GI - P- 38 - Can Opener

Like! Portability easily to add to your key or neck chain.

standard can opener, works well but I wouldn't advise keeping it on your keychain like some people do as the razor sharp portion does not always stay flush and will likely eventually cut your hand (as it did mine). I've owned three different brands of these and they all function the same and have lasted about the same amount of time

IN 1968, THIS SIMPLE LITTLE DEVICE WAS THE GATEWAY TO CULLINARY DELITES: C-Rations-----YUCK!!!! MRE'S ARE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT AND OPEN A LOT EASIER THAN WHAT WE HAD BACK THEN. BUT WHAT THE HECK, IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE WHEN YOU HAVE A CAN TO OPEN AND DON'T WANT TO DULL THE BLADE ON YOUR SURVIVAL KNIFE & THE PRICE IS RIGHT.... buy several, keychains, BOBs, cars, around the house, garage.....could be a life- saver or at very least being able to open cans without having to hunt around the kitchen drawers for the one can opener you have, or opening toxic/non food canned products---to keep from contaminating your food can opener, buy them in bulk, the $1-$2/per opener could be worth 100 times that if you/others need to open cans and don't have anything else to open them with!!! Adapt, Improvise and Survive!!

It works. It was severely overpriced. I wouldn't have bought it,but it shows two on the thumbnail. I'll get it from the surplus store next time. I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't as described.

Perfection. A better emergency can opener cannot be found. Designed for Military issue "C" rations. Takes practice to use efficiently, (fortunately I got lots of practice in the Air Force) but once you get it down, it's great. Lightweight, extremely durable, compact, it's the perfect addition to a survival kit, bug out bag, or when camping.

I already own a few of the standard manual twist can openers and have had no issues with them. You line them up on top of the can, twist and they just work. Not this thing. I decided to try this one because I had a few dollars left over on an Amazon gift card that someone gave me. I needed to reach the $25.00 mark to get free freight and this seemed like a good way to round out the order. I was going to throw it in a small emergency kit that I've been building until I actually tried it. Before making one puncture on the can, the main frame bent right away. I straightened it out with my hands and kept going but it bent over and over again. I had to put it in a vice to get it back to perfectly straight just to finish opening the can. What a little piece of flimsy metal. Not reliable and not recommended. You will be unable to get into your cans and will starve if you have to rely on this thing to get to your food. There is no way that this model is of the same gauge metal that the originals were made of.Update 4/30/2011: After contacting a different supplier of survival equipment and inquiring about these types of can openers I was told that my experience is not uncommon with these things. They suggested that I try the P-51. Well I did order a few and they worked great. Had no trouble at all opening a can without bending the frame. It turns out that the P-38 which I thought I was originally purchasing from Amazon was actually a really cheap knockoff of a P-51. So not only is the product inferior, it was misrepresented as well. Beware of what you are buying and make sure that you are getting one from a genuine US military supplier and not a flimsy replica whether it's a P-38 or a P-51.

Used one in my Vietnam 1966/67 Cu Chi. Opened many a can with one of these and they still do the job when needed. Made of good quality material.

I'm so glad I found these (I bought 2). I was given a couple of these at a military air show in the 1970's. They were the only can openers I've used since. I've tried others....hand held and electric.....but I always return to my trusty military surplus P-38. When I lost one of my original ones, I decided to see if I could find them online. First place I ever look is Amazon.com. I found these and as I said, ordered two. They seem a little sharper than my 40-year old one, HOWEVER......the blade is attached at a slightly different angle than my old one.......I'll get used to this change, I'm sure....and I will definitely buy these again if I lose any more. Please don't let my "HOWEVER comment" keep you from trying these. The government makes good sturdy stuff!!! No electricity needed.....Great conversation piece. I even know why they are called P-38's!