There are many items that we use every day but they are eventually lost to history. It’s unfortunate because those items are more than artifacts, they are a testament to human ingenuity.

One interesting piece that is not used by many people any longer is this interesting little metal device. It would be confusing for anybody who has never used one before, but for those who have used it, the design is unmistakably amazing.

You can hold the device in the palm of your hand and when it is used properly, it could keep you well-fed in a convenient way. It is the P-38 Can Opener, a simple device but one that served a very useful purpose.

The P-38 first got its use in the Army. During World War II, soldiers would carry the tool with them and they could open their rations easily. It was something that allowed them to access their food without weighing them down.

During the war, it was important that anything that was carried by soldiers was both compact and served a useful purpose. This device certainly does, and it is still something that is used by many survivalists today.

We can imagine that a soldier would appreciate being able to open up this small piece of folded metal to access his field rations when he was hungry. It also fostered communication, because after opening the rations, the soldiers could sit around and talk about what was on their mind.

When we see a design such as this that is so efficient, it’s important that we remember why it was used. Of course, we have the electronic devices that help us to get into cans today, but this little piece of history is one that should never be forgotten.