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Binoculars and scopes


Guest upnorth
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Guest upnorth

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.

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craig_pickrall

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.

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Guest upnorth
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.

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craig_pickrall

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.

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  • 5 months later...
New Romantic

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.

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New Romantic

RTO and platoon leader with M3 binoculars carried on his chest. The second photo shows the same platoon leader and M3 binoculars.

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craig_pickrall

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.

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craig_pickrall

Army M3 dated 1942 and made by NASH - KELVINATOR. N-K made refigerators among other thing before and after WW2.

 

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craig_pickrall

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.

 

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craig_pickrall

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.

 

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craig_pickrall

This is the Army M24 case in OD green that carries the Army version of the 7X50 binoculars.

 

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New Romantic

Thank you for the great photos and info Craig. Info on binoculars used in Vietnam is non existent elsewhere.

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craig_pickrall

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.

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New Romantic
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.

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  • 3 months later...

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?

IMG_0823.jpg

 

cheers from ken

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  • 3 months later...
craig_pickrall

There are no maker names or dates on any of the parts associated with this scope or cases.

 

 

M49 Spotting Scope

 

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