Compasses anyone?

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
6,135
Let's see some of your favorite compasses.

Here are mine...

IMG_1448-1.jpg


1) Cammenga Model 27, induction, USA
2) Silva Director Type 17, liquid, Sweden (1985)
3) Marbles, 1" brass, dry, USA, (1995)
4) Maker unknown, .75" brass, dry, USA
5) NATO Survival, .50" brass, dry, England?
6) Maker unknown, .50" brass, dry, USA
7) Marbles, .50" brass, dry, USA (1970s)
8) Marbles, .50" brass, dry, USA (1980s)
9) Maker unknown, current Randall compass, liquid, Japan
 
I also love compasses!

Bit more info. on no.5:

Francis Barker NATO Survival Compass

NATO Stock Number 6605 99 522 0223
All brass and glass construction
North and south seeking luminous points
Niva tipped brass pivot

And YES it is British!
 
Nothing can compare to the accuracy and durability of the Commenga in my opinion, but the MC3 Global from Suunto is the second. The SAS Nato compass is an amazing piece of kit and TAD has them right now commissioned in OD green. They certainly serve their niche.
 
I have been using a Brit Military Silva Expedition 54B with tritium markers. Seems to do everything I need.
 
Wow! Four 1/2" dry brass compasses! I have a (1") TruNord but it's a bit too heavy and bulky. I can't justify the cost of the NATO compass, and finding a less expensive 1/2" brass dry compass has eluded me so far. You've inspired me to continue the search. Nice collection! :thumbup:
 
Scott,

Good luck in your search for the 1/2" dry, brass compasses. Those buggers are hard to find. I think I've seen one Marbles come up for sale on eBay - EVER!...and I don't know why. Marbles sold them for years as gun stock compasses. The NATO compass is the only one I know of that this readily available.
 
I must admit I am a compass nut.Having taught land nav to our SWAT team for the last 13 years. I have Cammenga,Silva Ranger and several Suunto compasses. Next to Cammenga I have to say Suunto is almost as good as a Cammenga and a lot cheaper.Just my 2 cents
 
I can't help but notice that the needles on those compasses are pointing in different directions!
 
I know that when I lay my compasses down in close proximity to each other the needles all shift a bit. When I slide them away from each other, they again point true. Not sure if that's what's happening in TAH's pic or not.
 
I use a Brunton M2 pocket transit or my ainsworth and sons brunton patent.

In my profession, we require a great deal of accuracy and nothing is accurate like a pocket transit..
 
Hi Tah,

I use Silva's at work to teach navigation, but I've just bought myself a Cammenga, with Tritium in Realtree! Which has now become my joint favourite! There's something special about the little Francis Baker as well, which you only know when you've got one in your hand; it's super!

Glad to know others share another of my interests as well as for the knives.

John
 
I have the NATO survival compass. Very impressive but TINY! I leave it at home, since I'm afraid of accidentally losing it. It wouldn't take much to lose it since it's small and roundish like a marble: drop it in the dark, drop it while walking over rocks, or drop it on a crowded city street.... and it's pretty much gone forever. I think it serves only one purpose: it's original, intended purpose: You shove it up your a** during missions behind enemy lines, and you take it out after you've escaped from imprisonment as a last-resort navigation tool.

Knock on wood, I've never been in that situation. So for everything else, I use my Suunto M-3DL

41N4R6W4PKL._SS500_.jpg
 
Compass's are my second favorite thing to collect, after knives, hot chicks, Axes, bows and hangovers.
I love your mini collection, those are awesome!
I have a ton, Suunto's , marbles, Cammenga, and a few others I can't recall. I have a small rubbermade with a bunch in it. I like finding them at the flea markets...you just cant pass up a compass like a Suunto for $5!
 
Here are most of mine. A few are lost in boxes, bob's or ???

IMG_0457.jpg


Left to right. Top then bottom

Cammenga, Suunto M-3, Suunto M-2, Silva Ranger (1980's)

County Comm Cammenga Copy(?), Suunto, Brunton, Key Chain Type, Pin On, Hocky Puck

The Hocky Puck type is a marine type sighting compass. It is about 30 years old made in France by SRPI MORIN.
 
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Even more about #5 above:

"FB 1605 NATO Survival Compass

NSN 6605-99-522-0223

The FB 1605 NATO Survival Button Compass, also known as the Francis Barker SAS Survival Button Compass, is a tiny brass button compass that is built to full military specifications for survival use. This "brass button" compass is a standard NATO inventory item, NSN 6605 99 522 0223, as specified by the British Army.

The FB 1605 NATO SAS Survival Button Compass has been designed to hold up under the harshest environments and during WWII, was even swallowed by military pilots during capture so that it could later be used as an escape compass. This SAS NATO button compass was also often sewn into clothes to prevent its loss and to ensure that its owner always had a compass available."

Here is the company that makes them:

http://www.pyser-sgi.com/productdetail.asp?ProductID=952

TF
 
Talfuchre said:
Even more about #5 above:

"FB 1605 NATO Survival Compass
Click to expand...

You guys are killing me with this thread. I've wanted one of these ever since I knew they existed. I've almost pulled the trigger a couple of times, but I'm always reminded that I already have a dirt cheap dry plastic compass of the same size that is also accurate. Even so, I'd still probably get one if it weren't for having to pay UPS shipping charges for something so tiny.
 
I got a NATO compass from TAD in SF> It has such a nice feel to it, and rides in my altoids tin kit. I looked around quite a bit for a decent button compass. Seems Suunto stopped making them, and I even spoke to the folks at K&M match cases, THEY were having a really hard time finding decent ones to ride on their product and asked me to report back on what I found... The search stopped at NATO,there's really no one else making a high quality button compass. NATOs are too expensive for K&M, but I suggested they offer it as an upgrade. They can't be beat at their size and quality. I've also got a K&R Sherpa compass for normal backpacking use, super happy with it.
 
Suunto M3 is nice. It served me well doing field work for years before GPS was really usable (accurate small, etc.). (Anyone remember having to do base station corrections to points? haha)
 
CWL said:
I can't help but notice that the needles on those compasses are pointing in different directions!
Click to expand...

Scott Free said:
I know that when I lay my compasses down in close proximity to each other the needles all shift a bit. When I slide them away from each other, they again point true. Not sure if that's what's happening in TAH's pic or not.
Click to expand...

Scott is correct. When you bring the compasses together, they all freak out.
 
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