This is a list of serial numbers, observed in collections and recorded from sources online, of German 8×60 binoculars manufactured from 1933 to 1945, marked as equipment of the German Armed Forces during World War II.
Definitions — Essential Basic Information |
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| Doppelfernrohr (literally “double telescope”) |
D.F. or DF |
Doppelfernrohr (literally “double telescope”) — “binoculars” — was marked in weißer Schrift (white letters “D.F.” or “DF”) on Dienstglas manufactured before and during World War II. | |
| Strichplatte (Reticle) | m or MH/6400 |
A Strichplatte (reticle) range finding scale, measured in millimeters, was often built into the right prism of a Dienstglas, and marked on the right prism cover by “m” or “M” followed by “H/6400” in weißer Schrift (white letters).
The letter “m” or “M” (indicating millimeters) preceded the designation “H/6400” (indicating that the millimeter scale is graduated into 6400 segments measured in mils). Between 1938 and 1939, the “m” or “M” was discontinued, and only the “H/6400” was retained to show that a Strichplatte (reticle) range finding scale was built into a particular Dienstglas. The “m” or “M” preceding “H/6400” is often confused with the capital letter “M” marked beneath or near the Nazi Eagle symbol that identifies property of the German Marine (Navy). The term reticle (from Latin, rēticulum, a little net) describes a network of fine lines etched within the focal plane of an optical instrument, and used to measure the size or position of objects under observation. Another term for reticle is graticule, first encountered in British military technical manuals of World War I, and currently in British publications and web sites. |
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| Schwarz leder oder Vulkanite Körperbedeckung | Black leather or “Vulkanite” (a synthetic, leather-like, early form of plastic) was used as a body covering on Dienstglas manufactured before World War II. Early in the war, a black “rice” body covering (black paint mixed with crushed rice to give a rough body texture) also became a common Dienstglas body finish.
As wartime material shortages and minimal manufacturing techniques went into effect, paint alone became the prominent Dienstglas body covering, notably the use of dark gray paint and Sandgelb (sand yellow) paint from September 1943 to the end of the war. Sandgelb was ordered to be used on new optical equipment made after September 1943, and existing optics were also ordered to be repainted with the new sand yellow color. Sellers on eBay often erroneously claim the Sandgelb sand yellow color to be somehow related to the German Afrika Korps. |
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| Brass, Aluminum, and Bakelite | Brass was a common metal used in Dienstglas construction before World War II, but was quickly replaced by aluminum as wartime material shortages became apparent. Toward the end of the war, even Presstoff (Bakelite) was used as a Dienstglas production material. | ||
| Okularshutz (eye piece protector) or Regenschutzdeckel (rain protection cover) or Benutzerkappe (user cap) | An Okularshutz (eye piece protector) is an oval lens shield placed over Dienstglas rear lenses to keep out rain and dirt. Usually made of Leder (leather), Presstoff (Bakelite), or Gummi (rubber), the device was attached to the Dienstglas carrying strap, or by a fabric covered spring system attached to the Dienstglas spindle.
The Okularshutz (eye piece protector) is also referred to as a Regenschutzdeckel (rain protection cover) or a Benutzerkappe (user cap) for rear lenses. |
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| Anknöpflasche (button flap) | In the German armed forces, in addition to the leather neck strap, an Anknöpflasche (leather button flap) could be connected through the front spindle of the Dienstglas for attachment to a jacket button to keep the Dienstglas from bouncing and swinging while running. The button flap is often found attached to German WW II Dienstglas, especiallly the light in weight 6x30s. | ||
| Presstoff (Bakelite) | Before and during World War II, Presstoff (Bakelite), an early form of plastic, was used in the manufacture of Dienstglas carrying cases, bayonet handles, pilot goggles, field telephones, water bottles, storage boxes, anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, and hundreds of other items of military equipment. | ||
| Cold resistant greases | K.F. or KF |
K.F. or KF — Kälte Fett — referred to the cold resistant grease “Invarol” that was marked in weißer Schrift (white letters “K.F”. or “KF”) on Dienstglas manufactured (or returned to repair facilities for maintenance, repair, or regreasing) during 1940 and 1941. | |
| O | O — Vakuumfett 1416 — referred to the cold resistant grease “Vacuum” that was marked with a hellblaue Kreis (light blue circle “O”) during 1942. | ||
| + | + — Instrumentenfett 1442 — referred to the cold resistant grease “Instrument Grease 1442” that was marked with a hellblaue Kreuz (light blue cross “+”) during 1942 and 1943. | ||
| Δ | Δ — referred to the cold resistant grease of an unknown name that was marked with a hellblaue Dreieck (light blue triangle “Δ”) during 1943 to 1945. | ||
beh — Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar, Hesse, Deutschland |
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| S/N | C/R Mark | Identifying Features | Mfg / Maintenance | ||
| 344982 | KF | Black “Vulkanite” body covering, M – Marine (Navy) | beh : 344982 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 351622 | KF | Black “Vulkanite” body covering, marked “T” for coated lenses, eagle / M – Marine (Navy), TCPII, but marked flak (kuste) | beh : 351622 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 373675 | KF | Black “Vulkanite” body covering, marked “T” for coated lenses, TCPII, also eagle / M – Marine (Navy) and 0565 N | beh : 373675 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 375194 | Reticle, black “rice” body covering, M – Marine (Navy), WaA 14 marked Okularshutz (eye piece protector) or Regenschutzdeckel (rain protection cover) or Benutzerkappe (user cap) for rear lenses | beh : 375194 mfg. about 19xx
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| 378663 | KF O | Reticle, black “rice” body covering, M – Marine (Navy) | beh : 378663 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 379083 | KF |
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beh : 379083 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 382206 | KF O | Black “Vulkanite” body covering | beh : 382206 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 382855 | KF O |
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beh : 382855 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 386585 | KF O | Black “Vulkanite” body covering, M – Marine (Navy) | beh : 386585 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 393378 | KF O | Reticle, black “rice” body covering | beh : 393378 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 393550 | KF O | Reticle, black “rice” body covering, leather case dated 1942 | beh : 393550 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 393816 | + | Reticle, black “rice” body covering | beh : 393816 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1940 – 1942 – 1944 |
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| 398982 | O + | Reticle, black “rice” body covering | beh : 398982 mfg. about 19xx “O” : 1942 |
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| 399131 | O + | Reticle, black “Vulkanite” body covering, black leather case marked with manufacturer’s name (not readable) and Eagle/WaA 14 1942 | beh : 399131 mfg. about 19xx “O” : 1942 |
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| 399417 | KF | Black “rice” body covering, case marked ksd 1942 WaA 14 | beh : 399417 mfg. about 19xx “KF” : 1940 – 1941 |
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| 404379 | O + | Black “Vulkanite” body covering, aluminum fittings, left side blank, right side marked “Dienstglas 7×50 404379 beh O +”, black leather Trageriemen (carrying strap), Bakelit (Bakelite) Okularshutz (eye piece protector) or Regenschutzdeckel (rain protection cover) or Benutzerkappe (user cap) for rear lenses marked WaA202, black leather Köcher (case) marked “WaA 14” and “1942” | beh : 404379 mfg. about 19xx “O” : 1942 |
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| 406689 | + | Black “Vulkanite” body covering, bakelite Okularshutz (eye piece protector) or Regenschutzdeckel (rain protection cover) or Benutzerkappe (user cap) for rear lenses, leather Köcher (case) marked “”Walter Winkler Spandau 1941” | beh : 406689 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 429226 | + | Reticle, black “rice” body covering | beh : 429226 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 434334 | + | Reticle, black “rice” body covering | beh : 434334 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 438544 | + | Reticle, black “rice” body covering | beh : 438544 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 438965 | + | Reticle, black “rice” body covering | beh : 438965 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 444291 | + | Reticle, black “rice” body covering | beh : 444291 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 445750 | + | Black “rice” body covering, Okularshutz (eye piece protector) or Regenschutzdeckel (rain protection cover) or Benutzerkappe (user cap) for rear lenses, leather Köcher (case) marked | beh : 4045750 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 445752 | + | Black “rice” body covering | beh : 445752 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 463070 | + | Reticle, black body | beh : 463070 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 466771 | + | Reticle, black “rice” body covering, leather Köcher (case) marked ksd 1943 | beh : 466771 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 468920 | + | Reticle, black body | beh : 468920 mfg. about 19xx “+” : 1942 – 1944 |
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| 469275 | Black “rice” body covering, left prism cover marked “7 X 50 beh 469275”, black rubber “armor”, Kreigsmarine | ||||
blc — Carl Zeiss, Militarabtailung, Jena, Thuringia, Deutschland |
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| Zeiss Dienstglas Production Numbers, Military and Civilian Source : Produktions und Vertriebsstatistiken (Production and sales statistics) aus (from) BACZ 8401, 11809, 17119, 19607, 23209-23270. Recorded : “jeweils bis Sept. 30” Presumably : “each year until Sept. 30” Serial Numbers |
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| S/N | C/R Mark | Identifying Features | Mfg / Maintenance | ||
| 2145383 1686 |
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blc : 2145383 mfg. about May 1942
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bmk — Srb u. Stys, Fabrik praeziser Messinstrumente, Prag (Praha, Prague), Czechoslovakia |
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| S/N | C/R Mark | Identifying Features | Mfg / Maintenance |
| 94062 | O | Black “rice” body covering, aluminum fittings, left prism cover marked “bmk” over “O” (in blue), right prism cover marked “Dienstglas” over “7×50” over “94062” | bmk : 94062 mfg. about 19xx “O” : 1942 |
| 94691 | O | Black “rice” body covering, aluminum fittings, left prism cover marked “bmk O” (in blue), right prism cover marked “Dienstglas 7×50 94691”, brown leather Trageriemen (carrying strap), brown leather Köcher (case) | bmk : 94691 mfg. about 19xx “O” : 1942 |
| 152357 | Δ | Black “rice” body covering, brass fittings, hinged flip up lens caps, left side blank, right side marked “Dienstglas 7×50 152357 bmk Δ” (in blue), black leather Trageriemen (carrying strap), brown leather Köcher (case) | bmk : 152357 mfg. about 19xx “Δ” : 1943 – 1945 |
| 152902 | Black “rice” body covering, aluminum fittings, hinged flip up lens caps, left side blank, right side marked “Dienstglas 7×50 152902 bmk Δ” (in blue), black leather Trageriemen (carrying strap), black leather Anknöpflasche (button flap) | bmk : 152902 mfg. about 19xx
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| 153775 | Δ | Black “rice” body covering, aluminum fittings, hinged flip up lens caps, left side blank, right side marked “Dienstglas 7×50 153775 bmk Δ” (in blue) and a large “T” to the right (for coated lenses), black leather Trageriemen (carrying strap), black Okularshutz (eye piece protector) or Regenschutzdeckel (rain protection cover) or Benutzerkappe (user cap) for rear lenses | bmk : 153775 mfg. about 19xx “Δ” : 1943 – 1945 |
| 159875 | Δ | Black “rice” body covering, brass fittings, left side marked “SERB A STYS PRAHA” logo, right side marked “Dienstglas 7×50 159875 bmk Δ” (in blue), also “MIROHLED” – Czech arsenal recondition mark ?, black leather strap | bmk : 159875 mfg. about 19xx “Δ” : 1943 – 1945 |
rln — Carl Zeiss, Jena, Thuringia, Deutschland |
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| S/N | C/R Mark | Identifying Features | Mfg / Maintenance |
| 67712 | Black “rice” body covering, hinged eye cups | rln : 67712 mfg. about 19xx
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| 70110 | Black “rice” body covering, gasmask occulars | rln : 70110 mfg. about 19xx
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| 70183 | Black “rice” body covering, gasmask occulars, Köcher (case) marked prn 44 | rln : 70183 mfg. about 19xx
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