Cammenga also offers the compass in two magnetic orientations: northern hemisphere (needle points to the magnetic north pole) and southern hemisphere (needle points the magnetic south pole). 550 111 still in the original box with paper work made in japan. After receiving the item, contact seller within. View cart for details. Their compasses were designated as the M-1938 Lensatic Compass. It had a folding lid, folding wire sight, and folding prism eyesight. Induction dampening uses the electromagnetic field to control needle oscillation instead of liquid. Center Hold Technique Copyright © 1995-2020 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. ( Log Out /  ( Log Out /  Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2018. Would not reccomend. Cammenga Official US Military Tritium Lensatic Compass, Accurate Waterproof Hand Held Compasses with…. ( Log Out /  In the 3H's defense, while not having a global needle, the deep well of the compass housing compensates for that by allowing plenty of room for the needle to position itself at various angles along its x/y pivot axis, which only really matters if you're moving between global hemispheres. I know it will fade over the years, but currently it provides enough lumination to read the dial in the dark. Cammenga runs each batch of these through rigorous testing to conform with military specifications (including shock resistance and magnetic accuracy). Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Something went wrong. $10.50. In 1947, there was a renewed emphasis on developing a more standardized lensatic compass. There are 9 items available. Verner’s compasses are sometimes referred to as marching compasses. Free shipping. By contrast, the pocket or hand-held compasses that were in use with the U. S. Army during World War I resembled modified pocket watches. Additional research projects were issued until 1938. The earth's magnetic field isn't made of plastic and doesn't run on batteries, or even run poor in cold conditions. This item will be shipped through the Global Shipping Program and includes international tracking. The tritium light is amazing, always on for night-time navigation! We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. The current version of the U. S. Army Lensatic Compass finds its roots in similar compass styles in use before World War II. Non-quality problem includes : unfit size,just dislike,etc. The endurance of the design and construction of the current lensatic compass is a testament to the innovative engineers at the Brunson Instrument Company. Quality problem includes : broken zip,hole,sewing problem,dye,etc. Appreciate it. Please make sure that you are posting in the form of a question. Carry this small compass for hiking and know your carrying the top US military grade compass. Please try again. Special Project 280 (SP-280) was authorized on October 21, 1938, to find a suitable commercial lensatic compass for the Infantry that met the Infantry School’s requirements. Both manufacturers supplied compasses to the U. S. Army during World War II. For example, there were several attempts to solve the mechanical dampening problem with the lensatic compass. Great reliable tool for any outdoors man, and will serve me well for years of use. The U.S. Army M-1950 lensatic compass is an example of this kind of compass. This is an excellent unit if you know how and why it is used. The compass is of solid construction and very accurate, and love that the needle locks when travelling. The compass pictured was manufactured by Lee and StemWedel, Inc. of Chicago, IL, 11-1951. These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. These new compasses were quickly procured and issued to military service personnel in the waning days of the war. The reason for this phenomenon is that most of the compasses in use by the U. S. Army during that era were manufactured by watch companies. Unable to add item to List. However, the basic look, construction, and employment of the compass has mostly remained unchanged over its nearly seventy-year history. Change ), Gear Review: The Buck Knives Omni Hunter 10 Pt Fixed Blade Knife, 8 Tips For Trekking On Unfamiliar Terrain, see my article on the Air Force Survival Knife, https://olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_compass_lensatic.php, http://northingeasting.blogspot.com/2012/05/history-revealed-origins-of-army.html, 1. The current lensatic compass is an evolution from the older hand-held sighting and surveyor’s compasses in use during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Any international shipping and import charges are paid in part to Pitney Bowes Inc. International shipping and import charges paid to Pitney Bowes Inc. International shipping paid to Pitney Bowes Inc. Any international shipping is paid in part to Pitney Bowes Inc. 14 day returns. https://olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_compass_lensatic.php. Your question may be answered by sellers, manufacturers, or customers who purchased this item, who are all part of the Amazon community. Economy Shipping from China/Hong Kong/Taiwan to worldwide. However, experimentation with the dampening process continued throughout the war. However, one will not be disappointed by the U. S. Army Lensatic Compass. Find answers in product info, Q&As, reviews. Enjoy and See you on the trail! It requires some practice in using it, especially in land navigation. The M-1950 Lensatic Compass is a design that is still in use by the various military services of the United States Department of Defense. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to start. The history of the U. S. Army Lensatic Compass is relatively unknown. $3.00 shipping. Shipping to: Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia. Retro Compass Military Survival Compass Glow Outdoor Navigation Camping Tools US. This is the civilian-issued version of the US military M-1950 3H field compass (MIL-PRF-10436N). The seller has specified an extended handling time for this item. Please allow additional time if international delivery is subject to customs processing. The Schmacalder Compass was the standard prismatic compass in use by the British Army throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s before World War I. Verner’s compasses are the first to look more like the modern military lensatic compass. Subject to credit approval. The compass is undoubtedly not the first to employ the lensatic sighting system. If you reside in an EU member state besides UK, import VAT on this purchase is not recoverable. I don't personally need tritium, but this was cheaper then I could get a phorporous one. The Real Deal. Cammenga runs each batch of these through rigorous testing to conform with military specifications (including shock resistance and magnetic accuracy). Sellers declare the item's customs value and must comply with customs declaration laws. For example, on March 5, 1812, Charles Augustus Schmacalder, an optician and instrument maker, received a patent for his prismatic sighting compass design from the Royal Patent Office in London. Major Hykr is my blog site to chronicle my hiking and backpacking experiences. The Brunson compass was accepted, and the project for developing a new standardized lensatic compass was completed in 1952. The company who makes the compass, Cammenga, was started in 1992 to primarily manufacture the model 3H compass for the US military. vintage lensatic compass no.550 111 made in japan this is a vintage hand held lensatic compass no. NOT a mil_spec compass! The Taylor Instrument Company and the Brunson Instrument Company submitted prototype compasses that met the published specifications and standards by the U. S. Army. Do you have any points or suggestions? Its decades of use by the U. S. Army, Air Force, Marines, and SOF make this compass one the best ever produced. The Army authorized research and development projects to develop a new compass at the request of the U. S. Army’s Infantry School in Fort Benning. Please enter a number less than or equal to 9. Magnetic induction damping compasses are the preference of most militaries around the world. This is a photo of the U.S. Compass, Lensatic, M-1950. More detail on the Lensatic Compass is on the linked Olive-Drab.com page. Minimum monthly payments are required. Not real tritium either. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. After the testing and modifications of their compasses, they were recommended for procurement in 1940. In short, they were attempting to find ways to keep the compass needle from oscillating when taking a bearing. This model of the Lensatic Compass is essentially the same as the ones still in use in the 21st Century by U.S. forces. Its development can be traced to the first prismatic and pocket compasses of the nineteenth centuries. The use of liquid dampening was a better option for the technology of the times. Yet, the origins of the compass are interesting. Liquid-filled Compasses – World Top Business Systems, Top 10 U.S. Military Gear For Backpackers – Major Hykr, Top 10 U.S. Military Gear For Backpackers. There was a problem completing your request. The Engineer Board did not discover a commercial compass that met the standards published by the Infantry School. Please enter 5 or 9 numbers for the ZIP Code. 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