The first can opener was a blade that sawed around the can's edge, leaving a jagged rim. U.S. Pat. No. 19063 How did the first tin cans get opened? A chisel and a hammer, writes Kaleigh Rogers for ...

He then dives into can opener history, dating back to the 1850s, and notes that the rotary-style can opener that’s been in circulation since 1878—per his research—is actually a safer ...