10x80 German WWII Flak Binoculars - 45 Degree

Description

WWII 10x80 - 45° Flak Binocular
Condition: Please see pictures. IPD and focus works well. This pair does not have integrated light filters.
Focuses well and IPD moves freely.
D.F. 10x80
CXN - Manufacturer - E. Busch
Serial Numbers- 53136 & 14817
Item weight: Approximately 10lbs.
In 1936, Germany put out requests to optical companies to manufacture large observation binoculars to be easily used on land and at sea. German optic firms of Emil Busch, Moeller Wedel, and Ernst Leitz were in the running for the government contract that eventually developed a standard binocular for the German Army.  Busch won the contract and in 1936 was producing the big eye binoculars for the German Military. The 45 ° 10 X 80 Doppelfernrohr (double telescope) was manufactured from 1936 – 1945.
Production ran during WWII by other firms in Germany and occupied Poland. Those manufactured before WWII will show the Busch name, but starting in 1941, they have a three-letter secret code stamped on the side that identifies the manufacturer and army property number. Here are known codes of WWII manufacturers you will see stamped on the 45 ° 10 X 80 binoculars:
beh – E Leitz, Wetzlar
dkl – Schneider, Bad Kreuznach
cro – R. Fuess, Berlin Steglitz
bpd – C. P. Goerz, Vienna
eug – Optische Prazisions – Werke, Warsaw
cxn – E. Busch, Rathenow
It is believed there are still 150,000 of these in existence largely because there were six manufacturers producing large numbers.
While they came painted as standard issue, you can also find these as polished binoculars.
The 10X80 were versatile in that they could be used on land as an anti-aircraft rangefinder and on ships to track incoming aircraft. You could also find them on top of German concrete towers (flak towers) in places such as Berlin.
Big eye military binoculars are essentially military weapons designed for defense and reconnaissance. The 45° angle of the ocular was welcomed by those who stood watch for hours at a time and allowed them to perform aerial observation and keep an eye on enemy troops on the ground.
Aerial attacks were prominent during WWII so the three adjustable sun filters in the light path became extremely helpful and is easily adjusted with a knob that sits next to one eye piece. A military tactic is to fly in line with the sun, so cutting glare was important. For use in your home, this feature will help if your viewpoint is prone to have glare, such as an ocean horizon.
10 X 80 Flak binoculars are known for their 18mm eye piece lenses, which offers an unmatched field of view and bright vision. This feature is what won Busch the military contract back in the 1936.
Available accessories for the 45 ° 10 X 80 WWII binoculars include:
Adjustable transverse
Adjustable eyepieces
Lenses with hairline sights
Rubber adjustable visor
Shields
Accessory rail to hold a brow support
Open frame site
Large exit pupils give exceptional light and visibility
Weighing in at nearly 12 pounds a sturdy constructed tripod is mandatory.
Some have reported that the 45 ° 10 X 80 WWII Flak binoculars were used on tanks, but this is not true.  The angle of the eyepiece and the hefty design would not be beneficial to a tank commander. They were of strong design because they were used by a young community of armed service personnel during battle, which can prove to be hard on equipment.
While designed to withstand the battlefield, now the 45 ° 10 X 80 WWII Flak binoculars are valued by designers as a piece of art. When placed in your home or office they take on a presence and become an historic conversation piece. Also considered a functional piece of art giving you the option to set up outside for clear, long distance viewing during the day, or detailed observation of the moon by night. It will surely impress your guests.