Online users went on a digital treasure hunt, trying to identify the purpose of a weapon-like item found in a kitchen drawer.
While some people immediately recognized the vintage tool and shared stories about their battle wounds, others were left scratching their heads.
An online user recently shared a photo of a curious metal tool, found while cleaning their grandmother’s kitchen, sparking a Reddit guessing game. “What is this thing?” they asked, speculating it might be a can opener multitool.
Suggestions flooded in. Some guessed it was a 19th-century can opener; others thought it was for fishing or camping. One joked it might double as a weapon. “Old school can opener,” one user suggested, describing how it would puncture cans, creating jagged edges and stray metal shards.
A Reddit user recently shared a photo of a mysterious metal tool found in their grandmother’s kitchen, sparking a lively debate online. “What is this thing?” they asked, suspecting it might be a can opener multitool.
One commenter, recalling its sharp edges, shared, “Still have a scar where it slipped and embedded in my arm!” Another wrote, “I’ll never forget when this went right through my hand trying to open tin.”
The tool turned out to be a vintage can opener—an invention that left many unskilled users scarred in their efforts to free canned contents.
Humble Beginnings
The story of the can opener is tied to canned food, which existed long before a convenient way to open it. Early cans required brute force, until American inventor Ezra Warner created the first opener in 1858. His lever-like design with a curved blade was effective but clunky, used primarily by the military during the Civil War.
In 1870, William Lyman revolutionized the can opener with a rotating cutting wheel, making it easier and safer to use. While still requiring skill, this design became the foundation for modern can openers.
Can Opener Evolution
- Lever-Type Opener (1858): Ezra Warner’s original design, used by the military.
- Rotary Opener (1870): William Lyman’s cutting wheel innovation.
- Keyed Cans (1900s): Built-in keys for rolling back lids.
- Electric Openers (1930s): Early automated models.
- Ergonomic Openers (1950s): User-friendly and efficient designs.
