• I thought I would like the P-51 better because I have very large hands. So I ordered one of each the P-38 and the P-51. Now I think I like the smaller P-38 better but they are both fine.
• Beware of the imitations from China as you might not get the same performance under a lighted match. I have always kept one inside my wallet and in my camping set. It is guaranteed to open any can big or small. It is, I believe, one of the best and simplest creations by the US military. I have had one since 1978 and my first one was a SHELBY USA. Always buy US made P-38 can openers such as the Shelby USA type to make sure you got the real deal. When our can opener at home failed to its job I always volunteered my P-38 can opener to my mother. To disinfect it I used to put the opening blade over a lighted match stick for a couple of seconds. So she decided to hang my P-38 on the kitchen wall as her kitchen stuff and I had to get a new one from surplus.
• These can openers are very useful in a survival situation. One of the main advantages is that it doesn't need any source of power. Very simple to use and doesn't need much space to keep or store. This is the ideal multi functional tool you should carry around your neck. Think about all very different uses.
• I was caught in Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. It was a real disaster. We were locked inside the basement that whole time and our house was completely gone. We did not have electricity or water during this period. All the neighborhood was completely distressed by the hurricane. There were no houses to be seen near by. Pieces of broken houses were every where. All roads was covered by trash. I was always keeping a survival package including many different kinds of caned food and few of these p38 can openers. We had to survive on bottled water and caned food. These openers came every handy in our situation.
• The blade part on the can opener would swing out and snag the inside of your pockets.You can prevent this by putting a little piece of surgical tube over it. If you don't have a surgical tube you can simply wrap a wide rubber band around it. I am very pleased with the Quality of these can openers and may order some more for little gifts for some of my relatives. It works fine. Seems to be as tough as the old ones were, I put the other ones in our bug out bags. I am impressed with these. They seem well made. I was unfamiliar with the p 51 but ordered two of each. I used to have some P 38s but misplaced the last one years ago. I like the bigger p51 better since I have big hands, there’s more to hang on to. I have put one of the bigger p 51s on my key ring and used it 4 or 5 times.
• These are brand new can openers (not surplus) so they are clean and sharp. The P51 is about 1 1/2 inches long and the weight is too inconsequential to attempt to quantify. This is an extremely simple device and as such is extremely successful and popular. They are extremely effective at doing their job and are small enough to be carried in any pack taking up an insignificant amount of weight/room.
• Worked a thousand times better and years longer than the worthless crap apparently being sold by virtually everybody at the present. I have as yet to find another product that I wouldn't happily throw at the company President in the full knowledge I'd never get it back.
• Believing that they had all gone the way of the dinosaur, imagine my surprise when I learned that these things were not nearly as rare & obscure as I'd imagined. It wasn't until only very recently that the thought had occurred to me that just maybe there might be a market for obscure items such as this in the online arena.
• There are no sharp edge remaining on the outside and it's worn smooth. Once you learn how to use one, you never forget, and it only takes about twice the time to open a can with one of these as a hand crank opener. You use for cutting tape on boxes, prying open battery compartments to replace batteries, cutting string, use a corner as a Phillips head or as a flat blade screw driver and scratching the corrosion off something. I don't know what they made these things of, but it still works perfect. As a civilian, about the last thing you will use this thing for is opening a can.
• The quality is excellent. I would not hesitate to buy more. If you are looking for High Quality P-38 or this P-51 look no further. I am very pleased with my purchase. Stamped in USA. I have opened cans, and they work very well. These are the real deal.
• Once you gain the expertise of how to use these, you can open a can rather speedily. If not mistaken, Shelby is the original manufacturer for the military. Great in an emergency and brings back many memories of when I received them as military issue. You can't beat the real thing. Meaning that they will meet MIL-SPEC.
• You get what you pay for. But they do work. They aren't flimsy exactly, just in comparison to the old American-made ones. Cheap Chinese crap.
• Every key chain should have one of these.Tthey are a critical item for any bug-out bag. I have several just in case. I had been looking for one of these since I lost mine years ago. I pulled out my p38 and opened big #10 cans all day with it. I can remember one time working in a fast paced restaurant out big can opener broke.
• Once you have it you will never be sorry. You may lose or misplace them but you wont wear them out. We take them camping, of course, we all have one on our key rings just in case and no kitchen should be without one. We've used these old military can openers for years and are sold on them. Give yourself four or five cans to get used to the knack of them.
• It works better after you practice/get used to it/break it in. I tried these and while not a true bundle of joy at least it works. My best regards to the manufacturer. I've been using one since I got it and it is still going no sign of rust yet.
• I have used it on numerous occasions as a screw driver. It will open a can of beans, or soup, or whatever in a power outage or emergency. For anyone who has ever been in the military and had the opportunity to use one of these knows how handy they can be. They last forever and are great for camping. I felt it was necessary to replace it because of it's utility. Too look at they don't seem like much, but they are solidly built. I had one for the longest time but lost it a number of years ago in a move.
• Everyone should have one of these marvelous little tools in their cars, trucks, boats and on their work benches. It works as good today as the day I took it out of a case of c-rations. They will open just about any can with a rim. I couldn't resist buying two packages of these to pass out to my friends and family members. I have one of these little jewels on my key ring that's over 40 years old.
• They backup their service, what more could you ask for. Company sent me 2 P51's probably thinking that 2 of the larger openers would increase my satisfaction. I specifically wanted one of each, a P38 and a P51. The 'great' thing, a simple phone call, and they sent me 1 P38 immediately.
• Don't get the flimsy ones. This really is the best can opener you will ever buy. Get a bunch because they do not take up any room, great for backpacking, great for travel, great for home and as gifts. The P-51 and P-38 are even better than the new fangled electronic ones.
• This little thing is perfect for camping and/or in an emergency situation when you want to go lite. I served two tours in Vietnam and had my P-51 every where I went. I still have my original, but purchased these because my original one is in a frame with my medals.
• My can opener usually leaves a couple of uncut sides which I usually use a knife or screw driver to pry it open. I bought this product to use when my regular can opener does not open the whole can. I bought 4 to give to my kids and to take along with me during camping. This product does the job safely than a knife.
• I looked and found these and ordered them.Couple of friends of mine saw the one on my Key Chain and immediately wanted one as well.
• We purchased them for a survival pack, and the price was good. I have to say, these are exactly what they are supposed to be. That is not the fault of the seller, just the nature of these type of openers. Side note, these type of openers are not "easy" to use, but will work in a pinch.
• Make sure you know how to use one before taking it out. This are old army issue can openers, this was the best price on line and saves you from going into a scary surplus store.
• Have an older P-38 that my grandfather gave me and it stays on my keyring. Keep one set in the glove box of my Jeep and one set in my ALICE pack. Very glad that they're made in America. I have not used these new ones yet, but I have tried to bend them or abuse them lightly and they seem to be heavy duty. Will definitely purchase again if I need more for family or friends.