Original German WWII Kriegsmarine U-Boat Conning Tower Binoculars by Carl Zeiss with Flip-Up Eye Cups & Hell & Dunkel Switch - Rare

Original Item. Only One Available. This is an extraordinarily scarce set of binoculars, possibly the scarcest set of optics we’ve offered. These binoculars were used on German U-Boats. They were mounted on a permanently present metal stand at the front in the conning tower. The U.D.F 7x50 binoculars were a part of the U.Z.O (Uberwasser – Ziel – Optik, or: U-Boat Aiming Optics). The binoculars were deployed during the lancing of torpedoes on the surface. Because of its special build and use of materials this binocular is pressure- and watertight up to 30 atm / 300 meters. They are extremely heavy due to their brass construction, which prevented oxidation.

The binoculars are marked on the left barrel:

U.D.F. 7x50
295139
blc

The maker code blc is for Carl Zeiss, Jena, Militärabteilung, a specialist lens maker, and one of the finest makers of optics at the time. They designed many of the optics used by Germany during WWII, and continue to produce world class lenses and other optics to this day.

The binoculars originally would have been painted a greyish-blue, but were repainted in black, likely during the period. The brass construction can be seen in spots where the paint has heavily chipped. The binoculars retain their retractable rubber eye caps with side-shield against light shining in from the sides, and it is equipped with little holes against condensation.

The binoculars have some damage, including chipping in the paint and finish, with the small plates at the front of the binoculars have some material loss. The optics are still very clear, and there is no damage to the glass.

Despite the fact that the binocular was watertight it would only be mounted after coming to the surface, and afterwards it was taken back inside. In the case of a sudden emergency dive, the viewer could be left behind on the conning tower. These binoculars have a fixed focus. Executed with a knob on the right eyepiece for: Hell & Dunkel (light and dark). At night the knob would be put in the Dunkel position, the vertical line graticule in the right eyepiece would then be illuminated through the use of luminous paint. This luminous paint is no longer present, so the switch does not make any visible difference.

This is a phenomenal set of extremely scarce U-Boat Conning tower binoculars, with still-intact markings and clear optics. Comes ready for further research and display.