All About Pocket Knives

Some old and some newer.

Can opener in second picture: what is the function of the solid metal extension with 1898 patent date marked on it ? I cannot visualize where this 'foot piece' sits when opening a can.
kj

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 4:21 pm Can opener in second picture: what is the function of the solid metal extension with 1898 patent date marked on it ? I cannot visualize where this 'foot piece' sits when opening a can.
kj

Roland:It appears to be a hammer head.I don't think it is essential to opening a can.Here are a couple of closeups of the head.

knife7knut wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 5:42 pm

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 4:21 pm Can opener in second picture: what is the function of the solid metal extension with 1898 patent date marked on it ? I cannot visualize where this 'foot piece' sits when opening a can.
kj

Roland:It appears to be a hammer head.I don't think it is essential to opening a can.Here are a couple of closeups of the head.

So when for whatever reason the can refuses to submit to the efforts of its user to deploy the wondrous invention, the hammer will enable the hapless person trying to make this work, to vent his/her/???? frustrations on the can by beating it into a shapeless mass before moving on to other more productive things.

Mr. Chips wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 8:25 pm

So when for whatever reason the can refuses to submit to the efforts of its user to deploy the wondrous invention, the hammer will enable the hapless person trying to make this work, to vent his/her/???? frustrations on the can by beating it into a shapeless mass before moving on to other more productive things.

That is about it in a nut shell! Or maybe that is used to dispense with unruly nut shells!

I'm sure the hammer part is designed to do something that we have now forgotten that is related to opening cans.
With a jam jar screw lid that is so tight you cannot open it, tapping on the rim of the lid often loosens it. Maybe this is a "jam jar lid tapper" ?
kj

Maybe the hammer was intended to reseal crates (I’m thinking cigar box box packaging)? Or would have it be of use in re-corking bottles?
Froe

Quote: "re-corking bottles".
I think you got it !
kj

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:33 am Quote: "re-corking bottles".
I think you got it !
kj

Sounds feasible to me!

Thought I throw some other "interesting" old kitchen tools.
#1 & #2 is a nut cracker made from carved wood.I thought it was more of a decoration than anything but it functions very well.
#3 & #4 is one that you can use in either position by flipping the arms over.
#5 & #6 I picked up at the flea market. I at first thought it was a hood ornament.
#7 thru #10. I bought this at a yard sale for $5. Loved the name on it and you could probably use it to press wheel bearings on and off.

Thanks Ray. Very neat nut crackers. The Squirrel one looks like a very solid tool. I think these go back to a time when there were more rural people with Walnut trees, Hazelnut, Pecans, etc. on their property. Nuts are a good source of nutrition, especially during the winter.
kj

nut cracker

mrwatch wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 3:59 pmnut cracker

A beautiful looking nut cracker but I would be afraid to use it for fear of cracking the pearl handles while putting pressure on them.

Great can openers , I picked this one up last year , was amongst loads of old tools, I collect vintage tools especially parallel pliers, I thought this was some kind of throttle cable tool turns out it's a can opener, it's a odd design and doesnt work very well .

knife7knut wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 5:51 pm

mrwatch wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 3:59 pmnut cracker

A beautiful looking nut cracker but I would be afraid to use it for fear of cracking the pearl handles while putting pressure on them.

Likely never used. I believe it is the letter "K"? My mothers last name started with that.

1967-68 "P-38" In my wallet since then. Still use it once in a great while. J.O'.

I have a couple old Keen Kutters to add.

I have never seen a "P38" or the Keen Kutter can openers. Likely there are many designs 'out there' for can openers. A whole new collecting field !
kj

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Sun Feb 14, 2021 8:41 am I have never seen a "P38" or the Keen Kutter can openers. Likely there are many designs 'out there' for can openers. A whole new collecting field !
kj

Roland:The P-38 came included with C-rations(the predecessor of MRE's or meals ready to eat)that soldiers were given in the field.An inexpensive little can opener that could be attached to a chain(usually the one that held your dog tags)they were made in the gazillions.They didn't last very long but then they were only designed to open the cans included in each ration.
The Keen Kutter models I have only seen pictures of.
Yes there are WAY too many "fields of collecting"!

P-38 on my keychain since 1989. The one I have now is my second one.

Parker

I don't have one to show but I'm sure lots of us remember coffee keys that cut and wound up a band of metal from the coffee can. They were on Spam and Treet and other canned meats. Sardine cans had keys that rolled the whole lid off. I'm sure today they'd come with the lawyer cautions.
My grandmothers would save the keys and all the grandboys would fight over them. Don't remember if we even had a use for them but we fought over anything. J.O'.

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Mon Mar 07, 2022 6:18 pm I don't have one to show but I'm sure lots of us remember coffee keys that cut and wound up a band of metal from the coffee can. They were on Spam and Treet and other canned meats. Sardine cans had keys that rolled the whole lid off. I'm sure today they'd come with the lawyer cautions.
My grandmothers would save the keys and all the grandboys would fight over them. Don't remember if we even had a use for them but we fought over anything. J.O'.

I have noticed some corned beef still has it. It is usually a product of some foreign country, usually Brazil, however.

Cody: Yes and some imported sardines. The key is under the paper wrapping. J.O'.

Not a can opener but a handy old kitchen gadget. This one was in my parents' kitchen drawer before I was born,(I'm 76.), and both sets of my grandparents had one. It's a jelly jar lid opener, metal ice tray loosener, cap lifter and I don't know what else. Funny how it stayed with us all these years. I never use it but its there. J.O'.