Author Topic: the p38 'can opener' (Read 807 times)

ScorpCH · « **on:** December 04, 2006, 05:03:31 PM »

if you have ever heard someone refer to the p38 as a can opener wth its 4 nose mounted browning .50 caliber guns and the 20mm hispano, then they are right!! the p38 is a can opener!

here a sight that proves it!!

http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page52.shtml

Treize69 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2006, 05:04:59 PM »

I've always wondered how that little piece of hinged metal got the same name as twin-engined fighter and semi-automatic pistol...

Flatbar · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2006, 05:38:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Treize69
I've always wondered how that little piece of hinged metal got the same name as twin-engined fighter and semi-automatic pistol...

The reason is kind of ambiguous, some say it took exactly 38 pinctures around a ration can to open it. Other say it was because it performed with the speed of a P-38 fighter.

I Vietnam it was called a John Wayne by some because of it's ruggedness and dependability. A larger version was called the P-51.

The truly amazing thing about the P-38 opener is that it only took 30 days to design it at the U.S. Army Subsistence Research Laboratory in Chicago, 1942.

That's gotta be some kind of record.

Masherbrum · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2006, 05:40:46 PM »

I still have my grandfather's P-38, he never lost it from "issue".

Charon · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2006, 05:43:44 PM »

The P-38 initially got it's name from the number of twists required to open a c-rations can. Oddly, the larger version used to open a #10 can required "51" twists and was named the P-51

Now who says the military lacks a sense of humor.

[I see Flatbar posted while I was compiling mine]

Also, my "spam can" of 450 rounds of 1950s Bulgarian 7.62 X54r surplus ammo came with its own similar, but much larger can opener -- I'll just nickname it the Lagg-7

Charon

Raptor · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2006, 10:06:03 PM »

Perk the P-38?

Rikitic · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2006, 10:20:56 PM »

Still got several P-38's. Used to collect em like lighters on weekend long drunks, dont ever want to be with out em. Course you could get a new one every time you got your issue of rations. Good god thats been a long time ago. We called em John Waynes too. Sure beats the hell out of slicing a digit with your bayonet trying to get a can open. Somebody just made me real grateful I survived my youth. Guess where I found my P-38's. In a box with my tags and medals. Thats strangely appropriate.

Muskie6 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2006, 08:20:16 AM »

My father still has one on his key chain. Vintage 1962.

Big Mickey · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2006, 01:35:41 PM »

Ahhh... nothing like the government to have to put a number on everything. In my business, film and video, if you are on location and need a clothes pin to hold a gel on a light you ask for a "C47" Story is it got the name when some company was itemizing expendables for a government job and that's the number the clothes pins got.

Of course in the grip and lighting world they got all sorts of fun names for gear... gobos, hi-hats, lollipops, stingers the list goes on and on. To learn the trade you have to learn a new language.

Big Mickey

Mace2004 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2006, 09:30:06 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Big Mickey
Ahhh... nothing like the government to have to put a number on everything.

Opener, Can, Hand, Folding, Type 1. 1-Each. Part #19388288-38. MILSPEC 8888322388-237-P-834, Series.

mustard · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2006, 12:55:31 PM »

lol

memories

BigR · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2006, 02:19:48 PM »

why do people underestimate the p38 can opener? The 109 and 190 openers took much more effort.

Lye-El · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2006, 03:54:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Muskie6
My father still has one on his key chain. Vintage 1962.

My first one is still on my keychain. 1975.