Buyer

ORIGINAL MILITARY ISSUE P38 CAN OPENER MADE IN USA

Original P38 Can Opener Military Issue Original US Shelby Co – Not a cheap imitation Use for Hiking, Camping, Hunting, Bugout, Survival, Boy Scouts Unlimited Uses USE IN EMERGENCY OR WHEN THERE’S NO ELECTRICITY You will receive one (1) NEW P38 Can Opener Easy to use and carry in your pocket or on a key chainThe P38 is 38mm long & 17mm wide (approx. 1½” X 5/8″)Takes approx. 38 twists to open a can Great for Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Survival, BugoutCan be used as Flat Head or Phillips Head (use corner) screwdriver A great tool to have in the kitchen or with your gear that has UNLIMITED usesDeveloped in the 1940’s for our militaryUsed by our military in WWII, Korea and Vietnam to open K-rations or C rations FREE USPS First Class Shipping (3-5 days) Go to my store to see all my military surplus gear and military bracelets/necklaces(including Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan) I am a 100% Service Connected Disabled Veteran just trying to supplement my income. I describe the merchandise to the best of my abilities. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase, PLEASE contact me BEFOREleaving negative feedback. I guarantee I can make you happy!

ORIGINAL MILITARY ISSUE P38 CAN OPENER MADE IN USA Read More »

USMC Military H&H Coyote MOLLE IFAK First Aid Kit w/ Supplies No TOURNIQUET

GENUINE U.S. MILITARY ISSUE USMC Military H&H Coyote MOLLE IFAK Improved First Aid Kit w/ Supplies Color: Coyote Brown Condition: POUCH IS USED. CONTENTS ARE NEW OLD STOCK WHICH WILL SHOWN SIGNS OF LONG TERM STORAGE (PACKAGES MAY BE WORN BUT NOT BROKEN). SEE DESCRIPTION BELOW FOR DETAILS Made for the U.S. Military with Superior Materials and Workmanship NOT A CHEAP INFERIOR IMITATION! Made in the USA NOTE: THERE IS NOT A Tourniquet included in this kit. Includes what is shown in the pictures and described below: Genuine U.S. Military Issue Description: The pouch is in used condition. Contents are NEW OLD STOCK. This kit contains the following:QTY (1) USMC IFAK MOLLE Pouch Coyote Brown (USED)QTY (1) Bolin Chest Seal (BCS) NSN 6510-01-549-0939 (Expired 2015) (NEW OLD STOCK)QTY (1) H&H Penetrating Chest Injury Kit NSN 6510-01-590-7855 (Expired 2016) (NEW OLD STOCK)QTY (1) H&H “H” Bandage Comprehensive Combat Dressing NSN 6510-01-540-6484 (NEW OLD STOCK)QTY (1) H&H Wound Seal Kit NSN 6510-01-573-0300 (Expired 2014) (NEW OLD STOCK)QTY (1) H&H Compressed Gauze NSN 6510-01-503-2117 (Expired 2016) (NEW OLD STOCK)QTY (1) H&H Dry Sterile Burn Dressing NSN 6510-01-587-6579 (Expired 2017) (NEW OLD STOCK)Item Condition Pouch will show signs of use but no holes. THE OTHER CONTENTS ARE NEW OLD STOCK WHICH WILL SHOWN SIGNS OF LONG-TERM STORAGE (PACKAGES MAY BE WORN BUT NOT BROKEN). Frequently Asked Questions We want to make your eBay buying experience as seamless as possible! The following are our most frequently asked questions and details about how we do business on eBay. Most importantly, if you have a problem with your order please contact us FIRST without involving eBay by going to your purchases page and using the contact seller link. Most problems are easily resolved with no cost to the buyer without involving eBay. Threatening or leaving negative feedback is NOT a good way to get your problem taken care of! Again, please contact us FIRST with any issues you may have with your order! Payment We accept PayPal payments from U.S. and International PayPal accounts. We accept all major U.S. credit cards. Payment is expected within 2 days of your order, otherwise an Unpaid Item Case will be opened. We are unable to change shipping addresses on any orders after payment has been sent. We are unable to cancel or make changes to any orders after payment has been sent. We are unable to add more items to any orders that have already been paid. We are unable to substitute different sizes or colors. All available sizes and colors can be found by going to our eBay store. Do You Combine Shipping? Yes, we gladly combine shipping at a combined / reduced rate. VERY IMPORTANT: If you wish to qualify for a combined/reduced rate do not pay for your items individually. We cannot add more items to any orders or transactions that have already been paid. From time to time eBay?s shipping calculator does not calculate the combined shipping rate correctly. VERY IMPORTANT: Please contact us BEFORE you pay to give us a chance to revise your invoice. We do NOT issue partial refunds for shipping fees already paid.Do You Have Other Sizes? Do You Have Other Colors? Do You Have More of These? All available sizes, colors and inventory we have in stock are available to purchase by going to our eBay store. Many listings have size and/or color choices available by using the drop down menu fields. If the size or color you need is not in the drop down menu or greyed out, we are temporarily out of stock. If there is not a size or color drop down menu field you can visit our eBay store to check for availability of other sizes and colors. We are unable to substitute different sizes or colors. All available sizes and colors can be found by going to our eBay store. We receive new shipments approximately every two weeks and we update our eBay store with new arrivals almost daily. We are at the mercy of the U.S. Government as to what they release and, unfortunately, we cannot simply pick up the phone and place an order for specific sizes, colors or items when we sell out. Due to the large volume of orders we receive we are unable to contact customers when new stock arrives. Please feel free to add us to your favorite sellers and keep checking back with us. How Much Does it Cost to Ship? When Will You Ship My Stuff? Will I Receive a Tracking Number? Do You Ship to APO/FPO Addresses?Please use the eBay shipping calculator for S&H rates. Most listings will have 2 to 3 choices available. We ship orders Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. We do not ship on weekends or U.S. federal holidays. If you order on a Friday, your order will ship the following Monday. We strive to ship all orders within 2 BUSINESS days after receiving cleared payment If you order on a Friday, your order will ship the following Monday. A tracking number will be added to your eBay purchase/history/order details page as soon as a shipping label is generated. Please be aware that occasionally the tracking status will appear as though the package has not left our warehouse. Don’t panic! This happens when the postal service does not scan the shipping label into their system when the package arrives at the first distribution point. If you check back in 24 to 48 hours most likely the tracking status will update showing the package has been scanned as it gets closer to its destination.We proudly ship to APO/FPO addresses. We ship worldwide, however, the U.S. government has export restrictions of military surplus items to certain countries. We are unable to change shipping addresses on any orders after payment has been sent. We are unable to cancel or make changes to any orders after payment has been sent. Where is My Stuff? We ship orders Monday through Friday We strive to ship all orders within 2 BUSINESS days after receiving cleared payment We do not ship on weekends or U.S. holidays (if you order on a Friday, your order will ship the following Monday) A tracking number will be added to your eBay purchase history as soon as a shipping label is generated. Your order will be shipped from our warehouse in Pennsylvania. Delivery dates and shipping/transit times shown on the listing are estimates!Please be aware that as soon as we hand your package off to the shipping carrier it is out of our control and delays could happen for any reason on their end.Please also be aware that occasionally the tracking status will appear as though the package has not left our warehouse. Don’t panic! This happens when the postal service does not scan the shipping label into their system when the package arrives at the first distribution point. If you check back in 24 to 48 hours most likely the tracking status will update showing the package has been scanned as it gets closer to its destination. Do You Accept Returns? Any of our items may be returned within 14 days for any reason. The buyer pays return shipping cost unless otherwise agreed upon. Items must be returned in the same condition as they were shipped with all accessories Refunds will be issued only after we receive the returned item and it is examined Original shipping & handling costs are non-refundable unless otherwise agreed upon. Help! I Received the Wrong Size, Color or Item And Other Issues With Your Order Most issues can be easily resolved without starting an eBay return or opening a “Not as Described” case.Please do NOT start a return!Please do NOT start a “Not As Described” case!Using either of those eBay methods gives both you and us LIMITED options for resolution.Please contact us first without involving eBay! Go to your eBay purchases page and use the “Contact Seller” linkVERY IMPORTANT: Select the FIRST option. If we mistakenly (yep, it occasionally happens!) send you the wrong color, size or item please contact us about your issue first! From time to time we inadvertently overlook rips or tears when inspecting an item and if this happens, again, please contact us first. We will do our utmost to resolve your issue at no cost to you without the hassle of involving eBay. Threatening and/or leaving negative feedback is NOT a good way to get your problem taken care of! Again, please contact us FIRST with any issues you may have with your order! Contact Us Our business hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. We are closed on the weekends. We strive to answer all inquiries within 24 hours and most of the time we are able to get them answered within a couple of hours. We answer inquiries in the order they are received and your patience is appreciated. Please keep in mind that we receive hundreds of inquiries daily Buying Used or Surplus Items When it comes to buying used items such as genuine U.S. military surplus please be aware that no two items are going to be alike. We do our best to inspect every item and put it into a quality grade with items in similar condition. Many surplus items labeled “brand new/unissued” may not be shipped with original packaging. This does not mean the item has been used or that it is not genuine U.S. military issue. This may happen because the military often buys items in bulk and 100 of the same item may have been sealed in a single package. Genuine U.S. military surplus items may have slight variations by contract (each order the military made); these variations are not considered deficiencies. Be advised that it may be against the law to export certain military items outside the United States. Those items will be offered to U.S. addresses only. Be advised that the U.S. Government also regulates which countries we are allowed to ship military items to. That is why our listings are only offered to certain countries. We Use Stock Photos Due to the large volume of inventory we have on hand we use stock photos on our listings that are representative of the quality of the item you will receive. We are unable to take photos of each individual item we sell; instead, we take photos of one item from each quality grade and feature those on the listing. Storage of Surplus Items Our military surplus items may have been sitting for extended periods in government warehouses collecting dust and dirt. We do not consider dirt or anything that can be easily washed out of the item as a negative impact to quality. Generally, we do not launder our military surplus items prior to shipping. All items are inspected and graded for condition and we check for holes, rips and/or missing parts. Our in-house seamstress makes professional repairs as necessary prior to shipping. Important Information Regarding Genuine U.S. Government Military Surplus Inventory Availability All available sizes, colors and inventory we have in stock are available to purchase by going to our eBay store. Many listings have a size and/or color choice by using the drop down menu fields. If the size and/or color you need is not there or greyed out, we are temporarily out of stock. If there is not a size or color drop down menu you can visit our eBay store to check for other sizes or colors. We receive new shipments approximately every two weeks and we update our eBay store with new arrivals almost daily. Please be aware that we are at the mercy of the U.S. Government as to what they release and, unfortunately, we cannot simply pick up the phone and place an order for specific items when we sell out. Due to the large volume of orders we receive we are unable to contact customers when new stock arrives. Please feel free to add us to your favorite sellers and keep checking back with us. Condition of Used Items We do our best to describe the condition of each item, however, from time to time, a buyer’s expectations will not always be the same as our grading criteria. In addition, our used items will not always have the exact same condition even within the same grade. This is because not every item has the same “deficiency”. An example would be a trigger finger mitten appearing to be brand new (or they may actually be brand new) except for staining. This staining causes the mittens to be downgraded from brand new to either like new/mint or very good/excellent/nice condition depending upon the extent of the staining. In this example the “intended use” of the trigger finger mittens is not affected by the staining which is to keep your hands nice and warm. In addition, some items may need laundering but all of the items we sell will be serviceable and any deficiencies noted in the listing will not affect the “intended use” of the item. All items have been properly demilitarized and cleared for resale Nothing Beats Made in the USA

USMC Military H&H Coyote MOLLE IFAK First Aid Kit w/ Supplies No TOURNIQUET Read More »

10-pack Shelby Co. P-38 Can Openers

P38 Can Opener 10 Pack – New The P-38 can opener has been around since the days of WWII. It has still remained a never fail hand utensil that gets you ripping into your grub faster than you had imagined possible. These small wonders of the camping and survival world can fit anywhere into your pack and leave plenty of room for your other items. Since you get 10 of these openers in this offer there are more than enough to keep some in your survival kit, camping accessories pack, disaster preparedness kit, personal preparedness kit, and of course with your survival food storage shelter. No more need to carry the bulky openers or keep one that runs on electricity as this one is self-powered and is just a few turns of the wrist to enjoy the contents of the can you just opened up. Make sure to take advantage of this tremendous value pack! Order yourself a P38 Can Opener 10 pack and you will have plenty to carry anywhere and stash around to have just in case and even have some left over to give to your friends! Features: Military style and made to U.S. Government specs Heat treated stainless steel construction Stamped “U.S. Shelby Co.” on them and they each have a hole in them to be carried on your dog chain if desired Originally introduced back in WWII Each measures 3/4″ x 1 1/2″ NSN: 7330-00-242-3506 Pictures are representation of available products. FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS TO THE LOWER 48 STATES VIA UPS GROUND. International Customers: Send us a message with your Country and shipping postal code for calculated shipping costs AMMO CAN MAN®”Making American Products Great Again®”

10-pack Shelby Co. P-38 Can Openers Read More »

P51 USGI type can openers, for larger cans, Shelby, ten (10)

This listing is for ten (10) military can openers. This goes around a larger can and supposedly it takes 51 times to get around. There is a smaller one called P38. Most of the military carried it with them as they used it for various things. If you are bidding on more than one of our products, please click on buy it now and then request an invoice which will reflect combined shipping. Feedback will be provided once it is received indicating your satisfaction with the product. Powered by eBay Turbo Lister The free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items.

P51 USGI type can openers, for larger cans, Shelby, ten (10) Read More »

10 – 100 PCS Stainless Steel 3.5″ Ball Chain For P38 & P51 Can Openers

10-100 Pcs 3.5 inch Long Stainless Steel Ball Bead Chain Nickel Plated Keychain, each with Matching Connectors 2.4 mm Diameter Ball Chain About this item: Material: Made of stainless steel (titanium steel) Metal, which is corrosion-resistant and does not fade. Chain Length (Each) : 9.5 cm / 3.7″;Bead Diameter : 2.4 mm / 0.09″ Color : Silver Tone Application: Perfect for securing P-38 & P-51 can openers to backpacks, belt loops, keychains etc. Also excellent for hanging nail files, label tags, foldable scissors, keys,dog tags, bottle cap pendant necklaces, scrabble tile pendant necklaces,or making your own key chains. Very suitable for shops, festivals and birthday DIY crafts. Package: Standard 1st class envelope or small package depending on quantity purchased. Tracking provided with all orders.

10 – 100 PCS Stainless Steel 3.5″ Ball Chain For P38 & P51 Can Openers Read More »

P38 & P51 Can Opener 10 Pack – 5 of Each US Shelby CO U.S Made NEW Survival Gear

FREE & FAST SHIPPING; USUALLY MAILED SAME DAY Sale for a 10 pack, all stainless steel includes 5 each US Shelby P-38 Can Openers5 each US Shelby P-51 Can OpenersGreat for campers, scouts, hobbiest , door prizes at VFWs, Legions, veteran organizations. See other listings we sell these from 5 to 500- The P38 was used from WWII through Vietnam for C-Rations and today for hiking, camping, day trips, keep on your key chain, glove box, inside your purse, pack, bag, etc. The P51 was a civilian adaption that came along later and has enjoyed similar success.- These are constructed from magnetic stainless steel, not the cheap zinc plated steel imports

P38 & P51 Can Opener 10 Pack – 5 of Each US Shelby CO U.S Made NEW Survival Gear Read More »

P38 & P51 Can Opener 10 Pack Shelby + Key Rings Mess Camping Survival Military

FREE & FAST SHIPPING – USUALLY MAILED SAME DAY Each pack includes: – 5 each US Shelby P-38 Can Openers- 5 each US Shelby P-51 Can Openers- 5 each key ringsGreat for campers, scouts, hobbiest , door prizes at VFWs, Legions, veteran organizations. See other listings we sell these from 5 to 500- The P38 was used from WWII through Vietnam for C-Rations and today for hiking, camping, day trips, keep on your key chain, glove box, inside your purse, pack, bag, etc. The P51 was a larger adaption that came along later and has also enjoyed just as much success.- These are constructed from magnetic stainless steel, not the cheap zinc plated steel importsThe Greatest Army Invention: History of the P38 (Thank you American Vintage & Surplusyes for permission) Genuine Stainless Steel P38 Can Openers by Shelby Co US, great for campers, scouts, hobbiest , door prizes at VFWs, Legions, veteran organizations. Keep on your key chain, glove box, day pack, boat, RV, purse, very handy to have around see history and uses below.We sell these also in quantities of 5 to 500 also great for militaria, sports show venders, etc. See our other listingsThese are faithful reproductions of the famous P38 used from WWII to Vietnam war to present every day use. Constructed of Stainless Steel (magnetic) versus the cheaper zinc plated imports.The Greatest Army Invention: History of the P38 Story by Maj. Renita FosterIt was developed in just 30 days in the summer of 1942 by the Subsistence Research Laboratory in Chicago. And never in its history has it been known to break, rust, need sharpening or polishing. Perhaps that is why many soldiers, past and present, regard the P-38 C-ration can opener as the Army’s best invention. C-rations have long since been replaced with the more convenient Meals, Ready to Eat, but the fame of the P-38 persists, thanks to the many uses stemming from the unique blend of ingenuity and creativity all soldiers seem to have. “The P-38 is one of those tools you keep and never want to get rid of,” said Sgt. Scott Kiraly, a military policeman. “I’ve had my P-38 since joining the Army 11 years ago and kept it because I can use it as a screwdriver, knife, anything.” The most vital use of the P-38, however, is the very mission it was designed for, said Fort Monmouth, N.J., garrison commander Col. Paul Baerman. “When we had C-rations, the P-38 was your access to food; that made it the hierarchy of needs,” Baerman said. “Then soldiers discovered it was an extremely simple, lightweight, multipurpose tool. I think in warfare, the simpler something is and the easier access it has, the more you’re going to use it. The P-38 had all of those things going for it.” The tool acquired its name from the 38 punctures required to open a C-ration can, and from the boast that it performed with the speed of the World War II P-38 fighter plane. “Soldiers just took to the P-38 naturally,” said World War II veteran John Bandola. “It was our means for eating 90 percent of the time, but we also used it for cleaning boots and fingernails, as a screwdriver, you name it. We all carried it on our dog tags or key rings.” When Bandola attached his first and only P-38 to his key ring a half century ago, it accompanied him to Anzio, Salerno and through northern Italy. It was with him when World War II ended, and it’s with him now. “This P-38 is a symbol of my life then,” said Bandola. “The Army, the training, my fellow soldiers, all the times we shared during a world war.” Sgt. Ted Paquet, swing shift supervisor in the Fort Monmouth Provost Marshal’s Office, was a 17-year-old seaman serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS New Orleans during the Vietnam war when he got his first P-38. The ship’s mission was to transport Marines off the coast of Da Nang. On occasional evenings, Marines gathered near Paquet’s duty position on the fantail for simple pleasures like “Cokes, cigarettes, conversation and C-rations.” It was during one of these nightly sessions that Paquet came in contact with the P-38, or “John Wayne” as it’s referred to in the Navy. Paquet still carries his P-38, and he still finds it useful. While driving with his older brother, Paul, their car’s carburetor began to have problems. “There were no tools in the car and, almost simultaneously, both of us reached for P-38s attached to our key rings,” Paquet said with a grin. “We used my P-38 to adjust the flow valve, the car worked perfectly, and we went on our merry way.” Paquet”s P-38 is in a special box with his dog tags, a .50-caliber round from the ship he served on, his Vietnam Service Medal, South Vietnamese money and a surrender leaflet from Operation Desert Storm provided by a nephew. “It will probably be on my dresser until the day I die,” Paquet said. The feelings veterans have for the P-38 aren’t hard to understand, according to 1st Sgt. Steve Wilson of the Chaplain Center and School at Fort Monmouth. “When you hang on to something for 26 years,” he said, “it’s very hard to give it up. That’s why people keep their P-38 just like they do their dog tags. … It means a lot. It’s become part of you. You remember field problems, jumping at 3 a.m. and moving out. A P-38 has you reliving all the adventures that came with soldiering in the armed forces. Yes, the P-38 opened cans, but it did much more. Any soldier will tell you that.”copied from surplusyesitems since more and more people are putting them in their military & medal displays or their P-38 collections. P-38 collections don’t cost too much and don’t take up much space and they’re a lot of fun finding the hard to get ones. I’ve had the same P-38 on my key-ring ever since my first Boy Scout camping trip when my Scoutmaster gave it to me to open the big cans of peaches for the delicious cobbler he would make over the campfire in a huge cast iron skillet. I can still taste that delicious cobbler as we sat around the campfire before crawling into our sleeping bags. My Scoutmaster was a WWII and Korean War veteran that knew how handy the little P-38s were and he gave one to every new member of the Scout troop on their first camping trip. Recently P-38s have added a new role to their long list of uses. Shelters and organizations that aid the homeless hand them out and also they were included in the humanitarian relief packets dropped into Afghanistan. I’ve also been told they have been handed out here in the USA by relief organizations after natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, storms and floods) for when the power is out and electric can openers no longer work. A P-38 is a lesson in simplicity at it’s best.Don’t you wish everything in life could be as simple and useful as a P-38. List of P-38 Uses By Steve Wilson, MSG Proponent NCO, Dept of the Army Office of the Chief of Chaplains, The Pentagon1. Can Opener 2. Seam Ripper 3. Screwdriver 4. Clean Fingernails 5. Cut Fishing Line 6. Open Paint Cans 7. Window Scraper 8. Scrape Around Floor Corners 9. Digging copied from surplusyes 10. Clean Out Groove on Tupperware lids 11. Reach in and Clean Out Small Cracks 12. Scrape Around Edge of Boots 13. Bottle Opener14. Gut Fish (in the field) 15. Scale Fish (in the field) 16. Test for ‘Doneness’ When Baking on a Camp Fire 17. Prying Items 18. Strip Wire 19. Scrape Pans in the Field 20. Lift Key on Flip Top Cans 21. Chisel copied from surplusyes 22. Barter 23. Marking Tool 24. Deflating Tires 25. Clean Sole of Boot/Shoe 26. Pick Teeth 27. Measurement28. Striking Flint 29. Stirring Coffee 30. Puncturing Plastic Coating 31. Knocking on Doors 32. Morse Code 33. Box Cutter 34. Opening Letters 35. Write Emergency Messages 36. Scratch an Itch 37. Save as a Souvenir 38. Rip Off Rank for On-the-Spot Promotions

P38 & P51 Can Opener 10 Pack Shelby + Key Rings Mess Camping Survival Military Read More »

P38 & P51 Can Opener 10 Pack 5 Each Shelby Co USA for Survival Scout Camping

FREE & FAST SHIPPING, USUALLY MAILED SAME DAY Combo pack of 10, all stamped U.S. Shelby Co. Made of Stainless Steel (magnetic) . You get – 5 P38 Can Openers – 5 P51 Can Openers Great for hikers, veterans, campers, scouts, hobbiests , door prizes at VFWs, Legions, veteran organizations. Same day shipping in most cases via USPSWe combine shipping to save mailing costsMagnetic Stainless steel alloy, corrosion resistant. Absolutely not the zinc plated brand made in Taiwan Return Policy: Returns subject to 20% restocking feeOur thanks to American Vintage for permission to use their photosSee our other listings. Excerpt of the P38 belowThe Greatest Army Invention: History of the P38 Thanks to MAJ Renita FosterStory by Maj. Renita FosterIt was developed in just 30 days in the summer of 1942 by the Subsistence Research Laboratory in Chicago. And never in its history has it been known to break, rust, need sharpening or polishing. Perhaps that is why many soldiers, past and present, regard the P-38 C-ration can opener as the Army’s best invention. C-rations have long since been replaced with the more convenient Meals, Ready to Eat, but the fame of the P-38 persists, thanks to the many uses stemming from the unique blend of ingenuity and creativity all soldiers seem to have. “The P-38 is one of those tools you keep and never want to get rid of,” said Sgt. Scott Kiraly, a military policeman. “I’ve had my P-38 since joining the Army 11 years ago and kept it because I can use it as a screwdriver, knife, anything.” The most vital use of the P-38, however, is the very mission it was designed for, said Fort Monmouth, N.J., garrison commander Col. Paul Baerman. “When we had C-rations, the P-38 was your access to food; that made it the hierarchy of needs,” Baerman said. “Then soldiers discovered it was an extremely simple, lightweight, multipurpose tool. I think in warfare, the simpler something is and the easier access it has, the more you’re going to use it. The P-38 had all of those things going for it.” The tool acquired its name from the 38 punctures required to open a C-ration can, and from the boast that it performed with the speed of the World War II P-38 fighter plane. “Soldiers just took to the P-38 naturally,” said World War II veteran John Bandola. “It was our means for eating 90 percent of the time, but we also used it for cleaning boots and fingernails, as a screwdriver, you name it. We all carried it on our dog tags or key rings.” When Bandola attached his first and only P-38 to his key ring a half century ago, it accompanied him to Anzio, Salerno and through northern Italy. It was with him when World War II ended, and it’s with him now. “This P-38 is a symbol of my life then,” said Bandola. “The Army, the training, my fellow soldiers, all the times we shared during a world war.” Sgt. Ted Paquet, swing shift supervisor in the Fort Monmouth Provost Marshal’s Office, was a 17-year-old seaman serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS New Orleans during the Vietnam war when he got his first P-38. The ship’s mission was to transport Marines off the coast of Da Nang. On occasional evenings, Marines gathered near Paquet’s duty position on the fantail for simple pleasures like “Cokes, cigarettes, conversation and C-rations.” It was during one of these nightly sessions that Paquet came in contact with the P-38, or “John Wayne” as it’s referred to in the Navy. Paquet still carries his P-38, and he still finds it useful. While driving with his older brother, Paul, their car’s carburetor began to have problems. “There were no tools in the car and, almost simultaneously, both of us reached for P-38s attached to our key rings,” Paquet said with a grin. “We used my P-38 to adjust the flow valve, the car worked perfectly, and we went on our merry way.” Paquet”s P-38 is in a special box with his dog tags, a .50-caliber round from the ship he served on, his Vietnam Service Medal, South Vietnamese money and a surrender leaflet from Operation Desert Storm provided by a nephew. “It will probably be on my dresser until the day I die,” Paquet said. The feelings veterans have for the P-38 aren’t hard to understand, according to 1st Sgt. Steve Wilson of the Chaplain Center and School at Fort Monmouth. “When you hang on to something for 26 years,” he said, “it’s very hard to give it up. That’s why people keep their P-38 just like they do their dog tags. … It means a lot. It’s become part of you. You remember field problems, jumping at 3 a.m. and moving out. A P-38 has you reliving all the adventures that came with soldiering in the armed forces. Yes, the P-38 opened cans, but it did much more. Any soldier will tell you that.”items since more and more people are putting them in their military & medal displays or their P-38 collections. P-38 collections don’t cost too much and don’t take up much space and they’re a lot of fun finding the hard to get ones. I’ve had the same P-38 on my key-ring ever since my first Boy Scout camping trip when my Scoutmaster gave it to me to open the big cans of peaches for the delicious cobbler he would make over the campfire in a huge cast iron skillet. I can still taste that delicious cobbler as we sat around the campfire before crawling into our sleeping bags. My Scoutmaster was a WWII and Korean War veteran that knew how handy the little P-38s were and he gave one to every new member of the Scout troop on their first camping trip. Recently P-38s have added a new role to their long list of uses. Shelters and organizations that aid the homeless hand them out and also they were included in the humanitarian relief packets dropped into Afghanistan. I’ve also been told they have been handed out here in the USA by relief organizations after natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, storms and floods) for when the power is out and electric can openers no longer work. A P-38 is a lesson in simplicity at it’s best. copied from jack flak 6Don’t you wish everything in life could be as simple and useful as a P-38. List of P-38 Uses By Steve Wilson, MSG Proponent NCO, Dept of the Army Office of the Chief of Chaplains, The Pentagon1. Can Opener 2. Seam Ripper 3. Screwdriver 4. Clean Fingernails 5. Cut Fishing Line 6. Open Paint Cans 7. Window Scraper 8. Scrape Around Floor Corners 9. Digging 10. Clean Out Groove on Tupperware lids 11. Reach in and Clean Out Small Cracks 12. Scrape Around Edge of Boots 13. Bottle Opener14. Gut Fish (in the field) 15. Scale Fish (in the field) 16. Test for ‘Doneness’ When Baking on a Camp Fire 17. Prying Items 18. Strip Wire 19. Scrape Pans in the Field 20. Lift Key on Flip Top Cans 21. Chisel copied from jack flak 6 22. Barter 23. Marking Tool 24. Deflating Tires 25. Clean Sole of Boot/Shoe 26. Pick Teeth 27. Measurement28. Striking Flint 29. Stirring Coffee 30. Puncturing Plastic Coating 31. Knocking on Doors 32. Morse Code 33. Box Cutter 34. Opening Letters 35. Write Emergency Messages 36. Scratch an Itch copied from jack flak 6 37. Save as a Souvenir 38. Rip Off Rank for On-the-Spot Promotions

P38 & P51 Can Opener 10 Pack 5 Each Shelby Co USA for Survival Scout Camping Read More »