Leitz beh 10x50 "wide angle" binoculars

[Michael Downey]

Thank you Michael. I did not have a note of beh 10x50 Dienstglas #472297 (is it a 9 ?)This set is interesting because of its grey paint and the presence of the interocular disc. This disc was present in early war production Dienstglas binoculars.
Do you think the evidence supports the view that the beh Dienstglas 10x50 (WA) was beh's last Wehrmacht contract?

Stew, it looks like a 9. I do not own this set so I have not had the chance to examine first hand.

[Stew]

Hi Michael and all,

late war Dienstglas beh/E.Leitz Wetzlar production is an interest of mine.
My records on late war 10x50 and 7x50 beh serial numbers:
Dienstglas 10x50 (pre WA ocular) highest # 462593
Dienstglas 10x50 "WA" #462938 black lacquer body finish to #472629 tan body finish . The transition from black to tan was about #471107 (black) - tan #471627
......( within the above WA production range #468898 Dienstglas 7x50 with tan body)
From this serial # 472629 onwards the beh production seems to have been mainly limited to 7x50 variants that have the production features of the earlier Dienstglas 7x50, but have commercial E Leitz Wetzlar markings and thus do not appear to been made as Wehrmacht contract Dienstglas binoculars :
E Leitz Wetzlar 7x50 Marsept #473153 onwards
E Leitz Wetzlar also marked "Dienstglas beh + 7x50".............. #475614 - #477531. Collectors call these "double marked" and some of these have a reticle in the left occular . It is believed that the double marked 7x50 were made post occupation in April 1945
E Leitz Wetzlar # 478074 ......... 7x50 but not marked Marsept
E Leitz Wetzlar # 581 ............ 10x50 Mardix (indiv eye focus and not a Mardixit)E Leitz Wetzlar # 478396 .............. 8x30 Binuxit (centre focus)

Other late war beh production :
Highest beh 7x50 (KM contract - armoured) #474367

Highest beh 8x60 (KM contract ) #458662
E Leitz Wetzlar 8x60 Maroctit (centre focus) commercial markings but serial # 436676 ( its seems that a small production run occurred here)

Highest # beh Dienstglas 6x30 # 452476
E Leitz Wetzlar 6x30 Bidox(indiv eye focus) # 493514

please feel free to contribute if you have serial numbers outside the above ranges that would appear to represent production in the 1944- 47 period.Also please let me have your views on the beh/E.Leitz serial numbers.
Thankyou.

Thanks to Michael Downey the following additional information has come to hand:

beh Dienstglas 10x50 (WA) - highest serial number 472664
beh Dienstglas 7x50 black lacquer body highest serial number 466494
beh Dienstglas 7x50 tan painted body serial number range 465169 - 469088

beh 7x50 (KM contract armoured) serial numbers 473986 to 474481

[Gumball]

Thank you all for the replies !!
I am grateful to have joined a forum where there are so many experts!

About the binoculars, previous to my purchasing them, I would think that they were in poor shape externally, because they have been refinished in a flat black paint (definately not original)
The curious thing, is that the anodizing on the prism covers is different side-to-side - do not know why.
Previous to my purchasing them, they were serviced by Cory Suddarth, and he did an excellent job on the optics!

I do not own a pair of Zeiss "gas mask" (yet) so I can not add my opinion on "better or best", but I must say that these are a pleasure to use.

[Sgt Bilko]

Another one for your list Stew;

10x50 beh 471106 "Wide Angle" - nice mix of tan, black and unpainted plates;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WWII-GERMA...item1e98de1e0e

[Michael Downey]

Another one for your list Stew;

10x50 beh 471106 "Wide Angle" - nice mix of tan, black and unpainted plates;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WWII-GERMA...item1e98de1e0e

.

.


Thanks for posting. Here are two scans of a 10x50 beh reported as serial number 471107 "Wide Angle" bino - with a mix of tan, black and unpainted prism plates:

.

.