# Swiss Army knives

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 2, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015 "2008-01-02T18:58:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/61 "2008-01-15T16:10:04Z")

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I second the endorsement for the Utili-Key. I’ve been carrying mine for more than three years. The bottle opener is potentially deadly, but it works better than a Bic lighter.

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/62 "2008-01-16T17:42:57Z")

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[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]  
I’ve had a P-38 on my keyring for about 20 years. It really does open cans, and it was the only tool I had available to fix an electrical problem that shut down my bike. (It thought the kickstand was down, so it shut off the engine on the freeway. And I’d decided that day that I really didn’t need to carry a knife!)  
[/QUOTE]

You have a P-38 on your keyring?? I’ll bet a lot of pilots will tell you that’s a mighty heavy thing to carry around–not to mention hard to get into your pocket. Hyuk hyuk 😃

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/63 "2008-01-16T22:25:13Z")

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[QUOTE=silenus]  
[P-38](http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/images/P38CanOpener.jpg)

The P-51 is slightly larger and has the dogtag chain hole at the base of the handle rather than at the top.  
[/QUOTE]

I’ve had both. I rarely open cans anymore. I just realized that. Kinda ☹ , I guess.  
The P-51 is easier to use, but it takes up more room on your key ring.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/64 "2008-01-17T01:00:25Z")

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All you ever wanted to know about the [P-38](http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page52.shtml) and the P-51. And then some. 😉  
Actually, they’re pretty cool. 🆒 They make nice little gifts.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-army-knives/432015/65 "2008-01-17T17:11:36Z")

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Now that I think about it, why would I want to use an airplane to open cans? And wasn’t the P-38 phased out in favor of the P-51, anyway?

RR

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