*German, WW2, 7x50 U-Boat Look Out Binoculars, by Carl Zeiss (blc)*
Marked on right shoulder: 7x50, 54659, blc
A nice set of 7x50 u-boat binoculars. Marked "7x50, 54659, blc". “blc” is the WW2 secret manufacturing code assigned to Carl Zeiss by the German Army Ordnance Department. They are lacking eye caps.
Carl Zeiss is a German manufacturer of optical systems, founded in Jena, Germany in 1846 by optician Carl Zeiss. Carl Zeiss Binoculars were used by U-Boat submariners in the Second World War. Each U-boat would have carried a complement of 10 of these binoculars for use on watch duties whilst surfaced. The binoculars were produced for long-watch land and sky observation by German forces, between the years of 1939 and 1945. Noted for their excellent optics and build quality, these binoculars certainly aided the U-Boats infamous lethality. The build of this binocular is remarkable and unequalled by many other WW2 hand-held binoculars. It is a fixed focus design for maximum sealing and weatherproofing.
At the end of WW2 many of these binoculars were captured by British forces as the British area of occupation included all of the German naval ports, in the 1950’s the British Government held auctions of captured material, these were bought in quantities by an optic company in Scotland who marketed them for sale for the equivalent of a week’s wages per set.
*Condition*
The optics are still clear. Considering its early tumultuous life of Submarines in WW2, the binoculars contain some marks and chips, the grip layer is missing. The original rubber eye caps are missing. Please see pictures for more detail.
RQMHOOXAOOO_1757185556
