A vintage kitchen tool recently sparked an online debate as users tried to identify its purpose. Shared in a Reddit post, the metal device with a sharp, almost weapon-like design left many guessing. Found while cleaning out a grandmother’s house, it inspired theories ranging from a 19th-century can opener to a multipurpose gadget. Some even joked it could be a weapon. The mystery was solved when older users shared their experiences. It was an early version of the can opener, from a time when opening canned food required caution and effort.

One user wrote, “I still have a scar from when it slipped while opening a can as a kid.” The jagged edges and step-by-step punching method made it a risky tool for children and adults alike. The history of the can opener is fascinating. Before tools existed, cans were opened with brute force using hammers or chisels.

In 1858, Ezra Warner designed the first dedicated opener for the U.S. military, which was effective but hazardous. Later, in 1870, William Lyman invented a rotating cutting wheel, making the process safer. Subsequent innovations, including electric models in the 1930s and ergonomic designs in the 1950s, shaped the modern can opener.