Uses for the P-38

W

will62

Joined
Oct 18, 2002
Messages
372
How many uses can you come up with for the P-38 can opener or the larger P-51 besides opening cans. This should get a good number of responses since at least half of the people on this site have probably served in the military and a large number may remember C Rations.
1 Cleaning fingernails
2 Removing carbon from my M16 extractor
3 Screwdriver
4 Makeshift knife (better than nothing)
5 Light duty prying tool
 
Have a look at the Australian Army version.
Much better & you should be able to find them for sale on the famous action site.
Its a F,R,E,D or FRED. Food , Ration , Eating , Device.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_Ration_Eating_Device

DSCN0369.jpg
 
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j man.. it's been a while since I've read Andy McNabb's book "Bravo Two Zero" (22ndSAS)... is that called the "racing spoon" by Commonwealth troops?
 
Well I have had one on my key chain since the Marines 1970. Slit open a fish if kept sharp, open boxes and plastic bags, ferro striker, screwdriver, Beer tab opener, scrape mud and junk off things, clean finger nails, Adjusted scope screws the other day,
 
Flat and phillis screw driver.
Scrapper.
Small pry tool for light jobs.
awl.
plastic package opener.
fish gutter.

Last but not least, open cans.
 
J-man I got a couple of the Australian ones too, found at the local Army Surplus.
Probably the most useful inexpensive item ever issued by the government.
 
I was told that FRED was F***ing Ridiculous Eating Device. Either way, very handy to have around. Still have some around the place.
 
Use it for skinning game, light prying, if you just poke holes around the rim of a # 10 can you can make a pretty good sprinkler or shower head. As a Nekker or self defence tool you could use it as a skin zipper, with a piece of cord you can use it as a chock and wedge it in a crack to hang things from.
 
Les Snyder said:
j man.. it's been a while since I've read Andy McNabb's book "Bravo Two Zero" (22ndSAS)... is that called the "racing spoon" by Commonwealth troops?
Click to expand...
Na, the racing spoon is just a normal plastic spoon normally a olive drab colour & strong as a spade.
Nothing special really.
Knowing what the Army is like " Hurry up & Wait" mentality, prob just named that cause they scoff down there food with it?????? ;)
 
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Never seen that FRED before, looks good. Is that picture paired with a p-38 or the larger p-51?
 
This is a little OT, but I figured out that you can use a safety pin to hold the P38 closed in your pocket. Plus, the safety pin adds its own utility - clothing repair, splinter picker, etc.

p-38.jpg
 
powernoodle said:
This is a little OT, but I figured out that you can use a safety pin to hold the P38 closed in your pocket. Plus, the safety pin adds its own utility - clothing repair, splinter picker, etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the cool idea Brother Noodle. That will be my new addition to my EDC. Goodbye o-rings !

:):thumbup:
 
Knew an old Marine when I was in Lebanon who preferred the P-38 over the can opener on his Camillus US gov't scout knife (Can't remember the proper name for it)
 
My P-38 has been on my keychain since Uncle Sam gave it to me in 1972.
For many years it was my always-there screwdriver, slotted & Phillips. The Swiss Army knife took over for screws in 1984, but the P-38 still goes everywhere with me.

Thanks for the thread, it motivated me to track down some more before the cheap repros are all that's left. :)
Denis
 
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