Original German Early WWII Carl Zeiss Jena 6×24 Binoculars with Case Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice set of Pre or Early WWII 6×24 Binoculars, made by the legendary firm of Carl Zeiss in Jena, in Thuringia, Germany. This example is fully functional, with mostly clear optics, and a great service worn look. It is faintly marked as follows on the base of the left barrel:

CARL ZEISS
JENA

The right barrel markings are unfortunately not legible, as the original paint has crinkled and melted a bit. This normally would have given the model and specifications. The use of the company name, and not a three letter code, indicates that these were made prior to 1940. Carl Zeiss is probably the best known and most desirable name in German Optics, and is still in production today. Both diopter adjustments work correctly, though the optics and mirrors could use some cleaning. The leather neck strap is present, but it is delicate, having partly torn through in one spot. The original barrel covering is almost fully intact, though its black finish has worn through in places.

The binoculars come in a very smart brown leather case, though we do not know if it is original to the binoculars, and could be post war. It has an intact shoulder strap, and the top closure is fully functional.

Overall a very nice example of the classic eye piece for German infantry officers during WWII! Complete with case and ready to display!

History of the 6×30 Service Glass:

Among all military binoculars after the end of the First World War, the 6 x 30 service glass became predominant in both the Navy and the Army, and it remained the Army’s most used binocular for decades.

From the Army regulations for 1927 and 1940: “As a standard double telescope for all branches of the Army of the Reich, the double telescope 6 x 30 with normal reticle….. and a field of view of 150m at 1000m distance.” In terms of its importance and the quantities produced, the D.F. 6 x 30 was increasingly important after WWI was produced in larger quantities than any other. In the Army Regulations of November 29, 1919, after the end of the First World War, an inventory was ordered of the quantity of optical instruments in the infantry, because of new regulations on equipping the troops with optical instruments, and only the Fernglaeser 03, 08, 6 x 30, and 10 x 50 are listed as hand held binoculars. In a March 1939 paper regarding the height calibrations of reticles, only the 6 x 30 and 10 x 50 are mentioned; and in an Army technical regulation of June 1944, concerning the carrying strap for the Doppelfernrohre 6 x 30 and 10 x 50.

The design of the common D.F. 6 x 30 is similar to the equally common Zeiss Silvamar, with only minor differences.