BEH Kriegsmarine 7x50 Question

[Marko455]

I’m trying to learn more about the painted lettering on this set. I can make out the Strm easily and so far believe it to be an abbreviation for Steuermann. Translations I’ve found are for ‘navigator’ or ‘helmsman’ or ‘second mate’. Any thoughts as to what the first letter preceding Strm is? It is difficult to make out, and review of gothic lettering against Kriegsmarine ranks doesn’t draw any solid conclusion for me. Any help is appreciated. By the way, I just got them back from being cleaned by Cory Suddarth. They are crystal clear and a joy to view through.



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[Wpgbinocular]

The hard to read marking could be be “Ob.” I have a similar marking on the regenschutzdeckel of a Leitz Porro II 7 x 50: https://www.flickr.com/photos/binocw...-9v9jiB-9YTHX4

[Marko455]

Thanks, wpg. I had found your photo online and it was one of my sources of information.


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[Marko455]

Based on WPG’s info and photo that it is likely a rank that precedes Steuermann (Strm.), my final guess is Feldwebel; abbreviation Fw. I compared fraktur and gothic fonts against ranks and the shapes of the visible lettering on the binos and it’s my best guess.


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[nickn]

It’s interesting it has a zeiss clamp for the rubber cord that attaches the benutzer cap and it looks like it’s been on a long time

[Mikedenmark]

what´s wrong with OberSteuermann?
Senior or upper Steuerman

[Marko455]

Mike, it certainly could be, but I didn’t think the left side of the first letter resembled an upper case ‘O’. It appears more like the ‘F’. I’ll try to get a better photo uploaded.


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