Original German WWII German Kriegsmarine Navy Sextant by C. Plath in Wooden Case Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This navigation instrument is a C. Plath maker-marked, standard ladder pattern sextant, serial # 6793, produced in Hamburg, Germany during the war. Carl Plath started his firm in Hamburg in 1862 and continued the manufacture of quality sextants up and through the Second World War. The firm was shut down after the war but was allowed to re-emerge in the 1950s. The name ‘sextant’ comes from the extent of its limb that is the sixth part of a circle. The main use of a sextant is to determine the angle between a celestial object and the base horizon, which defines the object’s altitude. The arc portion of this marine sextant is graduated into degrees from right to left, starting from 0 to 120. With a sextant, knowledge of the time and date with valid charts allows a navigator to determine his latitude or position on the surface of the earth or on the open seas. The sextant is a double reflection instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects.

The sextant retains its major components including the frame, mirrors, micrometer assembly, monocular and scope that are intact and functional. It also comes in a custom wood case, probably made post war, that is roughly the same size as the original at 14″ x 14″ x 7 1/2″H. It has high quality joinery on the edges, so it was probably used to keep the sextant in service after the war.

Sextant metal frame is painted with satin black enamel and is in very good condition with almost no wear or chipping. Index arm with its micrometer assembly shows normal light surface edge flaking.

The 120” arc is an alloy set with white highlighted graduations on the surface, and the rest of the markings are similarly highlighted from the factory. The center of the arm has the Kriegsmarine navy “Eagle / M” proof, over the serial number and maker information:

(EAGLE)
M
6793

C. Plath
Hamburg

Index mirror, circular split horizon mirror, four index shades and the three horizon shades are dusty but in fine condition. The bottom bakelite handle is in great shape, and properly maker marked.

This is a lovely example and comes more than ready for further research and display.