Abstract: A hand-held can opener having a grip handle, a grip block pivotally mounted to the forward end of the grip handle, a scissors handle pivotally mounted to the grip block, and having a unique improved one way clutching assembly. The clutching assembly employs a pinion gear having slanted notches. A toothed ring has circumferentially spaced slanted teeth that mesh in the slanted notches. During driving rotation of the toothed ring, right angle surfaces of the slanted notches on the pinion gear and right angle surfaces on the teeth of the toothed ring mesh so that the toothed ring is rotated. This rotation is carried into rotation of a cup through mating non-circular square periphery on the toothed ring fitted in a square recess in the cup. The cup is then connected to an axle to rotatably drive the axle and thus drive the can rim drive wheel. A latch has a stop to maintain the cutter spaced from the can rim drive wheel until rotary motion of the drive wheel is halted.