Guest upnorth Posted November 12, 2007 Share #1 Posted November 12, 2007 I picked this up at an estate sale this weekend. I am wondering if anyone recognizes it. I am assuming it is a scope can. The case is made of bent plywood. The lid is watertight with excelsior latches. The top is marked CASE, CARRYING M??. Any information would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest upnorth Posted November 12, 2007 Share #2 Posted November 12, 2007 Measurements would probably help also. It is 15 3/4" long and 3 1/2" indiameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted November 13, 2007 Share #3 Posted November 13, 2007 I think that is the case for the M49 Spotting Scope. Mine is locked in a safe and I don't want to open it to measure the case but it sure looks like that. I have those in cloth covered wood and also in plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest upnorth Posted November 13, 2007 Share #4 Posted November 13, 2007 I think that is the case for the M49 Spotting Scope. Mine is locked in a safe and I don't want to open it to measure the case but it sure looks like that. I have those in cloth covered wood and also in plastic. Thank you very much! A quick google search has confirmed that. This one appears to be WWII Vintage. Now I just need to find the proper scope. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted November 13, 2007 Share #5 Posted November 13, 2007 Good luck and happy hunting on your scope quest. In my experience there are lots more empty scope cases than there are scopes to fill them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Romantic Posted May 12, 2008 Share #6 Posted May 12, 2008 These are US Army Photos from "Tropic Lightning The 25th's 25th in Combat", Oct 1966, showing soldiers of the 25th ID in South Vietnam during 1966. The first photo shows a soldier with M3 Binoculars and M17 case. In one topic on this forum- http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...l=m3+binoculars Craig Pickrall mentions that in the 1950's the M17 were dyed black, then painted OD for use in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Romantic Posted May 12, 2008 Share #7 Posted May 12, 2008 This shows a M3 binoculars set currently on eBay with OD painted case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Romantic Posted May 12, 2008 Share #8 Posted May 12, 2008 RTO and platoon leader with M3 binoculars carried on his chest. The second photo shows the same platoon leader and M3 binoculars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Romantic Posted May 12, 2008 Share #9 Posted May 12, 2008 This case looks larger than the M17. Any ideas of the model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Romantic Posted May 12, 2008 Share #10 Posted May 12, 2008 A view of what appears to be a later binoculars case. Also note the M1942 first aid pouch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 13, 2008 Share #11 Posted May 13, 2008 Frankie I will dig out some info and take pics for you later tonight or tomorrow. The FA pouch in the last pic is probably holding a compass. Those last pouches were dual marked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 13, 2008 Share #12 Posted May 13, 2008 Army M3 dated 1942 and made by NASH - KELVINATOR. N-K made refigerators among other thing before and after WW2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 13, 2008 Share #13 Posted May 13, 2008 USMC M9 undated. Made by Universal Camera Corp. This is the same size as the Army M3. The case is unmarked, unlike the Army case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 13, 2008 Share #14 Posted May 13, 2008 USN MK21 7X50 undated. This set is made by Square D Co. This set is much larger than the M3 / M9 sets seen previously. See the size comparison pics to follow. This set is similar to the Army M7, 15, 16 and 17 sets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 13, 2008 Share #15 Posted May 13, 2008 Size comparison of the M9 and the MK21. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 13, 2008 Share #16 Posted May 13, 2008 This is the Army M24 case in OD green that carries the Army version of the 7X50 binoculars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 13, 2008 Share #17 Posted May 13, 2008 Specification sheets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 13, 2008 Share #18 Posted May 13, 2008 TM pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Romantic Posted May 14, 2008 Share #19 Posted May 14, 2008 Thank you for the great photos and info Craig. Info on binoculars used in Vietnam is non existent elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted May 15, 2008 Share #20 Posted May 15, 2008 I didn't realize the info was hard to come by. Glad it was a help to you. In your last pic you asked about the large binocular case the GI was carrying. I think it was made of plastic and probably carried a pair of 7X50 bino's. I have a 1977 dated pair that has an improved case design, heavy plastic with nylon straps. The case and bino's are nothing like the M3 / M17 types. The '77 pair is made from what appears to be anodized aluminum with a light OD finish. They are a much nicer pair than the WW2 left overs. The GI carrying them is probably an artillery observer. That accounts for the high power bino's and the compass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Romantic Posted May 15, 2008 Share #21 Posted May 15, 2008 I didn't realize the info was hard to come by. Glad it was a help to you. In your last pic you asked about the large binocular case the GI was carrying. I think it was made of plastic and probably carried a pair of 7X50 bino's. I have a 1977 dated pair that has an improved case design, heavy plastic with nylon straps. The case and bino's are nothing like the M3 / M17 types. The '77 pair is made from what appears to be anodized aluminum with a light OD finish. They are a much nicer pair than the WW2 left overs. The GI carrying them is probably an artillery observer. That accounts for the high power bino's and the compass. Yes I couldn't find any binoculars info in Stanton's Vietnam Uniforms book, or Miraldi's two books or anywhere on the web. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19delta-uav Posted August 28, 2008 Share #22 Posted August 28, 2008 Wow what great photos and info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msgt norway Posted August 28, 2008 Share #23 Posted August 28, 2008 here is my binocular 7x50,i have some pictures in some books that shows use of this type of binocular but i cant scann them... maybe i can try to take a picture of the picture in the book? cheers from ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted December 11, 2008 Share #24 Posted December 11, 2008 Data sheets for the M48 and M49 Spotting Scopes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted December 11, 2008 Share #25 Posted December 11, 2008 There are no maker names or dates on any of the parts associated with this scope or cases. M49 Spotting Scope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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