It's pretty much the same design but it's longer.

Like a P-51?

 

[BlackHills]

Like a P-51?

A quick google shows that compared to the P-51 it is "similar, but not identical, to the P-38 and P-51 can openers". It looked like a bigger P-38 when I first saw it.

 

[dawsonbob]

A quick google shows that compared to the P-51 it is "similar, but not identical, to the P-38 and P-51 can openers". It looked like a bigger P-38 when I first saw it.

I did a quick search, too, and found a picture of the British one. It looks like the P-51 to me, but I don't have one for a size comparison, so I can't really tell. Where did you get yours? I might have to try one.

 

[BlackHills]

I did a quick search, too, and found a picture of the British one. It looks like the P-51 to me, but I don't have one for a size comparison, so I can't really tell. Where did you get yours? I might have to try one.

I just measured, it's 2 1/16" long and about 3/4" wide. As for where you can buy one I'm not sure, ebay perhaps. Mine came from a case of rations a British soldier gave us when I was in Saudi.

 

[Don Rearic]

The little crescent shaped area on the P-51 where it grabs the lip of the can bent on mine! I couldn't believe it. I have never had a 38 do that. The 51 did though, I know some of them are supposed to be made by the same company, IIRC.

I like the Aussie F.R.E.D., it looks like cheaper metal, but you have to love it, it has a spoon on one end!

 

[dawsonbob]

I just measured, it's 2 1/16" long and about 3/4" wide. As for where you can buy one I'm not sure, ebay perhaps. Mine came from a case of rations a British soldier gave us when I was in Saudi.

That's the same length as my P-51 which, now that I think about it, may actually be Canadian. I never served with the British, but I did have some Australian SAS guys attached to me for awhile in Vietnam. They had some interesting can openers, but I didn't score one. They also had some really nice plastic spoons in their kits, and I did get one of those. A spoon may not seem like much to some people, but it was a big thing for us. Some of you will know what I'm talking about, some won't.

 

[Don Rearic]

A racing spoon, as (I think) the Brits are fond of calling it. Race to the bottom of the community soup pot.