The lowly P38

koyote

koyote

Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Messages
5,846
I was talkin to Koyote Girl- right after I gave her a P38 for her keychain, and realized people may not know about the venerable tool.

I grew up with them- I've always had one on my keys, sometimes in my wallet, generally a half dozen floating around camping geaar and glove boxes.

So I'm gonna talk about it.

It's a can opener. Actually it's a moderately useful can opener- I'm easily twice as fast with my SAK, but I still open cans with a p38 every week or so to keep in practice. (For greaheads, this is one of my coolest habits, I've gotten blanche and sierra to start doing it- always using an sak or p38 for opening cans in the kitchen.)

But, it's so much more- I have used them as scribes, as letter openers and box cutters, as small knives for pointing marshmallow sticks. It's the only 50 cent tool I recommend without any hesitation at all.


Tip: use a small piece of rubber band or ranger band to hold it closed :)
 
+1 on the P38 :thumbup: I've had one on my keychain & in my dinnerbucket for a long time...time for a couple of new ones now !
 
Nice tip, koyote. I'll admit that I'm not sure I'm familiar with the widget in question, though. Could someone post a pic? I think there's still a little bit of space on my keychain!

All the best,

- Mike

PS For a minute there, I thought you had given Koyote Girl a Walther P38 to hang on her keychain ...
 
My father gave me one when I was about 7 years old. Its been on my key chain the last 28 years, I don't go anywhere without it. Its funny, I never realized I have had it that long:)
 
I have never actually owned one. I have been meaning to buy a few to include with all the gifts I give, just always forgot when I order or go to places that has them. I do use my SAK can openers very often, though. Everyday, almost, it seems.
 
+1 on the P-38. I have had mine on my keychain since 1977. Same one.

Has saved my ass at dinner parties and as a screwdriver more than once.

KR
 
Thanks for the pic lambertiana. Now I know what we're talking about.

Though, for the record, these posts are still funnier if you pretend we're talking about a Walther (ex. "Has saved my ass at dinner parties ...")!

- Mike
 
I love 'em. I ended up with about 50 of them from a drunken Ebay buy and sent one with all my trades and sales on the exchange for awhile. I have a few left other than the ones I keep in the pocket, trucks, packs, bobs, etc., etc..
 
I've never used one. Always used an SAK, even in the kitchen. Just went and ordered 100, so I'll get some practice shortly. :)
 
I love them, too.

For some reason, I've never been able to get an electric can opener to last more than a month, and the newer manual ones with bend up, or dull beyond belief in no tiome, so it's a SAK or P38 every time now.
 
Love the P-38 too! Have them stashed all over the place. I use it more often than not for things other than opening cans like most people probably do. Some may think it somewhat sacrilegious, but dog gone it, I like the P-51 too, maybe even more. I can definitely open a can faster with the 51; more leverage.

I'm sure some of you have seen this list as it has been around for some time, but I think it is always fun to read (some uses of the P-38):

Uses:
# Can opener
# Seam ripper
# Screwdriver
# Clean fingernails
# Cut fishing line
# Open paint cans
# Window scraper
# Scrape around floor corners
# Digging
# Clean out groove on tupperware lids
# Reach in and clean out small cracks
# Scrape around edge of boots
# Bottle opener
# Gut fish (in the field)
# Scale fish (in the field)
# Test for 'doneness' when baking on a camp fire
# Prying items
# Strip wire
# Scrape pans in the field
# Lift key on flip top cans
# Chisel
# Barter
# Marking tool
# Deflating tires
# Clean sole of boot/shoe
# Pick teeth
# Measurement
# Striking flint
# Stirring coffee
# Puncturing plastic coating
# Knocking on doors
# Morse code
# Box cutter
# Opening letters
# Write emergency messages
# Scratch an itch
# Save as a souvenir
# Rip off rank for on-the-spot promotions
# Bee sting removal tool (scrape off w/ blade)
Click to expand...
 
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Hard not to like something that works so well.

I keep one in my first aid kit and one with my camp stove. Never really looked outside the box for other uses, it's good to see some.

Thanks
 
I might add, though, the P-38 seems to make a better striker for ferro rods than the P-51 for some reason. I assume it is a difference in the metal.
 
Another P-38 user. Easily faster than my SAK can opener (which for some reason I still use more:confused:).

Check post 21 by senoBDEC for a paperclip mod that stops the little blade from opening here.
 
I think I was issued a P-38 with my diapers when I was a baby. That's what happens when you're a Marine brat. Then, when I was a little older, I was astonished to find out that other kids didn't carry a P-38 with them. Later, when I was serving, every Marine carried a P-38 on their dogtag chain, and couldn't envision being without one. Not having one would have been worse than being naked. Now, I suspect that they're as much of an American icon to millions of vets as a Ka-Bar. I don't know how many I've had over the last sixty-something years, but it's a lot.

The P-38 is just one of those things that become such a part of your life that it would never cross your mind to leave home without it. I favor the P-51 nowadays, but it's the same basic tool. With a little work, you can turn it into a great little striker for a fire steel, too.

Thanks for the memories.
 
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