Online users recently tried to identify a strange, weapon-like metal tool found in a kitchen drawer while cleaning out a grandmother’s house. The photo, shared on Reddit, sparked a flood of guesses — from fishing gear to a multitool — with many joking it looked dangerous.
Some users quickly recognized it, sharing painful memories of cuts and scars. “Old-school can opener,” one wrote, explaining how it punctures a can and cuts the lid step by step, often leaving jagged edges. Others recalled injuries from using it as kids.
The mysterious object turned out to be a vintage can opener, notorious for being effective but risky if mishandled.
Can openers date back to 1858, when Ezra Warner invented a lever-style opener used by the U.S. military. In 1870, William Lyman improved the design with a rotating cutting wheel, paving the way for modern openers.
Though today’s can openers are safer and easier to use, some people still prefer the old version. As one user put it: “Still the best can opener — just dangerous if you’re not careful.”