The Bull’s Head can opener consisted of a cast-iron frame whose head gave the object its name and whose handle continued the fanciful theme. The L-shaped blade, pivoted about a screw, had one short and sharply tapered end for piercing the can’s top without penetrating so deep that removal was difficult. The longer end of the blade worked in a familiar manner. As can tops became thinner and easier to pierce, a single blade could serve both functions.
From: The Evolution of Useful Things by Henry Petroski
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