Talk about compasses

[Texas Star]

Anyone like compasses?

We just touched on this in the BOB thread. Only one man mentioned one, and not by brand.

I have several by Silva, the most complex being a Model 15 Ranger. Mine is new enough to have the plastic housing, but I bet we have some members still using old ones with aluminum ones.

And I have a tiny Swiss Recta compass on a ruler in a side pocket of a Swiss Army SOS kit that holds a SwissChamp knife. And I have a Recta that slides out of a plastic cover and a little mirror drops down.

Someone who noticed that I have a compass in my briefcase asked why. I told her that I want to know where I'm going in life.

 

[Milton]

I know they are relatively expensive but the aluminum body Suunto's are hard to beat!I used them for 35 years in my old profession and I now find it hard to beat a compass that I can use to "shoot" an azimuth with my eyes using points on a map.They are very durable also.

 

[Mickey D]

I love a perfect circle.

 

[Kid44]

Kinda hard to tell what direction this thread will take.

 

[reddogge]

I always carry a compact Silva in my hunting coat. I have a bigger one for marine work. Knowing how to use a compass is valuable.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've never carried it, but years ago my brother gave me a British army officer's lensatic compass manufactured in 1942. Solid brass case and hardware, and feels as if it weighs about half a pound. Handsome thing and works beautifully, but in my bug-out bag I keep a simple Silva orienteering model.

 

[Mule Packer]

Did somebody mention compasses?

The reason I didn't say anything about it in the "Bug-out bag" thread was that I just figured it was a "given." I mean, anybody who spends a good deal of time in the outdoors probably has at least one or two compasses that are readily available.

I keep one in my map case, one in my saddle bags, one in my hunting pack, one in the pack in my truck, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

I used to have a Silva with an aluminum housing, but a buddy of mine wanted to borrow it...and then claimed he lost it.

One of my sons, who had previously always relied on his GPS, asked me a couple of years ago to teach him how to use a compass. He finally came to the realization that no matter how technologically advanced we've become, it sure doesn't hurt to know some basic, old-fashioned, outdoor skills.

 

[Texas Star]

I've never carried it, but years ago my brother gave me a British army officer's lensatic compass manufactured in 1942. Solid brass case and hardware, and feels as if it weighs about half a pound. Handsome thing and works beautifully, but in my bug-out bag I keep a simple Silva orienteering model.

Can you show a photo of the British officer's model?

Didn't one appear in, "Lawrence of Arabia"?

 

[1morethan8]

Bu.. But.. I thought they only made one!?

Brunton Pocket Transit...

 

[Coldshooter]

I have some Suunto products seemed to pick up extras during the Scout years with my son. I also think the Brunton Pocket Transit is just a fine insturment might be worth buying before they quit making them.

 

[Texas Star]

Did somebody mention compasses?

The reason I didn't say anything about it in the "Bug-out bag" thread was that I just figured it was a "given." I mean, anybody who spends a good deal of time in the outdoors probably has at least one or two compasses that are readily available.

I keep one in my map case, one in my saddle bags, one in my hunting pack, one in the pack in my truck, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

I used to have a Silva with an aluminum housing, but a buddy of mine wanted to borrow it...and then claimed he lost it.

One of my sons, who had previously always relied on his GPS, asked me a couple of years ago to teach him how to use a compass. He finally came to the realization that no matter how technologically advanced we've become, it sure doesn't hurt to know some basic, old-fashioned, outdoor skills.

I have a couple of Silvas like yours, but my black folding one doesn't have the hole in the lid.

I hope everyone knows to set the declination adjusment for your zone.

The southern hemisphere requires different settings. Better to buy a compass in South Africa, Australia, etc.

 

[Smoke]

I have a Silva orienteering compass that I paid a buck for at a flea market 10 years ago works like a charm.

Now here's a question for you how many of you know the magnetic declination for your area?

 

[1morethan8]

Texas Star...

To get around the problem of declination I print all my field maps
"magnetic north" using Maptech software of the area where I plan to be.

 

[shouldazagged]

Can you show a photo of the British officer's model?

Didn't one appear in, "Lawrence of Arabia"?

Can't post a picture yet, but I just got a new camera with upload capability (my dumb phone wouldn't do a worthwhile job). I hope to do that kind of thing soon, when I learn to use this gizmo.

I don't recall seeing one in "Lawrence Of Arabia", but I haven't seen it in many years and wouldn't have been watching for it then.

 

[EQGuy]

.

Now here's a question for you how many of you know the magnetic declination for your area?

If you do not know just go to this site and enter your coordinates or zip code.

NGDC Geomagnetic Calculators | ngdc.noaa.gov

 

[Gunslinger808]

Now here's a question for you how many of you know the magnetic declination for your area?

10 degrees here.
I have a Cammenga tritium for personal use, and use Silvas Polaris when teaching folks how to use them.
The Silvas are great for beginners.

 

[Coldshooter]

I have a Silva orienteering compass that I paid a buck for at a flea market 10 years ago works like a charm.

Now here's a question for you how many of you know the magnetic declination for your area?

26-29 degrees east for general area. Summer of 1973 I was in the Tobacco Roots of MT and there were a series of ultramafic intrusions with magnetite. Could walk past out crops and watch the needle spin.

 

[EQGuy]

When I worked for the National Park Service 50 years ago I used a Silva Ranger Compass. They are a great compass. We also did some surveying to relocate section corners and used a staff compass along with an abney level and a surveyors chain. I carried a Brunton Compass in my tool kit for most of my career with the USGS and used it to orientate earthquake recording devices when I installed them. Now that I am retired if I want to know which direction I am going I just look at the rear view mirror on my Chevy Pickup.

 

[1morethan8]

The declination is printed on the bottom of all USGS Topo Maps.

 

[EQGuy]

The declination is printed on the bottom of all USGS Topo Maps.

This is true but it varies over time and will not be true on an outdated map.