The P-38

Ultradog MN · May 22, 2018

No, not THAT P-38.
The Other P-38.
Interesting little read about a very successful piece of military hardware.
I've carried one on my keychain for 45 years.
I was in Home Depot the other day and used it to cut the tape on the box on some electrical items. The employee there saw it and said, "Hey, I know what that thing is."
So we talked about it a bit and found we were both in the Navy about the same time and yacked about what ships we were on, etc, etc.
Ended up shaking hands and feeling a sense of camaradarie with each other.
All over a little scrap of metal.

Click here

miner09 · May 22, 2018

Yes I used them also 60's. But I don't know where it is but still have dog tags on key chain. I was told a few weeks ago you can still buy it.

Billy Shafer · May 22, 2018

I still have mine. Plus four that were never used. Locked up in my safe. That thing did everything.

Dachshund · May 22, 2018

In the USMC, we called them a "John Wayne" - because it could do almost anything.....

kcm.MN · May 22, 2018

Yup, can still buy. When we were down in Arkansas, there was a whole jar full of brand new ones at the checkout counter of the local hardware store. Heck, can probably find them on Amazon also.

jddrawbar · May 22, 2018

Still have mine from '66....with practice, they were very fast.

mdross · May 22, 2018

Still have a couple from the 60's one still in the wrapper.

Rich'sToys · May 22, 2018

I'm sure I probably have one or two around here somewhere also.

coshoo · May 22, 2018

I had one that seemed to work much smoother and faster than any other I had, even after a lot of use. I still have it, with my dog tags. Thanks for bringing up an old memory.

pete black · May 22, 2018

Same here, Army, 1966.

Al Baker(pumpman) · May 22, 2018

We also called them a John Wayne. Al USMC

old-9 · May 22, 2018

I have several , one hangs on a nail in garage. I used it to open dog food cans.

PaGlenn · May 22, 2018

I was watching a utube video the other day about an old army surplus store still in business in new York city. The host was examining a p38 and stated these were in use pre Vietnam. Well I really think I used one to open my rations while serving in Thailand 69-70.

glennster · May 22, 2018

iirc, there was a john wayne movie, in harms way, ww2 navy pacific where he has dinner at maggies apartment and her can opener was broken and he uses his p-38 opener. always struck me funny, kind of like an advertisement for the p-38

John Deere D · May 22, 2018

"YT" is definitely a source of information.

Thanks for the P-38 Post....I was not aware of the name....

The only P-38 I had for several years was as per picture....9 MM

Bob...

jeffcat · May 22, 2018

There is one on every keychain I have. Prying tool, emergency screw driver,cutter,even a can opener. Read that the designation "P-38" means it takes 38 twist with the tool to open a C or K ration can. Also said to be 38mm long if you measure one. Don't forget the "P-51" opener. It is the big brother version. Found 5his on the net. Way too much information.

Deutz Lover · May 22, 2018

I love those things. About 5 years ago I went on a kick and bought a bunch and some P-51s. I gave some to my brother and we keep them in the vehicles and at home in nooks, kitchen drawers, etc. Made U.S. Shelby.

I bought some in stainless, but they needed a little sharpening.
They can be pretty fast and save space. The only problem is they are so small they get lost. They will fit in a wallet and sure beat a rock if the power is out or you are nowhere. Gives you a sense of security and confidence when all else fails. That reminds me I need to get a bunch of key chains to hang them on nails or equivalent

Makers: Original J. W. Speaker and Washburn Corp. (U.S. Androck).

Later by U.S. Shelby. Many copies made in Asian countries. Aussies have one called a Fred. Don't ask why.

Elegant in their simplicity and sheer genius.

Deutz Lover · May 22, 2018

Dang it jeffcat you beat me by one minute. Not meaning to be redundant. lol

dr sportster · May 22, 2018

John Wayne USMC

jeffcat · May 22, 2018

Can't get it to post. Here are a couple of additional items.

Kid Shileen · May 22, 2018

Good on. Also very handy for those really hard to open cans

Two Dogs · May 22, 2018

I was boarding a plane (pre nine eleven) in Jacksonville, Fla. and the security broad never said a word about my small pocket knife but raked me over the coals about the p 38 on my key chain. She had never heard of such a thing. TDF

jm. · May 22, 2018

Carrying the same one I was issued Sept of 1962 . Some how I have managed to keep it on my key ring all these years.

centash · May 22, 2018

And here I was hoping for a discussion on the P 38 Lightning fighter plane......
Ben

oldtanker · May 22, 2018

I've still got a few of those things floating around. Haven't used em sense MREs (Meals Rejected by EVERYONE) came out.

Don't miss the MRE's nor the C rats.

Rick

Ultradog MN · May 22, 2018

I hadn't thought of those.
I'll trade ya my p-38 for your p-38

jeffcat · May 22, 2018

Let you get ahead next time.

FLOLDFORD · May 22, 2018

Sportsman Guide has a can of 100 for $24.95 That should last a lifetime and then some. I have a few of them laying around and one on my truck key chain.

Kansasredneck · May 22, 2018

Introduced in 1942. I'm a Johnny come lately, I didn't get into the military until 1979 and the C-Rats, actually MCI's, were being phased out. Last one I had was in 1983 In Germany.
Part of my vehicle load out was a week's supply of rations for the unit. Just before a field problem, the supply sergeant and I went to Kaiserslautern and turned in our C's for MRE's. Well, we deployed, and lunch that first day was the new and great MRE's. Horrible? That would be a compliment. The CO told the Supply sergeant and me to hustle over to K-town and see if we could retrieve our old C's.
When we arrived, we were told they'd been sent to the incinerator point, but we could check to see if they'd been destroyed. When we got to the incinerator, they told us the only way we were getting the C's was if we took everything they had there. Left with a Deuce full of rations. Every can had to be opened before being fed to the incinerator.

gears · May 23, 2018

Just yesterday I mentioned a p38 to a 30 something coworker... He'd never heard of it.

Hobo,NC · May 23, 2018

been tote'N one for 44 years don't remember the last time I used it.

Deutz Lover · May 23, 2018

Well its easier than toting an elephant gun around for years and never having used it. Besides if you did happen on that elephant you would have easy access to canned condiments. Of course in a real life situation you can be the life of the party at a picnic or camping cookout when everyone else forgot a larger can opener.

The day you leave it or remove it will be the day you will kick yourself because a situation will arise where the idea light will click on, you will snap your finger and then grimace when you remember you left it behind.

Hoenes · May 23, 2018

Well . . . back in the 70's, shortly after the war, I "saw" them used for a specific type of "clip." Introduced by veterans !

The P-38

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