Why a 50 cent p-38 should be in every ones kit or bag.

Got one on my keychain. One on a hunting trip, I had to use my knife (Gerber parabellum)to open a can of stew. NOT RECOMENDED. I now carry a leatherman, and a p38 on my keychain, and another one in my mess kit.
 
I remember when I was just a real young kid, my dad always had a P-38, and a Sears 4-way keychain screwdriver on his keyring. Between those litte items and his Case peanut, he got by doing most things.
 
The body of a P-38 makes a great striker for a firesteel. IMO a P-38 in your PSK gives you more utility than a tiny piece of hacksaw blade.
 
skammer said:
Never carried one never plan to. A simple sak does 10 times more.

SKam
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I have a couple of P-38s in a drawer somewhere they do work but yeah i agree with Skammer.
A one layer 10$ Vic Waiter or Vic Bantam or 2 layer Recruit/Driver etc is more useful.
It kills me when i read threads about how somebody snapped the tip off their 100-200$ + folder because they tried to use it as a screwdriver!
:eek:
A one or 2 layer SAK is small, weights almost nothing and is insanely cheap! Makes a nice EDC addition to any single bladed locking folder. Or for that matter A SAK is (barring certain extreme situations) usually perfectly fine as your only EDC.
 
Fiddleback said:
I agree that the p38 opens cans easier than a SAK can opener.
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Marginally, not enough for me to even consider EDC'ing one. Not only that, NO! can is going to stand in my way of opening it. A wack with a rock fixes that problem in a pinch, it aint pretty but it works.

Skam
 
Cody Lundin has a trick for opening cans in his new book. You can use a brick wall or large flat stone. Put the top of the can against it, and press hard while you rotate the can. In a little time, you will wear through the small lip, and the lid comes off.
 
What you guys are calling a p38 can opener is may well be a p51. It's a little larger. Either takes an edge pretty well also.

I still have several and usually have it in my buttpack.
 
I have been carrying my dog tags and my p38 since 1977. It is so small as to be innocuous and has come in handy more than once. I have always thought it was one of the few things the government did right. Small, cheap, strong. I have used it as a pry bar, screwdriver and of course to open cans. :D

KR


p38.jpg
 
How can anyone really say a P38 is not worth its own weight for a PSk or for keychain EDC? Cheap and simple and readily available. I think the list of possibilities for the P38 survival is good way to keep a person's mind open to its possibilities. Yes, is there better options sure-there are always better options for just about any tool etc. I'm not trying to cause any flame war or anything but I'm really getting tired of a person's smart alec often times negative comments for just about everypost on this forum.
IMHO survival means what can you do with less and about using your mind to survive not just relying on a specialist tool for one thing a can opener just for opening a can etc.
 
Diamond Dog said:
How can anyone really say a P38 is not worth its own weight for a PSk or for keychain EDC? Cheap and simple and readily available. I think the list of possibilities for the P38 survival is good way to keep a person's mind open to its possibilities. Yes, is there better options sure-there are always better options for just about any tool etc.
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I think the point is if you already carry something like a SAK, then the P38 would be unnecessary. Your point about keeping your mind open to possibilities is what survival is all about. Improvisation is a very important survival skill.

Diamond Dog said:
IMHO survival means what can you do with less and about using your mind to survive not just relying on a specialist tool for one thing a can opener just for opening a can etc.
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100% :thumbup:

Diamond Dog said:
I'm not trying to cause any flame war or anything but I'm really getting tired of a person's smart alec often times negative comments for just about everypost on this forum.
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Hey DD, it's a public discussion forum and everybody has different ways of relating and expressing themselves - don't let it bother you, because if you do, "the terrorists win" :D

Doc
 
bailes said:
They also make a good fishing lure if you run your line through the hole at the top and through the hinge of the blade and your hook at the end.
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Hadn't thought about the fishing lure idea but great multi-tasking for an item.

Gonna have to find me some of these. :D

Thanks,

Charlie
 
Diamond Dog said:
I'm not trying to cause any flame war or anything but I'm really getting tired of a person's smart alec often times negative comments for just about everypost on this forum.
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Hey Bro, s'kay, apparently it is his job and he's good at it so... :D

I have almost a dozen SAKs and I love them, but I just can't say they are the best at every possible thing they can do. But to "condemn" this small, incredible metallic tool, to me, is just stupid.

SODAK - BTW, my Brother told me about that rub the rim off can opening method from Central America, circa 1983-onward. :thumbup:
 
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