1 – P-38 Shelby Can Opener w/Chain USA Military Camping Hiking Survival About this item: The package includes 1 Shelby military can opener & adjustable stainless steel bead chain. Embossed with US Shelby Co. & made in the USA. The stainless steel bead chain is approximately 4.75″ long. Can Opener History and Information OPENER, CAN, HAND, FOLDING, TYPE II P-51 CAN OPENER “John Wayne” The P-51 can opener is the “big” brother of the P-38 can opener. Many an”expert”, has espoused as”fact”that the government never issued a P-51 can opener and that the P-51 was some aftermarket creation of the manufacturer to sell more can openers. To dispel any confusion and to set the record straight about the P-51 can opener -the P-51isin fact an official Government Issue item. The P-51 was conceived, designed and produced shortly after the introduction of the P-38 can opener. The P-51 can opener is still in the military inventory and is currently assigned NSN 7330-01-289-8827. The P-51 is somewhat obscure and elusive because military Mobile Kitchen Trailers (MKT) are currently issued a counter top mounted, hand crank, rotary, can opener and a Opener, Can, Hand, For Tray Packs and Round Cans (A-A-52202) as standard issue. This can opener was designed to open larger cans such a commercial No.10 institutional food can with a lid diameter of 6-3/16 inches and food tray packs and T-Rats that are used in Mobile Field Kitchens (MKT) and mess halls. Much like the P-38 can opener, the P-51 derived it’s name from the fact that it took approximately 51 twists to sever the lid from a commercial No. 10 can. (Above Credit: DogTagsRus dot com and Georgia-Outfitters where more information can be found.) (Below Credit: Defense Media Network dot com, Article on Sept. 16, 2023 by Robert F. Dorr and Fred L. Borch entitled “The P-38 Pocket Can Opener Was an Army and Marine Icon.) Here’s one for you! Although Opener, Can, Hand, Folding is its official Army nomenclature, it soon acquired the popular name P-38. However, historians disagree as to which of three theories explains the moniker. One is that soldiers called it the P-38 because it could open a can faster than theP-38 Lightningfighter plane could fly. A more likely explanation is that the 38 comes from the length of the can opener, which is 38 millimeters (or 1 1/2 inches). It also is possible that 38 was the number of punches (a P word) it took to open a ration can. All experts agree that P-38 did not derive its name from theWalther P-38pistol used by the German military in World War II. 43 Uses for the P-38 & P-51 Can Openers can opener (duh!) all-purpose toothpick fingernail cleaner splinter remover flat-head screwdriver use one of the ends phillips-head screwdriver use one of the corners bottle opener box cutter letter opener chisel stirrer neck slasher (women used to carry to use in case of attack) seam ripper cut fishing line open paint cans window scraper scrape around floor corners digging clean out groove on Tupperware lids reach in and clean out small cracks scrape around edge of boots {in the field} gut fish {in the field} scale fish test for doneness when baking on a camp fire prying items strip wire scrape pans in the field lift key on flip top cans barter marking tool deflating tires measurement striking flint puncturing plastic coating knocking on doors Morse Code write emergency messages scratch an itch save as a souvenir rip off rank for on the spot promotion carburetor repair tool bee sting removal tool (scrape off w/ blade) knife sharpener Ships in one day or less
