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Japanese External Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars. WEBSITE MUSEUM |
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OTHER BINOCULARS #2 & OPTICAL SIGHTS (MOSTLY MILITARY) |
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Adding and researching my military and other unusual or interesting non miniature binoculars to create this “other binoculars” section of my website seems to have proven popular with viewers, based on keeping a view count. (and I am having fun with this section). |
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SARD 7x50 Mark 21 WWII US Navy Military Binoculars |
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My SARD 7x50 WWII Mark 21 US Navy binoculars were produced by the Kollsman Instrument Co. Inc (which had been purchased in 1940) a division of the New York electric parts company Square D. They were assembled by newly hired workers, to a design licensed from Bausch and Lomb, to fill their June 1942-Feb 1943 contract 88-B-320 from the newly created U.S. Navy purchasing agency BU. Aero/ Bureau of Aeronautics. But of my many military binoculars, these give me an impression of compromised durability and design. For example, despite this example showing absolutely minimal signs of prior use: a screw worked itself loose and is rattling around inside; and the flimsy plastic ocular rings are obviously barely suited for the job; and both filter lenses were fastened so poorly they have just fallen off; and the rattling flimsy rotating eyecup and filter assembly would be clunky even on a kid’s toy. |
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beh (Leitz) WWII 7X50 German Military Kriegsmarine Navy Binoculars |
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With rubber ocular armor removed |
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My WW II beh (wartime German code for E. Leitz Wetzlar) 7x50 binoculars are Kreigsmarine (German Navy) issue, and with their partial rubber armor they were presumably intended as being particularly suitable for smaller boat use (like the fast Schnellboot), where excessive salt water spray was normally expected. While these are often labeled on-line as having been U-boat binoculars to help sell them, I am not sure how many of these were actually intended for that use. The rubber ocular cover ( 1 ) clips to the armor body to hold it out of the way. The cover for the ocular focus adjustment rings ( 2 ) must be removed to focus the binoculars. The binoculars would probably normally be used at infinity, but still focused to each of the users eyes. A Schnellboot (fast boat) WWII German crew member is shown at left with these type binoculars. |
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blc (Zeiss) WWII 7X50 German Military Kriegsmarine Navy U-Boat Binoculars |
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My WW II blc (wartime German code for Carl Zeiss Jena) 7x50 binoculars are a Kreigsmarine (German Navy) design specifically for use on U boats, and are the pattern from early 1943 on. Cases of these were captured from storage by the British at the end of WWII, and were sold off as war surplus to companies such as Charles Frank to sell at retail. These are fixed focus, and partially rubber armored. |
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Of my huge quantity of binoculars, these still never fail to really impress me as having superior optical properties whenever I use them. Because earliest observation and earliest optical detection was critical to U- boat performance and survival, priority was given to excellent optical performance. Mine have desiccant ports, non original paint, original rubber armor, and replacement rubber eye cups. |
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U-boat crew member with these binoculars |
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1944 US M-16 WWII 7X50 Military Binoculars made by Nash Kelvinator |
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My WWII US military M16 7x50 binoculars were apparently made in 1944 by Nash Kelvinator (the company being a 1937 merger of Nash Motors Co and Kelvinator Appliance Co). Mine came in an original green color, and with a horizontal and vertical ranging grid in one ocular, which is not uncommon for military binoculars. The US badly needed binoculars early in WWII. So naturally they got car and refrigerator makers to make binoculars. |
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1970? Carl Zeiss Jena East German NVA/Nationale Volksarmee der DDR 7x40 Military Binoculars |
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Even with around 1,300 or so binoculars to choose from, when I want to look at something with binoculars I normally grab one of around 6 binoculars, and these rubber armored East German Carl Zeiss Jena DF 7x40 military binoculars are one of those 6. These were made for the East German NVA (National Volksarmee) and are NVA marked. Based on the serial number I think these were made in 1970, with the model produced from around 1968-1981. The eye cups were designed for gas mask use. Excellent Optics. |
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These binoculars have a port for a dovetailed slide on accessory reticle illuminator for using the right ocular horizontal and vertical ranging grid at night. |
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These binoculars have a knob to rotate an active night time IR light detection filter into the field of view, which is charged by placing the binoculars in sunlight. |
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Ca late 1950’s? Hensoldt Bundeswehr (German Army) DF 8x30 Dienstglas Military Binoculars |
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My Bundeswehr (post WW II German army) issued Hensoldt DF 8x30 fully rubber armored Dienstglas (military binoculars) feature clever pop inside outside rubber ocular/eyepiece covers. They are nitrogen gas filled. The 12-124-8444 marking on these are related to the NSN 6650-12-124-8444 for Fernrohr, Doppel (double telescope or binoculars) and I think these date to the 1960’s, though I’ve seen conflicting information. Zeiss had acquired a majority stock holding of Hensoldt in 1954, so these are sometimes referred to as being Zeiss-Hensoldt, though they are not so marked. |
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UNDER THE RUBBER |
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UNDER THE RUBBER |
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1916 Binocular Prismatic No. 2 Mk II 6x30 British Sherwood & Company Ltd WWI Military Binoculars |
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My 1916 dated WWI British Military binoculars No 2 MKII are 6x30, and the model was introduced into British military service in 1909. These are marked Sherwood & Co. London 1916 and they were part of a contract of 1,000 No 2 Mk II binoculars placed with Sherwood located at Verulam St., Grays Inn Rd, London EC1 on Feb. 1915, and completed by March 1917. (credit Terence Wayland). The case is marked on the top CASE No2 PRISMATIC BINOCULARS, T. French and Son Ltd, London 1916 , that being Thomas French and Son of Jewin St., London EC1, with their mills in Manchester. For the war they made everything from machine gun belts to webbing equipment, and apparently also binoculars cases . |
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Facing large broad arrows indicate official UK military property disposal |
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Broad arrow UK military property mark on binoculars case |
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Case marked to the officer C.C. SHEARER. |
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