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

BE Careful when ordering online to get genuine U.S.GI the after market mod's are usualy marked as mil-style GI can opener and often are of poor quality and not worth carrying most genuine openers I have seen are the Shelby Co. marked versions although i've been told there other makers as well
 
MIKE MACINTOSH said:
BE Careful when ordering online to get genuine U.S. GI the after market mods are usually marked as mil-style GI can opener and often are of poor quality and not worth carrying most genuine openers i have seen are the Shelby Co. marked versions although i've been told there other makers as well
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That is an excellent point! I have a rule now that I never buy anything marked "military-style" because I've never been happy with anything described that way. All the P-38 and P-51 can openers I've had were made by Shelby and were U.S. GI issue. These are made of hardened and tempered steel and are plated to resist rust.

I love my SAKs, but I do believe in redundancy, so having a GI can opener stashed here and there is still a good idea. It has been mentioned that one attached to your keyring seems to be OK with the TSA for boarding a plane, but the PC climate of nearly all our schools makes it a viable tool to have on your person there, too. My wife is a teacher, so knives are taboo in her work environment. But she can carry a P-38 with her keys, so I carefully sharpened the cutting edge of her P-38 just a bit and she uses it to open boxes and other things at school without ruffling any sheeple's feathers.

I've also routinely used a file to narrow the back end of the P-38's handle to make it function better as a screwdriver. I just taper it down to about a 1/4" wide and that doesn't interfere with its primary function. Because these little tools are made of good steel, they throw a good spark from your little Boy Scout sparking rod that you may have on your keyring, too. You can file a little round notch and/or sharpen one edge just a little to help in that use.
 
Way back in the Good Old Days when college-type poverty & drunken squalor was all of the rage, I was sharing a house w/ 3 other people. One of them broke the can opener (how?) and refused to replace it. Of course, a battle of wills broke out as to who was going to replace said broken can opener...
Guess who had the only can opener in the house? ;)
A P-38 had been on my key ring(s) for 25+ yrs. Seldom do you find something so small that is so versatile- a VERY handy bit of gear.
 
I think the guy just doesn't know how to use it. You need to lock hook end into the can better. He has no leverage the way he is doing it. It is fast once you find your rhythm and way easier than a SAK or Leatherman IMO. Looks like its his first time. I doubt he could do it any faster with a SAK.
 
nemoaz said:
I think the guy just doesn't know how to use it. You need to lock hook end into the can better. He has no leverage the way he is doing it. It is fast once you find your rhythm and way easier than a SAK or Leatherman IMO. Looks like its his first time. I doubt he could do it any faster with a SAK.
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Clearly he doesn't really know how to use it. He makes it look much more difficult than it is.

KR
 
So i assume the P-38 is smaller than the p-51? Any pics or exact dimensions?
The P-(whatevers) i have were made in Canada, like me, lol.

I assume they all follow the same pattern just varying in size.
Do they still issue these in any armed forces today or have they been replaced by something else?
 
tholiver said:
So i assume the P-38 is smaller than the p-51? Any pics or exact dimensions?
The P-(whatevers) i have were made in Canada, like me, lol.

I assume they all follow the same pattern just varying in size.
Do they still issue these in any armed forces today or have they been replaced by something else?
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http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page52.shtml#p51 link shows the p-38 & p51 side by side scroll down page to find picture p-38 is aprox. 1in.x1/2 THEY WERE ISSUED TO U.S. Military to open C-Rats or combat rations, Military switched over to MRE'S somtime in the early 80's So I assume they stopped the issue of C-Rat openers at the same time maybe some one who was in service at that period could chime in and clarify. hope this helps
 
Yes P-38s are the small version.

P-51s are the larger model and work faster as can openers than some pliers/ key turning jobbies.

SAKs are more versitle(sic)....

I carry a P-51 and a Vic Farmer or a Fieldmaster.

It's all good. :)

FWIW If you work the can counterclockwise, for me it seems to be the fastest method.
 
I've been carrying a shelby co. p-38 around my neck on black cord for over a year now.
And two more on my keychain. I hate it when people see the p38 around my neck and ask me what it is and why I carry that silly thing. I can't explain it, I just do. I'm weird that way, and they probably wouldn't understand anyway.

All my p38's are wrapped in ranger bands to keep the blade closed.

And I have about 7 p-51's in my BOB.
 
MIKE MACINTOSH said:
http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page52.shtml#p51 link shows the p-38 & p51 side by side scroll down page to find picture p-38 is aprox. 1in.x1/2 THEY WERE ISSUED TO U.S. Military to open C-Rats or combat rations, Military switched over to MRE'S somtime in the early 80's So I assume they stopped the issue of C-Rat openers at the same time maybe some one who was in service at that period could chime in and clarify. hope this helps
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Very helpful post and good link!
:thumbup:
According to the pics from that website mine are P-51s.
And mine are slightly different having the hole up near the top (where the swing-out can cutter is) instead of at the bottom.
Actually one of them came from my uncle who served in the Canadian armed forces in Korea. I have part of his mess kit too. He gave me both for camping and Cub Scouts when i was a child.
I'll try the paper clip trick/mod soon and maybe check the local army surplus store to see if they have any P-38s in stock.
 
rzwieg said:
No FRED, Emanuel?
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The FREDs are the p-51 sized ones with the very small awkward looking spoon. Most are Taiwan made.

I have a few of those too in my BOB.

That's right, FRED in BOB.:D

I still prefer my American made p-38 and that's the only one I'll ever wear around my neck.
 
Any one have a source for the Aussie "Fred" like to give one a try in my kit
P.S . I mean short of joining up for a hitch in the Aussie Army LOL:D
 
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