This is a US M1938 Lensatic compass made by the W. & L.E. Gurley of Troy, New York. These compasses were used to take accurate bearings for land navigation, as well as being used to direct artillery fire. The dial is marked "W. & L.E. GURLEY/TROY, N.Y., U.S.A. There are no other markings anywhere in the compass. The aluminum body is painted black, as was standard issue at the time. There is a rotating brass bezel ring and brass bezel ratchet to lock the bezel at the desired azimuth setting. The rotor is marked off in degrees and mils, with the degrees marked in 20 degree increments starting at 20 and continuing to 340. Between the numbers are hash marks at five degree increments. The mils are marked at two hundred mil increments staring at 200 and continuing to 6400. The radium painted letters of N S E W have lost their illumination. The rotor rotates freely when the cover is open, and locked in position by the rotor lifter when the cover is closed. There is a rotor damper pin on the side of the compass body. This compass has the full rotor with the jeweled bearing pivot. The cover is hinged and has a brass sighting wire to aim at your destination. There is also a hinged magnifying viewer to read your bearing at eye level. This compass is in perfect working order and can still be used today, if you're old enough to know how to shoot an azimuth! It shows honest wear from use, couple of areas where the paint has worn off. No dents or any other damage, a great example of military navigation before the advent of GPS!

Item # AA953

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