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The humble P-38

I know there isn't much need of a can opener these days but I'm curious:

1) Did you ever or do still have one?

2) If you still have one do you carry it regularly or use it often?

3) Besides opening a can with it, what else have you done with your P-38 can opener?

( This came up because a few of us were discussing the combo tool on the Wenger Swiss Army Knife and the discussion migrated to just how good the P-38 compared to the can opener blade on knives.)

Camillus Mil-K knives and a P-38 can opener.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on August 1, 2013 at 14:43

Yes, Tobias, I have several left over from military days. I used them often to open cans of food but have not used one now for a long time. If I need to open a can now I use a Camp knife like you have above. I can't remember using them for anything else, but seems like I used the pic for something. Good ole P-38's - I remember them well - used to take CRats out in the field and open the cans and flavor the food and eat like Kings. It was an art to eat good with CRats-not everyone could.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on August 1, 2013 at 17:16

I have the larger one, hooked on my camping Hobo. It's the best for opening cans. I can't think of using it for any thing else but open cans. My Hobo has a can opener on it but, I much prefer, the P-38.

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 1, 2013 at 17:57

I've carried a P-38 since my junior year of High School. Long story short, I started going on field exercises with the University of Illinois ROTC program. It was 1974 and College ROTC programs were doing anything to get people to join so while some kids were getting drunk or hi on the week-ends I was learning how to rappel, field strip an M-14, make booby traps, conduct hasty ambushes, read a map, and lead a patrol.

My P-38 has been used to remove splinters, loosen/tighten screws, set the gap on spark plugs, cut rubber hoses, and numerous other impromptu tasks including opening beer bottles (however I also carry a bottle opener so it hasn't done that in a long time)

Today it is mostly used for peeling oranges and other thick skinned fruit. you just open it up, stick the blade into the top of the orange until it squirts than then cut all the way around move over 90 degrees and repeat. You can then easily remove the thickest peel without a mess. Best orange peeler on the planet. (Not so hot at gap setting unless you know what you're going.)

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on August 1, 2013 at 18:02

Wow, I had no idea of all it's uses. I was so pleased at the way it opened cans, I just let it rest...lol

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 1, 2013 at 18:02

Tobias,

We always took one camping and there was always one in Dads truck. Donnie and I always keep one in the boat box. Just the week before we came down I overheard a Dad and young (maybe 5) son at our buddies bait store. The kid asked whats this and Dads response was Gee I dont know, maybe to cut line? I was shocked

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 1, 2013 at 18:03

Ken, you are so right about C Rations.

Strangely the one I could eat, hot or cold, was the Spaghetti. A lot of people hated it so I could always trade for it.

My favorite was the pound cake. You could make an excellent frosting for it using the peanut butter and the hot cocoa mix. I still occasionally mix a teaspoon of nestle quick in some peanut butter and spread it on pound cake, much to wife's chagrin!

The Purina symbol on the side of Chicken or Tuna, chunked can was a little disturbing, however. I arrived a little too late to partake in the date pudding.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on August 1, 2013 at 18:09

Tobias, you are bringing back some ole memories - good memories. thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 1, 2013 at 18:26

You're welcome, Ken, But you should probably thank the P-38.

Jan that is funny. Strangely, I found that you can put a decent edge on the inside curve of the scout's knife can opener and use it to cut line. (Some of the early cap lifter blades on the Victorinox Swiss Army knives had this cord cutting feature but they stopped doing it!) The P-38 makes a lousy string/fishing line cutter. However it works great when it comes to cutting the tape on boxes (not just cutting the cardboard itself)

a 1952 SAK Tinker with the cap lifter, wire stripper, string cutter, screw driver blade.

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Permalink Reply by Frank Stennett on August 2, 2013 at 13:07

I have carried mine on my keyring for many years. Never use it but it does come up in conversation from time to time.

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Permalink Reply by George Clarkson on August 3, 2013 at 3:43

Guys, found this interesting little topic on the P 38....

http://joyoffieldrations.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-french-p-38-can...- hope you enjoy.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on August 3, 2013 at 4:14

Yes, I carry a P-38. I've carried one for more years than I can remember. Opens cans. Mini scraper, wedge/pry bar, Nail cleaner, Scratch awl, wire bender/ stripper, used for scratch-off lottery tickets, open small paint cans, screwdriver, trivia piece, and something that can keep grandchildren amused for hours opening cans. That little piece of history has been a very valuable pocket companion. I've also just sat holding it and thinking of how many of them have been all over the world. Thought about a lonely soldier sitting on a hill or in a jungle or overlooking a desert scene while opening a quick meal while serving his country. The little P-38 is just another thing that was once a big part of some people's lives that's getting lost in the shuffle. I guess one of the reasons I carry it is to keep those memories from fading away and being lost to future generations. As soon as my grandson is old enough to start carrying keys I'll make sure one is swinging from his keyring.

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 5, 2013 at 12:37

When I was in, most soldiers had their dog tags in those thick rubbery containers and the chain was passed through a rubber chain to cut down on the noise. When you sweated (and you always sweated in the infantry) the stuff stuck to you. Almost every soldier I knew had a P-38 on his dog tag chain. And as you can guess when you were in the field crawling around the dang thing would open on you and poke you in the chest.

The dog tag around my neck was attached with a boot lace. The second dog tag used the little chain. Both tags were covered in 100 MPH tape. I took a small plastic sleeve and taped it to the main tag with 100 MPH tape and slipped my P-38 inside it. I didn't have to to deal with the sweaty rubber cases and never had my P-38 open up on me. I also didn't have the problem of having my P-38 attached to my neck while trying to open a can!