The penultimate professional bottle opener

[raistlin65]

A lot of these one piece tools, as well as bottle openers on bigger MTs, can certainly work as a bottle opener for the basic consumer. I bartended for about 8 years, and that required a whole 'nuther class of bottle opening tool for opening beer bottles.

You'll often see wall mount bottle openers such as these in some pubs and on TV shows:



They certainly work well. But the problem is they are S L O W to use. Every time you want to open a bottle, you have to be near one--or walk to it--and you have to stop moving to use it. A good bartender in a busy pub is always in motion. At least he has to be if he doesn't want to get in the weeds. Every step and second you can save is valuable. You want to be able to grab the beer(s) and open them while walking. Or if a bunch of beers, open them in front of the customer; at least that way, you can talk to your customers while opening them. And then sometimes if you want to tempt a customer who hasn't ordered another, you walk over to the customer with the beer unopened but bottle opener at the ready--makes it harder for some people to resist

Now some people might wonder why you would need one if all your beers have twist tops. Even then, you want to use a bottle opener. A bartenders hands will frequently get damp--especially if you are making a lot of mixed drinks or washing glasses behind the bar. The first time you twist off a bottle top and rip the skin between your thumb and forefinger is the last time you open one by hand at work. It's not just that you can't then open them with your hand until it heals or you'll just keep reopening the wound. No one wants a bartender opening bottles by twisting them off with blood on their hand (lol).

So I tried lots of bottle openers. The beer companies used to give us little cheap plastic acrylic ones with a metal insert, like this one:



Eventually, the plastic would crack or the cheap metal would bend. I used to be able to get a couple of months or so out of one before it would break.

Wine vendors would also tend to give us free wine bottle openers similar to this design (although typically with plastic scales):



The beer bottle openers on them didn't tend to hold up too well either.

Then, after several years of bartending, I encountered the penultimate bottle opener:



Simple design, right? One of those depicted is the one I used the last couple of years of bartending. I never broke or wore one out, despite likely opening thousands of bottles with one. But I did occasionally lose one. No big deal.  They used to be commonly sold in restaurant supply stores that carried bar ware for under $10. Probably still find them there.

Here's a pic of one alongside a Alox Pioneer just for scale:



The long length is not to give you additional leverage. I've often seen a newbie pick one up and try to hold it in the middle or at the back of the tool to open a bottle. Here's how you want to hold it:



You would also use your other hand to hold the bottle steady.

So why the long length?

The problem with shorter bottle openers is how to you carry it? In your front pocket? Then you have to slide your hand down in your pocket every time to get it out. Eventually your pocket gets wet, and it's inconvenient and a bit slow. I've seen people add fobs or chains to hang out of the pocket, but then you have something swinging off the bottle opener.

On the other hand, these openers easily fit in the back pocket and stick out so that you can grab them smoothly and quickly:



Doesn't take long before it's a fast draw reflex when you are working. So much that even though it has been years since I bartended, I automatically put these in my back pocket--didn't even think about it--when carrying them through the house to take these pictures.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed learning about this basic tool. I do think if there are any one piece tool designers on MT looking for ideas, they might want to consider building off this design. Certainly not going to fit on a keychain, but I bet there could be some additional OPT options added into the back third of the opener design (you might not want to use the front two thirds because it could make the grip uncomfortable). And of course if any of you have friends who are just starting out bartending and you want a tool to give as gift, give 'em one of these   

[AimlessWanderer]

 The pics aren't working for me. I can see the ones of everything else, but not the item in question

[Wilfried]

The pics aren't working for me. I can see the ones of everything else, but not the item in question

I encountered the same problem.   

[captain spaulding]

Same.

[babola]

Yeah...only the first three pics show for me.

[raistlin65]

That's weird. I thought I could share the URL from Google Photos. Guess not. They work for me, but no one else.

Since I can't edit the original post, here they are:

zoid edit: moved pics to the OP.

[zoidberg]

Good thread.    I like those openers, been using them for years. 

[raistlin65]

Thanks for fixing the pics.

[AimlessWanderer]

So if this is the penultimate, what's the ultimate? 

[raistlin65]

So if this is the penultimate, what's the ultimate? 

LOL

[comis]

Thanks for sharing, surprised to see after years of use it still look that good.

[raistlin65]

They hold up really well.

I tried this style opener at one point. It was not a wooden handle:



Wasn't long enough for back pocket carry, and the one I used the metal was weak at the neck and eventually bent a little. There are heavier duty versions that would certainly hold up better.

Incidentally, looks like Samuel Adams carries the same style of opener I like: http://www.samueladamsstore.com/product/for-the-love-of-beer-paddle-bottle-opener. They are calling it a "paddle" opener.

[dks]

[danilo]

(Image removed from quote.)

I was going to ask which one would be the ultimate, then, but I see you have already answered that question.
thanks.

[zoidberg]

(Image removed from quote.)

I was going to ask which one would be the ultimate, then, but I see you have already answered that question.
thanks.

Dream on guys. 

[Wilfried]

I use this one when at home...

[zoidberg]

The guy next door has one like this, nice and easy to use.

[Wilfried]

Thanks for fixing the pics.

+1

[Toolslinger]

That's a cool little gizmo there zoidberg. The music should have been heavy metal though with a name like Deapitator.

[raistlin65]

The guy next door has one like this, nice and easy to use.

Nice!

Not practical for professional use. Won't fit in the pocket and seems a bit slow.

[zoidberg]

That's a cool little gizmo there zoidberg. The music should have been heavy metal though with a name like Decapitator.

I didn't have time to find a better link. AKA push down, pop it and my top off (has a funny ad). Fixed your typo. 

The guy next door has one like this, nice and easy to use.

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Nice!

Not practical for professional use. Won't fit in the pocket and seems a bit slow.

Not slow but definitely not something for behind a bar.

[raistlin65]

The guy next door has one like this, nice and easy to use.

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Nice!

Not practical for professional use. Won't fit in the pocket and seems a bit slow.

Not slow but definitely not something for behind a bar.

I meant for bartending. Looks a little slower than a good traditional hand bottle opener.

[dks]

Beerkini   

http://www.instructables.com/id/Beerkini/

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[dks]

Or a French Kate..

[zoidberg]

The guy next door has one like this, nice and easy to use.

Show content

Nice!

Not practical for professional use. Won't fit in the pocket and seems a bit slow.

Not slow but definitely not something for behind a bar.

I meant for bartending. Looks a little slower than a good traditional hand bottle opener.

By behind a bar I was referring to bartending. It isn't slow, just not professionally suited. Ease of cleaning, reliability, pocket fit etc etc.

[collim1]

The Tablectaft is a great bottle opener.

My cousin bartended in college and he gave me one of his old Tablecraft openers. It's still going strong after many years.




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