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That is very interesting with your binoculars. It looks to have a very similar black crackle finish as the world war II Zippo lighters did to keep the lighters from rusting and reflecting. It also seems to flake off in similar ways to the Zippos as well. I wonder if there could be a connection?
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I can't answer that. I did not research these in any great detail but have been looking at them for a few weeks. Most binoculars of the period in Commonweath service seem to have similar paint styles and it seems to be chipping off of most of them. One I saw seemed to be very thick, like it had been hand painted. From the photos, it looks like a white metal of some type that would not blue like steel. Could be aluminum. I'll have to wait and see when I get them.
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Just for comparison I posted a screenshot of a black crackle paint job on a world war II era Zippo.
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That's an expensive lighter. I was just up at the Zippo headquarters a month or so ago. Pretty interesting. They combined with Case knives to make a small museum in Bradford PA. Saw an original special forces knife among other things. It did get me interested in the lighters but I don't have that kind of money.
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I was lucky and found one about 6 years ago on eBay ,unfired ,still in its original box with original instructional booklet in mint condition for $450. I collect world war II items and I also collect Zippo lighters so I had to have one haha.$450 sure hurt the wallet but from the looks of them nowadays, I don't think I did too bad. I would love to visit Zippo headquarters and the museum one day. It's on my list of places to go in the future. You have some beautiful Amish country in the state you live in, I remember that vividly traveling to New York when I was about 8 or 9 years old.
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Binoculars came today and I was pleasantly surprised to find they are in excellent working order. I was expecting cloudy optics, not that is how they were described but I've seen a lot of references to these 77 year old optics needing rebuilt if you want to actually use them.
It has graduations in the right lens that I'm assuming are for determining range. I'll have to see how to use those.
The paint, or whatever it is. It's thick, a good mm or more, seems to have a hard rubber type of feel to it. I don't want to pick at it to see exactly what it is for obvious reasons. It is coming off. Metal underneath is a white metal of some type, thinking not aluminum as these are pretty heavy compared to modern binoculars. It does not appear to rust. Looks like the original strap as it's riveted on but condition seems new in comparison to the chipped "paint". The leather is almost worn through on the right side however so I don't consider it safe to use. Just a little bit left holding it on that side.
The case is in almost unused condition. Some slight staining here and there but it didn't see muddy combat.
The seller's photos really did it justice so I don't think I need to take any further ones. It will just have to go without my green background.
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I am sure I have a large duffle of 37 pattern gear. Is it worth selling?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
gun papa
Is it worth selling?
It's always worth selling rather than letting it molder in a crawlspace. Someone will pay you.