Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Cased Pair of Kriegsmarine Binoculars, by Ernst Leitz

(Doppelfernrohr mit Kasten). A well-preserved pair of Second War period Kriegsmarine binoculars, featuring a heavy, non-magnetic steel body, with a protective casing painted in black. Functioning with coated objective and viewing lenses, and four rubber caps protecting both objective lenses and both eyepieces. The body tubes housing the lenses are joined together at two locations to a central adjustable apparatus. The binoculars are marked adjacent to the left eyepiece with a manufacturer’s code of “beh” for maker Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar, along with a serial number of “463545” and a magnification factor of “7 x 50”. The underside of each body tube bears a u-shaped loop through which is fixed an intact blackened leather chinstrap. The binoculars measure 175 mm (w) x 225 mm (l) when properly folded. Minor fatigue to the leather chinstrap is evident, and the rubber caps that formerly adorned the lenses have been lost, but the binoculars are otherwise functional and in better than very fine condition. Accompanied by their period original case, constructed of reinforced black leather held in place by neat rows of white threaded stitching. The separate lid is connected to the body of the case by a large central leather strap with eight magnetic metal rivets, as well as two straps connected at each end by a magnetic metal rivet. The top of the lid features an embossed, Kriegsmarine-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swasika above the letter “M”. The lip of the case itself bears a stamped date of “1944” and manufacturer code “beh”. The case is flanked by clips formerly hold in place a blackened leather neck strap that, while present, has been detached. The lid is held closed by a similar clip and strap arrangement, the latter of which is similarly present but detached. The case measures 110 mm (w) 217 mm (l) x 246 mm (h). In addition to the detached leather features, there is some age-appropriate fatigue evident to the exterior of the case, but it is in an otherwise better than very fine condition.