Canadian WW1 Compass

[Dutchie]

I came across a Canadian WW1 expediationary Force Artillery compass in it's original leather case and marked to the original owner. Has c broad arrow on it, and it's in excellent condition.

Anyone on here know about them? Deciding on weather to purchase it or not. I know WW1 stuff is getting hard to find....just don't want to pay to much for it.

 

[wheaty]

1- do they still make them?
2- how bad do you want it?
3- does it fill a hole in your collection?
4- price...are you buying or selling?
5- does the wife know about how much money you MIGHT spend ##
6- GO FOR IT!!!!
7- drop me an email....

 

[buffdog]

.
A Compass makes a nice accessory for a display, or for reenactors. An original WWI Compass should go for $50-$75 and possibly more depending upon shape, markings, peoples names and regiment, or maker.

Be aware that there are many of these items being presently made in India are being sold on E-bay and other places. I think it was on this website a while ago where someone bought a "genuine WWII German Submarine Compass" and wanted to know all about it and what it was worth. It was dated 1939 and the submarine pictured on it was amazingly like a 1970s U.S. nuclear submarine. Another dream of lots of bucks shattered.

I would say that if you are over $75 and closing in on the $100 mark, then it is getting expensive.
.

 

[Claven2]

IF it's a liquid prismatic compass and in nice condition with fluid intact, it's a $400+ item. I would suggest trolling through the trademarklondon website to get an idea of values. (use google).

Now the bad news. WW2 and earlier compasses are HEAVILY radioactive with Radium all over the insiders of them. Literally enough to cause you health problems if you spend too much time near it. People who collect these usually either send them off to places like trademark to have the radium removed and replaced with luminous paint, or alternately store them in an area removed from where they sleep or spend a lot of time.

Definitely DO NOT open a WW1 era compass unless you are trained to handle radioactive isotopes.

 

[fugawi]

Something to consider...

I'm going to preface this with the caveat that I'm not an expert on WW1 compasses. But milsurp value is a funny thing. We milsurp collectors don't hesitate to pay good money for firearms that mostly sit in our gun vaults. I think wheaty made some good points:

1- do they still make them?
2- how bad do you want it?
3- does it fill a hole in your collection?
4- price...are you buying or selling?
5- does the wife know about how much money you MIGHT spend ##
6- GO FOR IT!!!!
7- drop me an email....

Condition of the compass, is it functioning?

Are you going to find one in its condition again? Will it be useful or just a display item - I recently bought a WW2 compass and paid good money for it because it will not only be useful in a display I'm putting together, I plan to use it as a backup compass when I go hunting. Therefore for me its value was also in its utility - and the price I paid took note that the compass had been professionally reconditioned and made safe (radioactive markings removed).

If it needs restoring factor that into the cost of the purchase.

 

[gregc]

IF it's a liquid prismatic compass and in nice condition with fluid intact, it's a $400+ item. I would suggest trolling through the trademarklondon website to get an idea of values. (use google).

Now the bad news. WW2 and earlier compasses are HEAVILY radioactive with Radium all over the insiders of them. Literally enough to cause you health problems if you spend too much time near it. People who collect these usually either send them off to places like trademark to have the radium removed and replaced with luminous paint, or alternately store them in an area removed from where they sleep or spend a lot of time.

Definitely DO NOT open a WW1 era compass unless you are trained to handle radioactive isotopes.

yes, there is a place in italy that redoes the compasses to make them safe but it costs about 300$ to do so

 

[Claven2]

Of course, my more modern Stanley G-150 liquid prismatic has tritium vials in it instead of radium. These are much safer and are a near-clone of the WW2 MkIII LP Compass.

 

[QM 8687]

I had a vg cond. WWI compass, everything workin. Plus Case dated 1916 and factory marked with ex cond. rare leather strap with buckles for sale once, with no takers.
I would say $100-$150for yours. Add original strap $225 value for yours.
There are several in England for sale.