Well, I'm back to "Remedial Prepping"!

[Jonas]

You guessed it! I forgot "Murphy's Law".

Last night I was fixing chili for supper. I whipped out my trusty "manual" can opener (no electric can opener for me - the power may go out), and heard a distinct "ping" as I started to open a can of kidney beans. The can opener had opened its last can!

Not to worry. I dug out my trusty 1962-vintage P-38 from Uncle Sam and quite a few minutes later (plus a few cuss-words) managed to have the can opened to where I could access the contents. No big problem, though my hands still are sore today.

But then I started to think (which I obviously hadn't done before).

Why didn't I realize, before last night, that anything mechanical can break?
What if the S had HTF? Lots of our food is in cans. How could have I opened them (short of using a hammer and chisel or an axe) in the long term?
If something had happened to me, how could BHC open a can of food?

Today, I went out and bought two top-of-the-line Farberware hand-held can openers.

Now I'll be looking at other simple mechanical tools/gadgets that I/we use every day, and have back-ups for each.

Lesson learned, finally!

[Pete Grey]

(1 December 2017, 21:49)Jonas Wrote: You guessed it! I forgot "Murphy's Law".

Last night I was fixing chili for supper. I whipped out my trusty "manual" can opener (no electric can opener for me - the power may go out), and heard a distinct "ping" as I started to open a can of kidney beans. The can opener had opened its last can!

Not to worry. I dug out my trusty 1962-vintage P-38 from Uncle Sam and quite a few minutes later (plus a few cuss-words) managed to have the can opened to where I could access the contents. No big problem, though my hands still are sore today.

But then I started to think (which I obviously hadn't done before).

Why didn't I realize, before last night, that anything mechanical can break?
What if the S had HTF? Lots of our food is in cans. How could have I opened them (short of using a hammer and chisel or an axe) in the long term?
If something had happened to me, how could BHC open a can of food?

Today, I went out and bought two top-of-the-line Farberware hand-held can openers.

As they say 2 is 1 and 1 is none, a reminder to us all

Now I'll be looking at other simple mechanical tools/gadgets that I/we use every day, and have back-ups for each.

Lesson learned, finally!

[Pete Grey]

Messed up that reply didn’t I ?

Ment to say 2 is 1 and 1 is none, a reminder to us all.

[CharlesHarris]

All you need is a flat rock or concrete floor to open a can.

Hold the can top-down onto the flat surface, press down hard while scrubbing the can vigourously a half dozen strokes.

Turn the can upright and lift out the lid.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/...52646.html

[Skean Dhude]

I have a few can openers including some old ones that are simply a stamped piece of metal for leveraging a blade.

Modern ones are good but like everything the more complicated they make it the more to go wrong.

[Straight Shooter]

I have plenty of can openers ...mostly old type models stab and lever and twisters some are real old and HD plus modern copies of the same ...........two more modern ones good quality but never used....old twister we use ....all the time !

[Mortblanc]

Don't know how may I have.

Got the electric unit in the kitchen, have two clamp and twist units in the kitchen drawer, one on each 4 blade camp knife and every multi-tool on the place, must be a dozen of those, got a whole box of the military P-38 type.

Plus CH method, which does really work.

And back in the day I had the pleasure of opening many cans with nothing but a dull bayonet point. It does not take but a few minutes to work your way around a can with a sturdy knife or any piece of sharpened metal.

Back in that same day all of the C-rats came with a dozen P-38 openers in each case. Everyone had one hanging around their neck on their dog tag chain. It was part of the basic load out.

Now with MRE packs they run around looking for scissors!

[CharlesHarris]

My understanding is that the individual FAK (First Aid Kit) now comes with EMT shears and a bottle of hand sanitizer, to sterilize your shears after having used them to open your Meal Rejected by Ethiopians, before replacing them into your kit.

As FYI for anyone interested in "combat shears" or EMT scissors, these are typical:

https://countycomm.com/collections/cutti...7276320518

Shears are marked "Maratac™ stainless steel" and are your basic full size EMT / paramedic shear with a couple major twists.
We had the blades made with a black durable passivated low-light finish on the stainless steel blades. The handles are made of impact resistant composite in ACU (army combat uniform) grey color. Their uses in the real world are limitless. Besides their obvious first aid uses, they also cut flex-cuffs off prisoners, open burlap bags when searching for contraband, open MREs and they even cut coins. WMD specialists always have a couple pairs with them. Labeled "Maratac™ stainless steel".

[CharlesHarris]

For some reason photo didn't attach, but you can view these at the link given. $6.25 US

[Mortblanc]

Those things will snip a coin in half and remain sharp.

I have several pair of those lying about also. Very handy.

They are kept cheap due to being considered "disposable" and not intended for reuse after any event.

I sure do not want bits of me being trimmed out of the way with a set of shears that were just sanitized with jell after opening an envelope of beany-wennies.