Customer Reviews

GI - P- 38 - Can Opener

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I never thought I would write about something like this. I thought I would leave it up to other people to write about tea bags, detergents, weed wackers, or hoes because I really don't care what you drink, wash with, cut with, or if you just like a good hoe now and then. In those things I can be very nonjudgmental.

Then, I came across this little item which I transferred from dog tag chain to key chain where it has remained ever since, where it holds as much importance and value as any key I have ever owned.

It's a can opener that was once shiny silver that has aged gracefully into a very dark gray from years of use. It not only opens cans, but last night it cut through the tape of the latest delivery from Amazon vine. It will outlast any fancy-schmancy can opener that is guaranteed not to leave dangerously sharp can tops, but not guaranteed to wear out at my earliest inconvenience.

The other reviewer didn't like this because it wore out for him. He must have a "knock-off" made of inferior alloys that brought on metal fatigue. But if you get a good one, it will work anytime, everytime, and it will become indispensible. The other drawback is that, like everything military, it is for the right hand, although I have seen hard-core sinisters use it backwards. (I'm not at all ambidextrous. Quite the contrary, I use both hands)! The little hook folds in, so you don't scratch yourself.

Better ones can be found, for an arm and a leg, at The Cavalry Store, or Ranger Joe's.

So, get off your can. You can do it. You can buy it. If you don't like it, you can always can it. That, you...

can do.

Believe me, there are things you never think you'll need but are ever grateful to have at the right time. This is a good example. I've had these living in my car and on various key-chains for decades. They're something you can ignore when not needed but indispensable when you do.

Word of advice though... If you're going to get some of these avoid the cheap Chinese garbage and get real military issue. Try a good military surplus store first. You'll get a military grade device for less money and have no reason to regret it. Ever.

The 5 stars I gave this product is for the true-blue military issue item.

Altho the GI-P-38 works as advertised it was expensive and timely getting to me as I received blank dog tags first. The .69 selling price was a tad overdone by the $5.00 Shipping for a item that would fit in a envelope. I will not buy here again.

This tool is great, very helpful and small easy to carry on your key chain. The metal seems a little lite, compared to others I have used. So far it works with no problems. Again an excellent tool no matter where you pick one up at.

There are some technologies that just cannot be improved on. You're looking at one of those technologies now. Whoever invented the p- 38 had a sharp idea and has made food available for the world.

My first encounter with this device was in Vietnam 67 -- 68. In those days, we ate C. rations. The two and dispense of tools were the AR-16 and the P-38. On the AR-16, you could use the flash suppressor to break the bands on the C. ration's cases. Then use the P-38 to do the final work of opening cans. Now days we have MRE's or meal ready to eat. Therefore, there is no longer a need for an AR-16. However, the P-38 can still perform its legacy option in the field or in the office.

Do not wait until you need this device; buy it now and be prepared.

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.

I wore one around my neck for many years and since I served back in the days of C-Rations and the P-38 was an essential part of my TO&E!!

Still keep a few in my truck and in my tackle box and even in my emergency pack for when the storms knock out power.

i bought 6 can openers 3 have already wore out. i have 1 i got from my father who is in the military, it's lasted for years.

No opinion.......I never got it. I paid for it, but it never came in the mail with the other items I ordered.

This is the real deal the US Army issue P 38 can opener. I choose to use this over many electric can openers costing FAR more.
They do require some practice to use well though, about half a can should do it. I recommend this can opener.


Somebody [ maybe me ] should do a comparison road test between the P38 and the P51.

And WHY does the Army name their can openers after famous WW II fighter planes ?
P38 Lightning and the P51 Mustang.

{ OK the P38 was named because it takes 38 twists to open your c rations.
The P 38 was nick named the John Wayne because he used one in an Army training film.}
STILL no clue about the P 51