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

Horse said:
They are useful and weigh and cost nearly NOTHING! I like them a lot.
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Cost nearly nothing? The government gave me mine for free. Just cost three years in the infantry. :D
That’s why mine is worth so much to me. :thumbup: That P38 and my dog tags subtlety displays my service to my country without me saying a word. For those that know what they are looking at. :cool: The ones that don’t know what they represent, that is OK also. It is always there to remind me.

I probably would never buy one for $.50 but getting them for free like I and so many others did, as they say, is priceless.

KR
 
Don Rearic said:
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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You know, when I read it, I immediately thought, "I should have been able to figure that out!" But I never did... :D :eek: Your brother is a smart man!
 
sodak said:
I love them. I agree that saks do more, but a P38 is on my keychain, and a sak isn't. I can easily get a P38 through airline security, even during the height of 9/11 tensions, no problem. Plus, I like backup.
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You're lucky. My uncle had his 30 year old p38 taken away by airline security.
 
I used a P-38 occasionally when i was a kid but the two i have have been languishing in my desk drawer for decades.
I'm still a SAK kinda guy but so many people here seem to like em so i guess i'll carry one for a while and try it out.
Hmmm so how many non-can-opening uses does the P-38 have?
Seems like you could mod these with a dremel fairly easily as well.
 
sodak said:
You know, when I read it, I immediately thought, "I should have been able to figure that out!" But I never did... :D :eek: Your brother is a smart man!
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Sodak,

Actually, he didn't figure it out. It's his story and not mine, but to make it short, they tossed this kid a can of peaches and he hit the concrete pad floor of a bar (IIRC it was a bar) and he had the rim rubbed down in less than a minute. That would have been Honduras or El Salvador, I'll ask him later today.
 
I just bought a bunch .. waiting for them to arrive now .

I used to think this forum was cool , but its slowly costing me more and more with all the things I read about then got to go buy one to try em out ...
 
Leanwolf said:
SKAMMER - "Never carried one never plan to. A simple sak does 10 times more."

I'm with Skammer. My ancient Case four bladed Boy Scout knife (a "simple SAK") works just fine for all those duties listed. Also has more leverage than a P-38. :cool:

L.W.
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All well and good till you try to get on a plane.

The O ring idea sounds good, better than the black tape. I myself use a short bit of surgical tubing to keep it shut on the keyring.

Rob
 
I have carried a p-38 and a Boy Scout spark rod on my keychain on recent airline flights, and I was glad to have them. I had a flashlight, cord, and water bottle in my carry-on too. No problems!
 
Using a pair of pliers you can cut a small piece of a paper clip about a 1/2 inch long and bend a small handle at the end to insert in the tube of the P-38 it will keep the blade locked in a closed position.
 
I get mine at the local surplus store. They have the regular sized ones and the larger ones. Both are .50 cents.
 
I forgot how useful these things were. Thanks for starting this thread. I went out and picked up a few last Saturday at Federal Army/Navy in Seattle.
 
I have a P-38 type tool that is also a spoon and a bottle cap lifter. I've never seen another like it. It has a US stock number and the date is marked 1980. The claw on my Wenger SAK gets alot of use for most of the jobs people do with a p-38.

I can't be the only person here that ever looked at a cats retractable claw with envy. They just look handy. I think the lowly P-38 scratches that itch. Mac
 
My Dad turned me on to these when I was a kid , I've had several and still have the one I've had forever and yea , they are quite useful and very easy to store.
Snag one in your wallet and forget about it until you need it , you can keep them all over.

BUT , a bit of disagreement , the can opener on my old trusty camp knife by Camillus works much better than the P38 , I've used it camping and at home when my manual twist opener took a dump , it is by far the easiest non-moving can opener I've ever used.
 
After reading this thread, I bumped into my godfather. R. C. is two tour Vietnam vet, as an FO.

I asked if he had a John Wayne handy. He gave me this funny look. I reached into my shirt pocket and said "Hold out your hand." I've been carrying it for years. When that P-38 hit that scarred brown palm, his eyes lit up and he let out a laugh no one has hear in years.

Then the stories began. We had a few beers and a good time. His was lost long ago. Now one rides in his wallet.

Thanks guys. :)
 
rzwieg said:
After reading this thread, I bumped into my godfather. R. C. is two tour Vietnam vet, as an FO.

I asked if he had a John Wayne handy. He gave me this funny look. I reached into my shirt pocket and said "Hold out your hand." I've been carrying it for years. When that P-38 hit that scarred brown palm, his eyes lit up and he let out a laugh no one has hear in years.

Then the stories began. We had a few beers and a good time. His was lost long ago. Now one rides in his wallet.

Thanks guys. :)
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Great story :) You made his day/week/month , maybe even year.

We have to cherish our elders.

I wish my Grandpa's were still alive to talk to.
 
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