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Exquisiteoaf t1_j01essk wrote

The classic Swing-Away brand can opener always works. They still make it, but in China now. I’ve got an old US made one. It has to be like 30 years old. Also, if you’re ambitious, US military P38 and P51 openers (those little stamped steel fold-out ones)- they never die. Just a lot more work to open your can.

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Avery_Thorn t1_j01fed1 wrote

I have an old Swingline opener that is probably a decade or two old. Works perfectly.

I bought a second one last year for my RV, and it failed within months. It just refuses to grab the can seam to move the blade forward. I can’t even figure out how it’s wrong.

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AlienDelarge t1_j027v22 wrote

I've heard the USA made EZ DUZ IT ones are supposed to be better. I have a made in China Swing Away that had held up well enough though though it seemed to have some skips in the cut when I first got it.

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effin98 t1_j02gxms wrote

Came here to say this. My understanding is that EZ DUZ IT is made in the same American factory where the Swingaways used to be made. Anyway, I have an EZ DUZ IT and a Chinese Swingaway and the EZ DUZ IT is clearly superior.

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kbotc t1_j046fiz wrote

You just need to purchase them from a reliable source because Amazon's full of Chinese counterfeit EZ DUZ ITs that uses cheap ass metal in the blade that dull in weeks instead of decades like the real deal.

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MuscovadoSugarTreat t1_j0209i5 wrote

Oh no, I just bought one. I don't open cans regularly, but I bought a very cheap one in the dollar store when I first moved into a new apartment. Failed after 4 months of light use. Got myself a Swing-Away. Let's see how long it's going to last me lol.

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Avery_Thorn t1_j029mnq wrote

I really hope that mine is just a manufacturing defect or something. I figure it is… it (the new one) still seems well made (as heavy duty and out of quality materials), but…

(edited for clarity…)

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MuscovadoSugarTreat t1_j02cazt wrote

I'll check back on this and report >6 months from now lol.

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Ashahoocherie t1_j02uw53 wrote

E z duz it moved into the swing away plant when they went to China. I bought an e z duz it recently and it is heaven! Just like the old swing always!

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rpmerf t1_j02gkng wrote

I've had a P51 for years. Still looks brand new. Still works like new. Indestructible. Tiny compared to any other can opener.

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Exquisiteoaf t1_j02hnso wrote

They do indeed. It takes more work and time to open a can with them, of course. Gives the thumb a workout. They still make both those and the P38. You can get them in stainless steel now, too. They take up absolutely no space. They weigh virtually nothing. They cost virtually nothing. I always keep one tucked into my wallet just in case. One never knows when they will have to open a can.

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GammaRaystogo t1_j02jk18 wrote

My P-38 (and another 'souvenir') came back from RVN with me in 1969, and is still used regularly.

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Exquisiteoaf t1_j03g1ya wrote

Oh nice. Does it say “J. W. Speaker“ on it? I believe that’s the company that originally developed the design. (They don’t make Speakers, “Speaker” is like, the last name of the guy who founded it.). I‘ve got a Vietnam-era one too.

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ShadowZNF t1_j02o7uq wrote

Swing Away is the answer, eBay sells NOS ones, I bought one new in package, advertised as the can opener of Sky Lab!

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52gennies t1_j02zxfi wrote

My parents have a swing-away opener from the 50s and it works like new. I got one of my own (about the same age) on eBay after my rommate went through three can openers in a year.

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iageekchic18 t1_j045y5j wrote

I have a classic Swing-Away purchased in 2005. Still working like charm. I had purchased their smaller sized version a year or 2 later and it was cantankerous to use. I lost the smaller one somewhere along the way. I don't miss it.

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LilMissStormCloud t1_j055tpv wrote

My dad has one off the old military ones and he can open a can really quick with it. His was from his military days so he had a lot of practice.

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