Do you still carry a P-38? And do our newer military Brothers and Sisters know what a P-38 is?

SPC Mark Beard — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:20:20 -0500

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 25 at 2015 10:24 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:24:03 -0500

Active Duty and have one on my key ring.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Jan 25 at 2015 10:41 PM

SFC Collin McMillion — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:41:02 -0500

Still have one and probably always will.

Response by PFC David Tobias made Jan 25 at 2015 10:54 PM

PFC David Tobias — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:54:07 -0500

I still carry one onmy key ring has been very handy.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 11:01 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 23:01:41 -0500

SPC Mark Beard. I always thought it was WWII fighter bomber aircraft . . . but it doubles as a can opener.

o http://www.army.mil/article/25736/the-best-army-invention-ever/

It was also a fine personal side arm . . . WWII or recent vintage . . . Walther P 38 auto ( a good can opener ).

Warmest Regards, Sandy

The best Army invention ever

The Army P-38 can opener has provided to be much more versatile through the years for resourceful Soldiers, from an aid to cleaning weapons to makeshift ornaments for an artificial Christmas tree.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 12:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:01:18 -0500

SPC Mark Beard I have P-38's and the Larger P-39's.

No, Soldiers these days have no idea what it is or the use.

It is funny because i recently had a conversation with a young Lieutenant and was trying to explain things to him which are not in the ARMY inventory anymore so I had to google them in order to show him what I was talking about.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 26 at 2015 12:02 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:02:30 -0500

SPC Mark Beard, I first got one sometime in OCT69. Still have one, but certainly don't carry it around!

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jan 26 at 2015 12:06 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:06:17 -0500

Hmm, I own a P38, P238, P329 but the only P38 I own as you implied is the one I got from My Father, PFC Marquez, USMC

Response by SSG Corry Struve made Jan 26 at 2015 1:21 AM

SSG Corry Struve — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 01:21:35 -0500

I have one in my field pack, never know when you will need it.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 1:23 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 01:23:39 -0500

Yes I do it comes in handy once a year but yes.

Response by SFC Ed Harland made Jan 26 at 2015 2:00 AM

SFC Ed Harland — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 02:00:57 -0500

Still on my dog tags!

Response by TSgt Kristin Parsons made Jan 26 at 2015 2:57 PM

TSgt Kristin Parsons — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 14:57:43 -0500

Still AD and had to google it but now I think I will keep one handy on the key ring.

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Jan 26 at 2015 4:01 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 16:01:38 -0500

Have had one on my key chain for over 30 years...on my second one!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 9:52 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:52:20 -0500

I have one on my dog tags, use it on a regular basis!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 9:02 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 21:02:31 -0500

I added one to my dog tags when I realized several years ago that the multi-tool I carried did not have the capability to open what I needed opening!

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 8 at 2015 3:18 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 15:18:08 -0500

No I do not carry one but I definitely know what one is thanks to all of my older veteran friends.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 1 at 2015 1:43 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:43:29 -0400

I wish! I lost mine a while ago!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 1 at 2015 1:48 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:48:43 -0400

I carry mine on my key ring. It makes a good screwdriver (both slotted and Phillips) in a pinch, as well as a can opener. I have used it for both, but more frequently as an emergency screwdriver.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 1 at 2015 1:52 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:52:36 -0400

I wish I still had the one I bargained for from an Aussie. The American P38 can't hold up well beyond opening the cans in one C-Rat package. The Aussie version is made of steel and holds up much better. Also, it has a longer handle for better leverage and is fashioned to serve as an eating utensil. Like its American cousin, it had a hole that could be used to hang it on a dog tag chain.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 3:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 15:41:09 -0400

I still have one I carried in active duty from the 70's had to put it away for safe keeping and to stop it from always cutting into my leg from inside of my pocket . P38 was more than just a can opener . I used it to scrape stuff or like a screw driver and to open other things like boxes . Hell it was a symbol of having to have eaten k-rations and c-ration and to lived to tell the tell .

Response by SGT LeTerrence Johnson made Jun 1 at 2015 3:50 PM

SGT LeTerrence Johnson — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 15:50:47 -0400

Old school can opener. I'm a cook and every cook should know that. Do we use them as cooks? No. I've been in 13 years and this obsolete to is very helpful. They are like .38 at most surplus stores

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Jun 1 at 2015 4:25 PM

SA Harold Hansmann — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 16:25:43 -0400

I got combined in another q&a I didn't know about

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Jun 1 at 2015 4:27 PM

SA Harold Hansmann — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 16:27:11 -0400

One of these?

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 1 at 2015 4:44 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 16:44:45 -0400

I carry my trusty Swiss Army Knife. Never fails.