Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Pair of 7x50 Binoculars, by Carl Zeiss

(Kriegsmarine Fernglas). A well-preserved pair of Kriegsmarine binoculars, constructed of a heavy, black-painted non-magnetic steel casing with aluminum framework. It features fully-functional objective and viewing lenses, with a protective hardened black leather cover for the latter riveted to the casing from a strap of identical construction. The textured body tubes encasing the lenses are contoured to afford the user a comfortable grip, and are joined together at two locations to a swivel tube for viewing adjustment. The left body casing bears a number of marks adjacent to the viewing lens, including a stamped German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, flanked by an inscription of “M IV/1” indicating Kriegsmarine distribution, a code of “D.F. 7x50” indicating 7 x magnification through 50 mm viewing lenses, and a maker’s mark of “CARL ZEISS, JENA” for the renowned lens and optics manufacturer. The right body casing bears a code of “N” and serial number “35592” adjacent to the viewing lens. Each viewing lens features a swivel casing to adjust the depth of focus, with the casings each measuring 180 mm in length. Although fully functional, the binoculars demonstrate issues consisting with age and field use, including scratching and loss of paint throughout the aluminum features, fatigue to the leather cap, and the loss of objective lens caps which would have originally accompanied the binoculars. They are in an overall very fine condition.