Original German WWII Flak D.F. 10 x 80 Binocular Optics by Josef Schneider & Co. – Repainted Postwar Original Items

Original Item: Only One Set Available. This is a great German World War Two Doppelfernrohr (double telescope) 10 x 80 German gun sight binoculars, produced by Josef Schneider & Co. optics. These were used for direction sighting on the German Flak 36 (88 mm) Gun and are offered in very good condition. They have however been repainted post war in an antique quite color, possibly for use in the desert or elsewhere.

Most commonly seen being used by the KRIEGSMARINE (German Navy) on Ship Bridges and on Conning Towers of U-Boats, these are the giant 10 x 80 Binoculars so much favored in WW2. There are adjustments for eye relief, width and a selection of various tinted filters, which rotate into place using the control on the left side. The dial is labeled klar (clear), hell (light), mittel (medium), and dunkel (dark). In a typical example of German WW2 era (over)engineering, the control actually controls a mechanism that swings each individual filter in place on both sides simultaneously. A more modest implementation with filters that were fitted over the eye pieces would have probably been more economical, and less likely to break. The filters still move correctly, though getting them properly aligned can be tricky.

The Steel Sun Shades are still present and in good condition, and are easily removable if so desired. This set also includes the original padded head rest/shade, which is still soft, with minimal cracking.

The right side of the binocular body is marked: 

D.F. 10 X 80
O  dkl  X
32868
F
+

D.F. Is the abbreviation for Doppelfernrohr (double telescope), with 10 x 80 indicating the magnification power of the optics. The German wartime three letter code dkl stands for Josef Schneider & Co., of Kreuznach, a specialist lens maker, and under that the set’s serial number is given. Wartime serial numbers for this maker range from 5437 up to 82,036, indicating this is an early/mid war example. The colored O and X would indicate the type of lubricants used on the set, however since they are painted over, the colors cannot be seen.

This set is fully operational, with clear optics, and fully functional focus and width adjustments.  They are in very good condition, and do not appear to have been altered post war for attachment to a non military tripod, like many have been.