P-38 can opener

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Vietnam-era P-38
Vietnam-era P-38
P-51 and P-38 openers
P-51 and P-38 openers
The P-38 'Lightning' is also a WWII-era plane. The Walther P 38 is a WWII-era pistol.

The P-38 can opener is a small device issued in the canned field rations of the United States Armed Forces from World War II to the 1980s. Originally designed for and distributed in the K-ration, it was later included in the C-ration.

It was developed in 1942.[1]

Nicknamed the "John Wayne" because he was shown in a training film opening a can of K-Rations, the can opener is keychain sized and consists of a short metal blade that serves as a handle (and also a screwdriver to the resourceful), with a small, hinged metal tooth that folds out to pierce the can lid. A notch just under the hinge point keeps the opener hooked around the rim of the can as the device is "walked" around to cut the lid out. A larger version called the P-51 is somewhat easier to operate.

Official military designations for the P-38 include 'US ARMY POCKET CAN OPENER' and 'OPENER, CAN, HAND, FOLDING, TYPE I'. As with some other military terms (e.g. Origin of the term 'jeep'), the reasons for the 'P-38' designation are not clear. One unsubstantiated claim is that, used properly, it requires exactly 38 punches of the blade to open a C-ration can. The can opener's coincidentally shares a designation with the P-38 'Lightning' fighter plane and could allude to its fast performance. However, the P-51 can opener, while larger and easier to use than the P-38 can opener, also has a fighter plane namesake, which is slower and smaller than the P-38 fighter. The most likely origin of the name is much more pedestrian; the P-38 is 38mm (1.5 in) long. This explanation also holds for the P-51, its length measuring 51 mm (2 in).

P-38s are no longer used for individual rations by the United States Armed Forces as canned C-rations were replaced by uncanned MREs in the 1980s. They are, however, included with US military "Tray Rations" (canned bulk meals), and are also still seen in disaster recovery efforts and have been handed out alongside canned food by rescue organizations both in America and abroad in Afghanistan. The original US contract P-38 can openers were manufactured by Mallin Hardware (now defunct) of Shelby, Ohio and are stamped "U.S. Shelby Co.", later they were made by J.W. Speaker Corp. and are (stamped "US Speaker") and by Washburn Corp. marked ("US Androck").

A similar device that incorporates a small spoon at one end and a Can opener at the other is currently employed by the Australian Army and New Zealand Army in its ration kits. The Field Ration Eating Device is known by the acronym "FRED". It is also known widely in its derogative term, the "Fucking Ridiculous Eating Device".[2][3]

The advantages of a P-38 include:

  • cheaper to manufacture than a standard can opener
  • smaller and lighter to carry
  • faster than a normal can opener if the user has sufficient experience

The device can be easily attached to a key ring or dog tag chain using the small punched hole.

[edit] "The Baby Can Opener"

A similar device was included with British Army 'Operational Ration Pack, General Purpose' 24-hour ration pack and 'Compo' Composite (14 man) Ration pack rations. At one stage they were manufactured by W.P. Warren Engineering Co. Ltd, 79 Alma Street, Birmingham B19 2RL (021-359-2808). The instructions printed on the miniature greaseproof paper bag they were supplied in read:

TO OPEN CAN:
Place opener on the can with rim of can inside the slot. Hold between thumb and forefinger and twist forward to puncture. Repeat motion until can is open.

Their design is similar, but not identical, to the P-38 and P-51 can openers.

In 1924, a similar device was featured in Popular Mechanics, with no mention of a military provenance.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Foster, R. (Major). "The greatest Army invention ever", Pentagram (Army Public Affairs) (image of article at www.dogtagsrus.com), 18 August 1995. Retrieved on 2008-05-02. 
  2. ^ Hardiman, Graeme. The Malayan Emergency. 2RAR 1956/57. 2RAR. Digger History: an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces. Retrieved on 2007-11-05. “I remember the spoon come tin opener that was in later years nicknamed "Fred" (F***ing ridiculous eating device)”
  3. ^ Australian Ration pack Contents. Ration Pack. Australian Defence News & Opinion - MilitaryPeople.com.au (2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-05.

[edit] External links