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My E. Leitz Wetzlar D. F. 6x30 Dienstglas serial #156507 German Military Binoculars are of the standard WWII Infantry pattern, but predate 1940 because the manufacturer’s logo is present (rather than a manufacturer’s numerical code). E. Leitz (Leica) together with Zeiss are among the most respected German optics manufacturers. The small m under the serial number indicates use of metric screws on faceplate screws (per Hans Seeger).

1914 WWI Rodenstock Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic)

My WWI German military binoculars are of the ubiquitous pattern issued to all non commissioned officers and are marked “ F.G. 08 ” (Fernglas 08 or binoculars [model] 08), and are marked “ K.B Dienst ” ( K.B. Govt Service property?) and also “ J ” (Bavarian acceptance mark of Geschofabric Ingolstadt) and also “ IX14 ” (production date of September 1914) on the pivot arms. These binoculars are also maker marked “ G. Rodenstock Fernglas 08 No. 7676 Munchen ” on the pivot disk. The case is marked as having been made by “ Emil Busch A.G. Rathenow” (camera maker) and has the normal case lid instructions, which are quite faded. .

1918 Captured WWI E. Leitz Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic)

Internal filter disk

My WWI German Fernglas 08 military binoculars were made by famous optics maker E. Leitz in Wetzlar in November 1918, near the end of the war (the Versailles Treaty ending the war was June 28, 1919). These were “captured”, and brought back as a souvenir or war trophy to the United States by Corporal Elton O. Bartlow, of the U.S. 83rd Infantry Division, 329 Infantry Regiment, Machine Gun Co., associated with the state of Ohio USA. Their case is marked as having been made by Spindler & Hoyer Gottingen.

Case Lid Inside Label

Post WWI Civilian Pseudo “Model 08” Non Military Binoculars

French “model 08” civilian binoculars

So many American and Canadian soldiers brought home captured German noncom model 08 Military binoculars, that after WWI it created enough civilian demand for American and French firms to make and sell knock off civilian center focus binoculars intended to resemble the wartime “08” binoculars and marked as being them. In the normal way that marketing creates self serving illusions, the U.S. made binoculars of this type marked “ ARMY ” and “ 08 ” and of course these are neither. But to this day people are still deceived.

US “Army 08” civilian binoculars

1917 WWI Carl Zeiss Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic)

My WWI 1917 German Carl Zeiss 08 military binoculars are the Zeiss manufactured version of the Rodenstock and Emil Busch made 08 binoculars above and the Leitz made 08 binoculars below. (08 pattern binoculars were also made in WWI by Oigee, Voightlander, Goerz, Spindler and Hoyer, and perhaps other manufacturers). This pattern of military non prismatic binoculars were cheaper and easier to produce in large quantities than prismatic binoculars, and were considered good enough for to be issued to NCO’s (non commissioned officers) and these cheaper easier to produce design enabled all NCOs to receive a pair, which was a revolutionary military concept.

1917 Carl Zeiss 08 german army military binoculars.
1917 Carl Zeiss 08 jumelles militaires de'larmee allemande.
1917 Carl Zeiss 08 Bundeswehr militarfernglas.
1917 Carl Zeiss 08 binoculres militares del ejercito aleman.
1917 Carl Zeiss 08 prismticos militares del ejercito aleman.
1917 Carl Zeiss 08 binocolo militaire dell'esercito Tedesco.
1917 Carl Zeiss 08 tysk militar kikare.
1917 carl Zeiss 08 Duitse leger militaire verrekijker.

My 08 binoculars came with one of the German WWII button flaps to attach the binoculars to a uniform button so it doesn't bang around and make noise and get you shot at night, or smack you in the face when diving for cover.

1912 Pre WWI Emil Busch AG Fernglas 08 German Military Binoculars (Galilian/ non Prismatic)

My pre WWI German military binoculars are marked “ Fernglas 08” and have a “ K ” acceptance mark of Gewehr Prufungskommission Spandau, and are also marked “ XI 12 ” (production date of November 1912) on the pivot arms. These binoculars are also maker marked “ Emil Busch AG Rathenow ”. These were probably a US soldier bring back war trophy, perhaps given to a sweetheart “Bonnie”, and with her name scratched into them.

1912 Emil Busch Fernglas 08 German Army Military binoculaRS.
1912 Emil Busch Fernglas 08 Armee est Allemande jumelles militaires.
1912 Emil Busch Fernglas 08 Militarfernglas.
1912 Emil Busch Fernglas 08 Ejercito de Alemania binoculares militares.
1912 Emil Busch Fernglas 08 Binocolo militaire dell'esercito della Germania
1912 Emil Busch Fernglas 08 arme militar kikare.
1912 Emil Busch Fernglas 08 Duitse leger militaire verrekijker.

Text Box: My WWII era Scottish manufactured Barr & Stroud CF 41 7x50 British Admiralty Naval binoculars are interesting because this example has the very clever 1933 patent #416359 metal twist expanding sun shields for the objective lenses. The binoculars themselves are also marked for a 1934 patent #436220 and also marked for a 1940 patent application 4440, which dates these as after 1940. Like many naval binoculars, these contain internal lever controlled filter disks to improve vision for various weather and lighting conditions.

There were also a few US made examples such as my “Rover” binoculars that did not pretend to be military binoculars. The case is marked with a Long Island NY address of its original owner.