While some people instantly recognized the old-fashioned tool and shared painful memories of using it, many others were completely baffled.
Read on to uncover the truth behind this surprisingly useful kitchen gadget.
Not long ago, a Reddit user posted a photo of an unusual metal object that looked both complex and intimidating.
“**What is this thing?** Found it while cleaning out my grandma’s house,” the user wrote, asking the internet for help. “She kept it in her kitchen. We think it might be some kind of can opener or multitool, but we have no idea how it works.”
The post quickly gained attention, with users offering a wide range of theories. Some believed it was a 19th-century can opener, while others guessed it could be a camping or fishing tool. A few commenters joked that it looked dangerous enough to double as a weapon.
“I’m not a food container expert, so I’ve got nothing,” one person admitted before bowing out. Another guessed, “It’s an old-school can opener—you stab the can and lever it forward little by little to cut around the lid.” They added, “It leaves sharp, jagged edges that can slice your hand and drop metal bits into the food.”
Others chimed in with personal horror stories. “I still have a scar from when it slipped and stabbed my arm as a kid,” one user shared. Another recalled, “I’ll never forget when it went straight through my hand while opening a tin.”
The mystery object turned out to be a vintage can opener—an unforgiving kitchen tool infamous for injuring inexperienced users.
### A modest but brutal invention
The origins of the can opener trace back to the early days of canned food, which existed long before anyone invented a convenient way to open it.
Early cans had to be forced open with knives or brute strength. That changed in 1858, when American inventor Ezra Warner designed a tool specifically to puncture can lids. His lever-style opener, featuring a curved blade, was effective but awkward and dangerous. It saw widespread use during the U.S. Civil War, mainly by soldiers, but wasn’t ideal for household kitchens.
In 1870, William Lyman improved the concept by introducing a rotating cutting wheel. His design made opening cans safer and more manageable, paving the way for modern can openers—though it still required practice and effort.
### The evolution of can openers
* **1858 – Lever-style opener:** Ezra Warner’s military-focused design
* **1870 – Rotary opener:** William Lyman’s cutting-wheel innovation
* **Early 1900s – Keyed cans:** Built-in keys that rolled lids back (like sardine tins)
* **1930s – Electric openers:** Large but groundbreaking automated tools
* **1950s – Ergonomic handheld openers:** Safer, simpler, and more efficient designs
### Where we are today
Modern technology has made opening cans easier than ever, yet some people still prefer the old-school tools.
“I wanted to buy a new one, but you can’t find them anymore,” one Facebook user commented. Another insisted, “Still the best can opener ever!”
A third added a final warning: “I still have one and use it sometimes. Dangerous little thing if you’re not careful.”
