German WWII Flak D.F. 10 x 80 Binocular Optics by Ernst Leitz GmbH in Afrikorps Tan 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 Ernst Leitz GmbH in Wetzlar, a maker of optical equipment. These were used for direction sighting on the German Flak 36 (88 mm) Gun and are offered in very good condition. They are finished in a lovely Afrikorps Tan color, properly known as Dunkelgelb (Dark Yellow), which was applied over the standard Heer Dark blue/black. They’ve got a good amount of wear in the finish, indicating a long service. 

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. The filters still move correctly, with a smooth mechanism.

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, however the rubber has degraded over time, having cracked and become stiff. The original black finish has also flaked off.

The right side of the binocular body is marked: 

D.F. 10 X 8
△ beh ◯ X
47964
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 beh stands for Ernst Leitz GmbH of Wetzlar, a specialist lens maker, and under that the set’s serial number is given. Wartime serial numbers assigned by the German Military range from 5437 up to 82,036, indicating this is an early/mid war example. The colored symbols indicate the type of lubricants used on the set.

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.