Kriegsmarine 8x60 Leitz binoculars on e-stand

[Frans H.]

I think that the Kriegsmarine 8x60 Leitz binoculars offered for sale on the e-stand should be discussed. To me the KM eagle and M are added postwar. They are added over the damaged paint. I think this pair of binoculars was upgraded to a KM binocular to increase the value.

What do other members think?

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=598569

[richthofen_117]

I've never seen this type of leitz before. IMO, it was not good

[lanners55]

The first image is a late Leitz Porro 11, 396721

Second image, a rare Leitz Porro 1, 367617

[lanners55]

Gentlemen. I was shocked to read the comments on these Binoculars which are being offered by me on e-stand. They have been a pivotal part of my collection of over 65 pairs of Kriegsmarine binoculars since I acquired them some fifteen years ago. To my knowledge they had never been in a collection before.

I am a great proponent of healthy discussion via this forum and everyone, of course, is entitled to their opinion. That is no less true in my case as the owner.

They were cleaned and overhauled by Terry Vacani when I first acquired them. Those of you familiar with Hans Seeger’s work will have noted Terry Vacani’s name on numerous occasions. I do not claim to be an expert but if anyone can, Terry Vacani can. He had nothing but praise, and indeed envy, for these glasses. The same is true of a number of very experienced collectors who have examined them over the years.

The eagle is a classic Leitz eagle which differs greatly from those we see on Zeiss binoculars. The impression itself is very shallow and of all eagles, this would be the most difficult to fake. I believe all Leitz Binoculars of the period feature very similar eagles and to that end I’ve attached images of the eagle in question on my 8x60's on e-stand followed by one on a pair of Flak Porro 11 Binoculars and two others.

As for not having seen this type of Leitz before, well, Seeger page 345 is a good place to start but perhaps even better is page 122 of Dr. Stephen Rohan’s book. This specimen shows a serial number only 47 away from my own.

Sadly, the comments so far have rather soured my enthusiasm for offering these extremely rare binoculars on E-Stand. Nevertheless, I will leave them there for a short while in the spirit of healthy discussion and then remove them.

Best regards,

Simon

[AlessandroCN]

Everything genuine, 8X60 is a beauty and rare bird.

[glaser]

Km

the 8x60 on E stand is a 100% genuine eagle, most undoubtfully, people who doubt this one are not really expert matters, but everybody can learn thanks to this forum

[Bill Parker]

8x60

There have be 8x60 Leitz with fake markings turn up from time to time. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!! Excellent coated lens. Coatings were only avaialbe on KM glasses during the war. 100% correct and VERY rare!!!

[richthofen_117]

Hi Simon,

I apologize for my hasty speech!
Yesterday I asked an elder bino collector in my town, he said this type of Leitz 8X60 was really an unusual binoculars which used by Kreigsmarine, and he laughed at my ignorance
As a beginner, I hope I could learn more knowledge about WW2 binoculars here in WAF.
Sorry for that again!

Regards,
Yun

[AndyC]

The eagle looks good
Here is my Leitz eagle in a 7x50 pair that i have


Andy

[AndyC]

And the bino

[tassman33]

1000% orginal very very rare 8x60 Leitz binos for Kriegsmarine !
See Seeger's grey book for details then talk....

[Mikedenmark]

I think comments are okay. Even negative ones. But comments would be a lot more, let´s say interesting, if they were more than thumps up, or down. Come up with some reasons, why you think something is good or bad. In my opinion a "never seen before" approach is not helpfull for anyone.

If I like a binocular, then someone may take me, if I buy it. If I don´t like a binocular, then I don´t buy it.
And I have been taken, big time, a couple of times. Some early fakes are now hard to detect. At least for me.

I see no apparent reason not to believe this particular binocular is original.
If I found one like it at a flea market, I would certainly buy it.

PS, I find myself making comments too, without stopping to think first.
No-one should really take note of unfounded comments on the web.

another thought here. If the zeiss serial numbers can be dated, then if a combined list of Navy numbers was made, the Leitz might get a dating too. IF the navy numbered binoculars in one sequence.

[Frans H.]

On the pics I have on my computer it looks like the eagle is engraved over the places where the black paint is chipped off. That is my concern. The black paint is chipped off, but the white lines are still intact. Or is that normal?

[lanners55]

I think what you are seeing Frans is simply where light dents on the cover plate have caused the black paint to flake off. The white painted lines have simply survived.

As Mike says, all comments are interesting and welcome and that's how we all learn. Thanks by the way to Yun for his additional note.

Gentlemen, as always I very much appreciate all your input and support from around the world. Good healthy discussion.

Best regards to everyone.

Simon