Original German WWII German Kriegsmarine Navy Sextant by C. Plath with Original Case and Documents Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This navigation instrument is a C. Plath maker-marked, standard ladder pattern sextant, serial # 18353, was produced in Hamburg, Germany in 1944. 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.

Sextant retains its major components including the frame, mirrors, micrometer assembly, monocular and scope that are intact and functional. Also comes with its original, maker-marked hardwood case in excellent condition. Sextant metal frame is painted a flat black 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 black graduations on the surface. “C. PLATH / HAMBURG” stamped on the “main body” while its serial #18353 stamped on the right edge. Index mirror, circular split horizon mirror, four index shades and the three horizon shades are dusty but in fine condition. The set still retains the original paper certificate as well. The other document is for a Material Familiarization Group and lists the different groups of a U-Boat such as “Main Engines’ and “Electrical”. Also listed on the document are names of U.S. Officers, U.S. Interpreters and U-Boat Personnel. We believe this to have been a captured or salvaged U-Boat which this sextant came from, but there is no way of confirming it.

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