I have this German WW I Fernglas 08, made by E. Leitz, Wetzlar. As you can see, it's far from new. Can anyone give me a SWAG as to how much it's worth?

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The value isn't as an instrument to be used. Optics have changed/improved so much and technology improved so much that even relatively cheap modern glass is much better. Just the coatings from the 1960s help immensely. From that perspective, the real value would be to a collector. I wouldn't throw the out or give them away, but I doubt you'll be able to retire on the proceeds, either.

See if Shugart posts to this thread. He has a female friend who is a birder. Someone from that group might have an idea.

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Dick Burg

My WWI German gas mask isn't worth squat on modern nerve agents either. But just spending a little time with the old technology, lets you understand better what their lives were like. (As a 12 or 13 year old kid, I wore a British gas mask all day to see what that was like... absolute misery in August, sweaty and I couldn't get a drink, condensation beaded on the lenses and could not see well!) Try taking that old glass and telling details about some people 2 miles away, could you determine if they are men or women or say are the phone or electric workers. Now think of an officer trying to tell if that patrol is friend or foe. Tough times! Ivan

[QUOTE=rburg;138384214]The value isn't as an instrument to be used. Optics have changed/improved so much and technology improved so much that even relatively cheap modern glass is much better. [/QUOte/

You can say that again. I took them to a basketball game once; we sat up in the oxygen mask section. My other binocs at the time were Bushnell compacts (6X20, I think). The diffeence in field of view, and clarity were amazing. These are just WW I militaria, and I'd be interested in their value.

Great post, Ivan.

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Oh well, what the hell.

There's so much stuff on ebay that it's often possible to find items
similar to something unusual you own and get an idea of it's value.
I've been able to do this a few times myself.

A quick google search just now turned up many listings for these glasses. The bad news is that the prices ranged from $23 for some ratty ones at a Goodwill store up to about $150 for those described as being in perfect condition with case.

I googled: fernglas leitz binocular 08

That MIGHT be a roof prism binocular, but I think it's basically just a big opera glass, without prisms.

I think your Bushnell, if a Custom Compact, was probably a 6X25. I had one in 7X26 and it was a very good binocular, except that the hinge on mine was pretty loose, although new. A friend had one that he hunted with for years before buying a Zeiss binocular. It went to Rhodesia in the 1970's and performed fine. (He was hunting game, not terrorists.)

I assume that you know that Ernst Leitz/Leica is a premier maker of fine binoculars. That was probably a pretty good item of its kind when made.

T-Star: These are WW I vintage, and I don't think they had roof prisms back them. My guess is that the Fernglas (I think that means 'field glass') 08 was built to German military specifications, without prisms. I've seen an identical one by Goetz (sp?).

I also have a Leitz ZF 12; the prismatic sight for the MG 08. It's a different design than the normal ZF 12, which I think was also made by Goetz. Incidently these pictures were taken with a Leica; a VLux-2. I guess you could say I really like Leica stuff.

You're right, the Bushnell was 6X25. Nice binoculars, and easy to carry. The only problem I had with them was once when I was stationed in Alaska, I had them in the side pocket of a mackinaw. The pocket got snow in it and the glasses fogged. My current binocs are a Leica 8X42 BA, excellent optics, but heavy. I often take them to the range when I'm shooting pistol: it's easy to spot bullet holes, even 22s, at 25 yds and easier to set up and carry than a spotting scope.

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Colin-

I envy you that 8X42B/A I do have the smaller 8X32B/A. Easier to carry. I do have larger binoculars for spotting or for astronomy and some bird watching. I use a Docter 15X60B for the most power, when suitable.

Have you priced the latest premium Leica and Zeiss models? I'm glad that I bought mine when I did.

Cyrano,

Fernglas translates to fern=far and glas is self explanatory. I have a bunch of E.G. Zeiss Jean Ferngläser, from the 8x30 the MDI issued on the watchbtowers on the wall to the EDF 7x40 and the West German Hensoldt counterparts and some Zeisses.

It is hard to put a monetary value of things that are witnesses of history and the development of science and technology. Utility value is minimal but like Ivan had stated, it is a piece of history.