P-38 type can opener, ID?

[Fred Pillot]

This can opener came from an older estate. It is magnetic and 1 1/2 inches long.
Does anyone recognize the era? Is it US? It has no markings.
It does not seem to be of the soft lower quality of some imports I have seen.

[alibi]

There were several patents for similar compact manual can openers that have all expired, so the manufacture of this type can opener is open to whatever the market will bear. I've seen examples sold in camping goods stores that are double in size, and what I'm told is a Canadian Military Forces example that has a spoon built into it at one end. Here are the patents I've come across that you may find of interest to examine. I was surprised, as I'm sure many collectors will be, that the design dates to World War I.

Darqué, Etienne M., Tin-Box Opener, U.S. Patent 1082800, December 30, 1913.
Schioniger, Knud F., Folding Can Opener, U.S. Patent 1507093, September 2, 1924.
Strenburg, Dewey M., Can Opener, U.S. Patent 2669311, May 8, 1928.
Bloomfield, Samuel, Can Opener, U.S. Patent 2412946, December 24, 1946.
Speaker, John W., Pocket Type Can Opener, U.S. Patent 2413528, December 31, 1946.

I have an example of one of the typical American type can openers, that was included in "C" and other field rations, that is marked "P-38" and "U.S." I suspect this was the contractor's identification and was the origin of the popular G.I. name for the opener, that has been widely speculated as to meaning.