On eBay Now...US M1950 Lensatic Compass 1965 Union Instrument Vietnam War Era Original Pouch For Sale
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
US M1950 Lensatic Compass 1965 Union Instrument Vietnam War Era Original Pouch:
$110.00
US M1950 Lensatic Compass 1965 Union Instrument Vietnam War Era Original Pouch.The compass dial doesn't move because the gas has leaked out but condition of compass and pouch is very good.Historical Context
In August 1964, the United States Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing direct military intervention in Southeast Asia and marking the beginning of the full-scale American escalation in Vietnam. This compass was manufactured and contract-issued in December 1965.
The M-1950 Lensatic Compass was the standard navigation instrument issued to U.S. Army officers, NCOs, and specialist troops throughout the Vietnam conflict. Designed for terrain orientation in complex environments, it was a defining piece of equipment for every infantry leader of the era. This example was manufactured under contract by Union Instrument Corp., Plainfield, New Jersey — one of a small number of contractors authorized to produce the M-1950 during the 1964–1968 period, and significantly less represented in the collector market than the later Stocker & Yale production runs that dominate the surplus supply.
What’s IncludedItem · I
M-1950 Lensatic Compass
Painted folding aluminum body. Floating (but no longer floating) magnetic dial with degree and mil graduations. Rotating bezel, thumb ring, rear sight with magnifying lens, sighting wire in lid. Tritium H³ luminous points for low-light use. All markings crisp and legible.
Item · II
Original Canvas OD Pouch
Period-correct olive drab canvas compass pouch with brass “Lift-the-Dot” closure — the original fastening system used on U.S. military field gear of the Vietnam era. Belt loops intact. Consistent with decades of storage following active service.
SpecificationsModelCompass, Magnetic M-1950 (Lensatic)ManufacturerUnion Instrument Corp., Plainfield, N.J.Date of Manufacture12-1965 (December 1964)Federal Stock No.FSN 6605-846-7618 (pre-1974 cataloguing ElementRadioisotope H³ (Tritium), 75mc — AEC License No. 34-1466-2. Decay complete; no radiation hazard.Map Scale1:25,000 meters (graduated straight edge)Body MaterialCast aluminum, OD paintedPouchOriginal OD canvas, brass Lift-the-Dot closure, belt loops presentConditionCompass body shows very light wear. Floating needle does not float - assuming gas has all leaked out, so compass needle does not move. All military markings on both face and reverse are crisp and fully legible, including the FSN, manufacturer, contract number, AEC tritium warning, and the “DO NOT OPEN / IF FOUND RETURN TO MILITARY AUTHORITY” inscription. Dial graduation markings clear. Sighting wire present. Pouch retains its original shape with Lift-the-Dot closure in working condition. Sold as a collectible instrument; not certified for navigational use. Pouch military black ink stamping on back is hard to read - somewhat legible if a photo of it is taken with a flash but even then still hard to read.
Related Items:
US Military OD M-1950 Green Pants Suspenders M1950 Korean War Era
$9.95
US Military Army M-1950 Suspenders Trousers Pant Elastic Harness NOS (New) A-03
$9.99
US M1950 Lensatic Compass 1965 Union Instrument Vietnam War Era Original Pouch
$69.97