Can Opener's- Do you have a plan?

Sorry to hear about your Gerber, clearly she did not know how to use it properly. Even as a kid, I could get razor edges from that rotory stone wheel.

 

About a year ago i stripped the gears on our can opener bad ,for some reason i can never remember to buy a new one.....have been using a p-38 that i tied to a string and hung on cupboard door,works fine for me but man does it piss my wife off lol
D

 

I own no less than 8 or so swiss army knives. All pretty basic ones. 2 knife blades. 2 small utility blades (can opener/sm screwdriver, bottle opener/large screwdriver. These serve me well. I can zip the lid off a can very quickly. In someone else's house, usually faster than they can come up with a piece of crap can opener. One in each of my fishing tackle boxes. One in each vehicle. One usually in my pocket. A few more at house. I do not own an electric can opener, and do not want one. I have at least 3 other manual can openers, and come to think of it at least a dozen p-51s. I'm good.

 

We had one of these in both my grandparents homes and one in my childhood home. Hard to beat. Worked hard for 15 to 20 years plus that I can attest to. This thread post got me looking for one.
Actually this one looks more like the one we had when I was a kid. Name jumps out there and smacks me up side the head no less, and leaves me saying, ... yup that's the one. Picture details and mounting bracket/pin look real familiar. It has to be the right one. Reviews indicate another old timer remembering this one from 40 years ago.
.
Swing-A-Way Wall Mount Can Opener

 

Link goes no where useful.

 

see the new link

 

I did.
One of these will open just about anything , every time, without fail.

 

at what price? The "Swing A Way" Can Opener I have linked is $8. ..... a price even you can live with.

 

This is commercial grade, for restaurant use. They slide down into a bench top socket. I don't know the cost, off hand, because I have never needed to replace one, though I've used them in every pizza shop I've ever worked in.
(I used to be a crew trainer for godfather's pizza) and a few others.)
Edit:#1 Can Opener without Base

 

Okay, so for the medium duty model without base shown in post 51, or shipping $40. Base available for table mounting (drill holes and bolt it up) another $10. I do not believe I need one that heavy duty at that cost. jmho. I can get 6 of the wall mount swing a ways with free shipping for $61, and pass them out to the tribe. jus sayin'. Some may disagree and go for the more expensive single unit. I understand that also. Different priorities, different final thoughts, we all gotta do what we think right. No argument no problem. The swing a way wall mount will outlive me anyway.

 

I'm going to stay with portable. .. I don't need one more damn thing on my counter top

 

i have a regular p38.and the one with a spoon as well.i guess that's the 51 with spoon instead of 38 with a spoon.and i always have both on me at all times..

 

I got so interested in this topic that I started collecting antique can openers just so I could master their use. There are so many ways to open a can, and there have been so many variations on can opener design and function over the years that I've become quite comfortable with can opening.

The safety concern cannot be stressed enough. A nice slice from a can lid could cause all sorts of complications if you couldn't stitch it and treat for infection. That's why I have plenty of modern, inexpensive and efficient safety can openers that don't leave a sharp edge in the can, or a toothed edge on the lid.

I'm still looking for a cast iron bull's head can opener, but I have several more modern openers that use the same technique to open cans.

From my dump digging childhood memories I can recall finding many old rusted cans that had not been opened anywhere as neatly as can be done with most purpose built can openers. Many had been opened by the old juice can style that punches a triangular hole to pour from. Just keep punching all the way around the lid. Some were not that neat.
So, if necessary, I know that something with an edge and a simple striking instrument are all that's required to get into a can. Not quick, nor easy, but it'll get the job done.

HD

 

This is not a very clear image, but I've seen this before. Instructions read "to open can, cut around top with hammer and chisel".

And this is likely your bull's head can opener.

 

You know that you CAN sharpen the P38 and it works a lot better.
Mine is 1945 vintage and works just fine.
I must admit though the side cutting can openers are a significant improvement, especially if you have the innovation to know how to reseal the can.
Those that try, learn something. those that refuse to try, learn nothing.