It seems we live in a throwaway society! My faithful British made 1970s can opener finally bit the dust after nearly 30-40 years service about 3 months ago. Time to buy another can opener. The first lasted about 2 weeks use, then failed. OK it was a piece of cheap Chinese made Tesco junk but it was a similar design to the one that lasted for so long previously. Time for a much beefier design I thought. The second has now lasted about 2 months before again failing. A can opener may become a critical survival tool. P38s and other LM and SAK attachments are all fine and well (well not really, they are slow and leave a ragged dangerous can edge), but I need a quick efficient reliable Kitchen hand held mechanical Can Opener. Hopefully, German design efficiency and quality manufacturing in high grade Stainless Steel will solve the problem. If only Campagnolo made a can opener.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/WMF-Profi-Plus-T...mp;sr=1-1-spell

Does everyone have a backup Can Opener? It could prove to be very useful for an Emergency if your main Kitchen can opener decides it doesn't want to open cans anymore.

Electric undercabinet,
hand-cranker in the drawer,
but the SAK gets used first...
for opening the wine as well.

There is a very efficient can opener on every one of my Leathermen and SAKs - rarely used because more and more cans are of the self opening variety.

P38s and the larger model in abundance. Two can openers in the kitchen drawer. What's missing is the electric opener, don't have one. If youare too lazy to turn a handle, you don't need to eat, lol.

Not familiar with that opener. But as long as it has sturdy teeth, gear wheels, whatever they're called, to turn the blades then it should be okay. The one I purchased recently is an Amco Swing A Way . Replaced my older one that had rusted in a few places after about 12 years of use.

P38 on my key ring since Okinawa 1971, Vic Farmer in EDC pouch since 09....

The can opener that lasted a couple of months was a very similar design to the classic Amco Swing A Way model (now apparently being manufactured in China). The gear wheels keep on slipping probably indicating just poor quality stamped out metal (again not stainless steel for deliberate design obsolescence for the throwaway consumerist society) with the gear teeth not able to resist wear during use.

This model (Stainless Steel Zack Elios Can Opener) looks to be more robust around the gear wheel teeth.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Steel-Zack-Elios-Opener/dp/B0034YCNVS

But spending nearly $50 on a can opener can't really be justified.

+1 on the Amco Swing-a-Way. The slightly more expensive model with the gear-driven cutting wheel is well made and has a good long service life in my experience. I wouldn't bother with anything else for home use (even though it's fun to practice with the very effective Victorinox SWAK opener -- very fast once you get the knack of it).

Neat design, but there must be cheaper alternatives. I agree thats a bit too expensive. Strange, I just noticed a slight bit of rust on my recently purchased Amco. I didn't dry it off completely before puttin it away, but still. As for those recommending the P38 and P51 can openers, they're great as backup, but you want a full size can opener for the house that's user friendly.

I found most newer ones are made in China and are JUNK.I ended up going to a junk store and found an old ECKO brand.I did this because the electric ones are a germ factory.Go to a second hand store ( Salvation Army,Good Will,church ran thrift store etc.)and buy an old one.Priced cheap and support a good cause...

BOATMAN
John