Subdeacon Joe Posted February 15 Posted February 15 Specifically the P-38. We all know that it was designed in WWII, right? After all: But wait! From a 1924 Popular Mechanics! I think that the only difference is placement of the lanyard hole. 2 Quote
watab kid Posted February 15 Posted February 15 yes i have a couple P38s - no P51s , ive used mine and the get the job done but not the best can opener ive ever used , i do have a couple knives with can opener options that work better 1 1 Quote
Alpo Posted February 15 Posted February 15 8 hours ago, watab kid said: the get the job done but not the best can opener ive ever used , i do have a couple knives with can opener options that work better You mean I'm not the only one that thinks the can opener on my boy scout knife beats a P38 all to hell??!? The way people talk about them on the Internet, saying bad things is right up there with bad mouthing Mom, the flag, and apple pie. The lynch mob will form. Quote
Texas Joker Posted February 15 Posted February 15 P38 beats opening a can with your knife. It's not supposed to be your perfect opener it's just supposed to work 1 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted February 15 Author Posted February 15 48 minutes ago, Texas Joker said: P38 beats opening a can with your knife. It's not supposed to be your perfect opener it's just supposed to work I agree. You have to use a lot more arm using the opener on a pocket knife. P38 is just flicks of the wrist. Either way, #10 cans are no fun. Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted February 15 Posted February 15 I have about a dozen P38s, a few of the larger ones (P51?), and a couple of pocket knives. I also have two old hand crank kitchen openers, two electrics, a mess hall special table top mounted one, and a cupboard and fridge full of handy-dandy pull tab openers attached to cans. If all else fails I have a brute of a hunting knife that can fill in the gaps. 1 Quote
Alpo Posted February 15 Posted February 15 1 hour ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: If all else fails I have a brute of a hunting knife That's what I assumed Texas joker was meaning 5 hours ago, Texas Joker said: beats opening a can with your knife I've used the opener on boy scout knives for years. The opener on a Leatherman works the same way, and I've used them a few times. I've never used the opener on a Swiss army knife, but I think it works backwards from the boy scout one. I don't have any p38s but I have several p51s. Logic says they would be easier to use than a p38. And they're a pain in the butt. It beats trying to chew my way into the can, but not by a whole lot. Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted February 16 Posted February 16 I had a Leatherman tool for near on 30 years and almost never used it. I was so stiff I couldn't get the blades out and time didn't loosen it up a bit. Gave it to an old man who was playing the nostalgia game. 1 Quote
Caprock Kid Posted February 16 Posted February 16 My ID tags hanging in my shadowbox still has a P38 stuck in the plastic silencer. Guess it is there in case of an emergency can opening - just break glass 1 Quote
watab kid Posted February 16 Posted February 16 On 2/15/2026 at 7:18 AM, Alpo said: You mean I'm not the only one that thinks the can opener on my boy scout knife beats a P38 all to hell??!? The way people talk about them on the Internet, saying bad things is right up there with bad mouthing Mom, the flag, and apple pie. The lynch mob will form. yes , i consider the P38 a historic item in my collection of bits , my swiss arm knife opens cans better 1 Quote
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