Rations

[John Peterson]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

I'm not aware of any can openers being available before the late 1860s - have looked for evidence but have found none. If anyone has good evidence of a commercially produced opener from before 1865 I would love to see it. (And just because something is patented, does not mean it was ever made or put into production.)

One of the earliest openers I have seen (sadly not dated) was clearly manufactured and looks like a pair of tinsnips/scissors with a triangle/wedge at one end of a handle to force through the top to start the hole. It was in the collection of Old Sturbridge Village. If the opener needs to be pried against the edge of the can like a church-key or rotary opener it definitely is not a period opener as the style of end fastening that provides a good ridge that the opener is braced against post dates "our period" by many years.

Any early dug can or un-dug opened can that I have seen or own looks to me as if it has been opened with a knife (not a bayonet - I have not seen evidence of a bayonet being used for opening a can - it would leave a distintive tear with a "V" configuration. Typically (as mentioned) the cans were opened leaving an attached portion where the now-mangled center of the lid was peeled back. WARNING! This is a really good formula for sliced fingers!:cry_smile

[Bummer]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

I was in a junk antique store years ago and saw what I took to be a surgical instrument--it had the exact same black 'rubber' checkered handle scales as commonly seen on period surgical stuff...so I paid the whopping fifty cents for it; especially when I saw what appeared to be a date on it 1858 (unfortunately a big scratch accross it so I might be wrong).
Anyway, it didn't take me long to realize it was indeed a primative can opener. It does not 'hook' along the rim of the can but rather opens wherever you aim it...and it tears the opening UP unlike pushing a knife etc. into the can. It works pretty good but leaves some nasty jagged edges and you end up with just a hole in the top rather than opened around the edges. I have seen period dug cans opened this way, but not necessarily in a military context.
For whatever it's worth.....

[Union Navy]

Gotta get the Navy in here somewhere

An earlier post mentioned lead seals - many early cans were soldered with lead at the joints. This may have led to the failure of the Franklin Expedition to find the Northwest Passage in the mid 1800s. Long storage, incomplete processing and acidic food caused the lead to leach out into the contents, causing botulism, lead poisoning and possible accompanying insanity.

http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Nunavut/franklin_expedition.htm

It would have been better if they had left those cans closed.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

The other was opened in a cruciform cut, and the resulting four "triangles" peeled back.

Yup.

Cut an "X."

Peel back the corners with fingers (be careful) or knife.

Shake out the contents.

Jam can sharp edges down into the soil.

Enjoy.

Relic hunters used to mention the cans being cut from the bottom end rather than the top (vented), but I don't know if that was more of a joke or reality. Perhaps Jim Mayo can shed some light on this. As to the zillions of cans we used to find in old CCC/WPA camps, well, they were opened via can opener, so no luck there.

[Joe Walker]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

Of the two dug cans I have, one was opened by cutting about 3/4 of the way around leaving about 1-1/2" which was folded back- the other one was cut about 1/2" from the edge all the way around. Both were cut with a sharp object, perhaps a knife and not a bayonet. This is not to counter what has been posted regarding bayonets, just one observation. The first was found in Ky and the later in Miss. Both assumed to be Federal issue.

Joe Walker

[Amtmann]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

I'm not aware of any can openers being available before the late 1860s - have looked for evidence but have found none. If anyone has good evidence of a commercially produced opener from before 1865 I would love to see it. (And just because something is patented, does not mean it was ever made or put into production.)

Will this do? 1865 Hardware catalogue.

Considering it was in a catalogue for sale, I would say they existed and weren't just patent drawings. Since it's in an 1865 catalogue, it probably existed the year before.

Since this is an AMERICAN catalogue, we don't know what the British may have been producing at the time.

[Amtmann]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

Stupid computer... here it is.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

Yup.


Relic hunters used to mention the cans being cut from the bottom end rather than the top (vented), but I don't know if that was more of a joke or reality. Perhaps Jim Mayo can shed some light on this. .

The bottom does not have the problem of the solder and top (middle picture). Sometimes a ring of rusty soldier is all that is left of a ration can when dug and would be almost impossible to cut through. As I understand it, the top was soldiered on after the contents were added. The can was heated and a drop of soldier put on the little vent hole in the top thus sealing the can. If you open the top, you have to cut around the entire top close to the edges to keep from running into the soldier joint. (see picture of opened cans) The bottom is thin and more easily cut open.

[Jimmayo]

Example of bottom opening

Forgot to post a picture of this can previously. It has been opened on the bottom. The soldered top can be seen on the right picture.

[Bill]

Re: Example of bottom opening

Jim,

I'm missing something here. Period solder is soft, roughly half lead and half tin. Why not just put a knife point under the edge of the filler disk and pop it off?

[Charles Heath]

Re: Example of bottom opening

Bill,

Having tried that a few times with that style of can, it is easier said than done.

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't some original cans sealed with wax around the edges?

[Charles Heath]

Re: Tasty new recipe, the "Flaming Duff"

We thought of it as we made it.

Part of the "fun" element in the hobby is making do, improvising, and coming up with something enjoyable from what one has on hand, or one can acquire through a bit of trading. I suspect some of the items "foraged" on Main Street at that event made for some interesting culinary combinations, but it would be hard to beat the surprise we had on Henry House Hill last year learning dried peaches and tomatoes make a nice stew.

[PanzerJager]

Re: Opening cans on campaign

The Horse Soldier currently has the following sardine cans for sale that both show evidence of being cut open. The first can with the 69 painted on it was found on Culp’s Hill the description on the website states “Very solid can with about 75% of the lid cut entirely off with a remaining bent back, curled edge. Cut roughly not to the top of the edge of the can.” The Second sardine tin also shows signs of being cut with something sharp.





Regards,

[Bill]

Re: Example of bottom opening

I know this is mighty poor documentation, but if you look on page 329 of "Si Klegg and his Pard" you will see a drawing of Si and his Pard eating out of cans that look like they were opened by bending back the filler disk. These drawings were made in the mid 1880's for the book.