Handy

[mreheater72]

Hi guys,

short time ago I found on a flea market this rusty, little „tool“:





I remember that I have seen that “can opener” in the eighties during the Reforger exercises in Germany. I think its purpose is to open bottles or putting holes in cans (T-Rations?).

Do anyone know, whether it was developed for the individual soldier or for use in field kitchens?

Best wishes mreheater72

[kman]

I don't know if that tool was originally developed specially for the military or for soldiers but I recognize it as a common kitchen tool here in the US. At least, when I grew up, we always had something that looked like that in the kitchen for either opening soft drink bottles or for punching holes in cans.

[MCIera]

That is what is commonly known as a "church key" can opener and was a common household device that was used to open beverage containers. The sharp triangular end is used to punch two holes (one small, one large) into a beverage can for consumption. The rounded end is used to remove bottle caps. They were commonly used back in the days when beverage cans were made of steel and before they had self opening tabs, and before many beverage bottles had twist-off caps. The design of the instrument was not designed solely for military use but for the general population. Can openers like that can still be found as kitchen gadgets in stores, but they're not very common any more. They used to be given away as convenience/promotional items when beverage containers were in steel cans.

The name "Church Key" actually came from the days when brewery workers carried a bottle opener that looked like a large key, but carried over to the can opener.

[kman]

Thanks, MCIera - "church key" was just the phrase I needed to google this puppy:

http://www.just-for-openers.org/Church-Key.html
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchkey

[mreheater72]

Thanks a lot kman and MCIera a for your interesting information! But I’m a little bit disappointed that the opener is not a "tool" for military rations !

So long mreheater 72

[MCIera]

If it is of any consolation, a church key has been carried by many members of the military since before WWII and well into the Viet Nam era. How else was one supposed to open a can of beer? While the pull tab can came into being in the 60's, it wasn't universally used world-wide so there were still cans that needed a church key.

And it was an essential tool to construct a c-rat can cooking stove to burn triox or C-4 to heat c-rat entrees.

If you want a strictly US military version of a ration can opener, look for a P-38, aka "John Wayne." They're still around and usually don't cost very much even for an unused authentic USGI version.

Even today, there are still many bottles of beer that require some sort of opener to remove the cap, though in the US most seem to be of the twist off variety these days.

But I’m a little bit disappointed that the opener is not a "tool" for military rations !

So long mreheater 72

[mreheater72]

Thanks for your consolation MCIera! In my collection there any many P38s, even one original packed from 1950 ! I always wear some on my bunch of keys!



So long mreheater72

[deanopilot]

And it was an essential tool to construct a c-rat can cooking stove to burn triox or C-4 to heat c-rat entrees.

c-4? do you mean the explosive c-4?

[kman]

I'm betting he did mean the explosive c-4. I've heard from a couple of other guys that you could light it and burn it like trioxane.

A quick google search of "c-4 c-rations heating" will turn up a bunch of links talking about it. Here one:

http://www.homestead.com/gruntfixer/files/crats.html

where he says "A small chunk of C-4 explosive could also be substituted for the Trioxin tablet for faster heating."

[MCIera]

Yes, one in the same, aka "plastic explosive". There's a pound and a half of it in a Claymore mine (M18). You just want to use a small chunk, it burns hotter and doesn't smell as bad as Triox. Uh ... don't use the M57, it will ruin the whole meal

c-4? do you mean the explosive c-4?