K06154 CASED 7 X 50 POWER BINOCULARS WITH DOCUMENTATION. (Doppelfernrohr mit Kasten und Urkunden) 

BACKGROUND: The German armed forces used a wide variety of optical enhancement items with the 6 x 30 power, (6 power magnification with a 30mm diameter objective lens), binoculars being the standard issue optics utilized by all branches of service. Although the 6 x 30 power binoculars were the standard issue the Kriegsmarine utilized a variety of stronger powered binoculars which were regularly issued to naval commanders, watch and deck personnel and included the 7 x 50 power and large binoculars. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Tooled alloy construction, 7 x 50, power, (7 power magnification with a 50mm diameter objective lens), binoculars with black rubber fittings. The lens bodies retain all of their original, very coarse, rough textured black finish. The binoculars have protective molded, black rubber fittings to the objective end, the forward panels of the ocular end and the eye sockets. The alloy focus adjustment dials still function and the optics are still quite crisp and clear. The central lens joining bracket with swivel width adjustment is intact and still functions. Both sides of the reverse ocular end panels have a raised circular ports with dual spanner wrench depressions designed to insert the appropriate lubricants. The left hand side, ocular end, body panel is well marked with impressed serial number, "450890", the power, "7 x 50", and the manufacturers three letter code, "beh" indicating manufacture by Ernst Leitz G.m.b.H..Wetzlar. The binoculars come with their original roughly, 37" long, 3/8" wide, blackened leather carrying strap. The carrying strap is attached to two raised, cut-out bars on the bottom of the binocular lens bodies with alloy stud retainers and dual corresponding stud attachment eyelets to each side. The strap is in overall good condition with minimal chafe wear and the leather is still quite supple. The binoculars come housed in their original kidney shaped, molded simulated grained black leather, (Presstoff), construction binocular carrying case with sheet metal, alloy and blackened leather fittings. The roughly, 9 3/4" tall, 8 1/4" wide, 3 7/8" thick, downward tapering case features a fold back top lid with a horizontal riveted blackened leather hinge to the reverse and a riveted on, vertical, spring loaded, leather and magnetic sheet metal closure clip to the obverse with a corresponding, alloy closure stud positioned on the front of the case body. The top lid is well marked with a large, impressed Kriegsmarine control stamp consisting of a stylized eagle over "M", indicating, Marine, (Navy), property. The sides of the case each have a riveted on, horizontal leather loop and an extended alloy stud near the top edges designed for the shoulder carrying strap which is included. One of the horizontal retaining lops has torn off. The roughly, 60" long, 3/4" wide blackened leather carrying strap has dual stud eyelets to each side. The shoulder strap is in overall very good condition with minimal chafe wear and the leather is still quite supple. The reverse of the case also has two vertical, riveted on leather belt loops. The interior of the top lid has a simulated black leather lining with dual riveted on, snap closure pockets intended for spare lenses. The interior body of the case has two simulated black leather covered frame panels to secure the binoculars in place. The case is well marked with the manufacturers three letter code and date to the front body, "beh 1944", indicating manufacture by Ernst Leitz G.m.b.H..Wetzlar in 1944. The case is in very overall good condition with minimal surface spotting to the metal fittings. The reverse of the top lid hinge, and the binocular carrying strap both have a handwritten name, "Pettigrew". The case also comes with a handwritten single page letter and an additional handwritten six page letter both from the American veteran that brought the binoculars back at the end of the war. The single page letter is quite straight forward and states, "These binoculars were taken from a German E-Boat in late 1944. It was very cold, some snow was falling, The German boat was sunk, the crew captured, and these binos belonged to one of the officers. The battle area was somewhere near Cherbourg. These were given to me by Mr. Pettigrew of HMS" , followed by the authors signature and address. The six page letter must be read to be fully appreciated as it explains in a long, greatly detailed, contorted way how the binoculars came into his possession. Although the binoculars were captured from a sinking German E-boat they were not captured by the letter writer but were liberated by the brother of an English girlfriend who served in the British Navy. The brother had given the binoculars to his sister who in turn gave them to the letter writer. Briefly the letter states that the author had served in an American AAA Gun Battalion during the war and had been selected to go to the University of Shrivenham at Swindon in England in June 1945. Still in England during V-J day in August 1945 the author went out with friends to celebrate, became paralyzed drunk, (literally), and his friends drug him around town having girls slap him to sober him up. One of the slapping girls was the sister of the original "liberator" of the binoculars and the author and she started dating and she eventually gave him the binoculars. The letter goes into great detail and is quite amusing. Nice set with all the components in overall good condition and a very amusing letter that is just too off-kilter to be fabricated.

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-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca  Or  guild@nb.aibn.com

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