Compasses.

[Chako]

I was thinking about compasses a bit lately. This was spurred by some of the watch threads in here, particularly the Casio watch threads.

So I dug up all my old compasses and a really old one that I keep for sentimental reasons for some photos. Then I got to thinking about all the good times using them in the forest on hikes in my younger days.

Maybe everyone can post compass information, photos, stories, tips and tricks, etc.

Sorry if this has already been done.

Onto the photos.

This is my most sentimental piece. It belonged to my father when he was hunting back in the 60s. It is a Silva Sun Watch Huntsman Compass.


It comes with a safety pin to attach it to your coat.


What I find interesting, is that he kept the box and reading material with it.




This next one was my third compass that I got for myself. This one is a Silva Ranger that I bought used for some outdoor Biology courses at University. I wanted something with a split sighting mirror, which my two older Silva 7s do not have.






A group shot of my two Silva Series 7 NL compasses. The red marked one is the oldest of the lot. I got these I think back in the early to late 80s. The book I got back in 88 to learn a bit more about compass work and orienteering. The new Victorinox Compass is also included.



I did a bit of history backtracking and couldn’t find much on some of these. However, I did run across a trademark issue in North America. I was a bit taken aback to find out that Silva here isn’t Silva from Sweden. Basically, you buy a Silva in North America; you have no clue who made it from 1998 onwards. Go figure. 

[donvito]

Because Johnson Outdoors Inc. owns the Silva brand name in North America, Silva Sweden AB compasses and other products are sold under the Brunton, and Nexus labels in that market. The aim of Silva Sweden AB is to "Design, develop, produce and market world-class quality products on a global basis for users within the Land and Marine markets".

Knew they had something to do with Brunton, dug this up on wiki  Nice collection, what material is the Huntsman made out of?

[nuphoria]

I really like the first one with the safety pin - simple but effective!

[Chako]

I believe it is brass.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've got the updated version of the first one, and it's a superb compass

[Neil]

I've got the updated version of the first one, and it's a superb compass

Is it like this one..

   

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've got the updated version of the first one, and it's a superb compass

Is it like this one..

   

Sorry I meant the second one, as mine's got a sighting mirror

[Magnus]

I always loved the look of old brass compasses, but I guess they are a little pointless these days with GPS.

[Mr. Whippy]

I always loved the look of old brass compasses, but I guess they are a little pointless these days with GPS.

GPS and Compasses are complementary, not competitive.  For moving across large sections of wilderness, a compass and map cannot be replaced with GPS;even with Topos loaded. 

The reason becomes fairly obvious.  On a GPS, you have very limited view of the area.  As you zoom out, you lose too much detail. 

So, the way to go is both.  GPS gives you your precise location, and the compass and map allow you to plan your route to the next point accurately.

[donvito]

I believe it is brass.

Looked it up and one review said it's coated aluminum, beautiful piece. Neil and Mike what are the model numbers of your Silva's? 

[Neil]

No idea, I don't have it any more (old photos).  Mine certainly felt like aluminium.  Maybe they changed material at some point; my pictures are certainly of a later model than Chako's.

[Gareth]

I always loved the look of old brass compasses, but I guess they are a little pointless these days with GPS.

GPS and Compasses are complementary, not competitive.  For moving across large sections of wilderness, a compass and map cannot be replaced with GPS;even with Topos loaded. 

The reason becomes fairly obvious.  On a GPS, you have very limited view of the area.  As you zoom out, you lose too much detail. 

So, the way to go is both.  GPS gives you your precise location, and the compass and map allow you to plan your route to the next point accurately.

Absolutely.  I'd never go on a hike without a map and compass, but I will (and do) travel without a GPS.  Not to say that they aren't very useful, they really are, but they're not stand alone devices IMO.

Plus a map and compass never need a change of batteries.  

[Benner]

I only have one compass left now and it's an old 1944 military compass marked with T.G Co LTD on the bottom.  I got a while back beaten up but intact, but when I closed it up one of the incorrectly placed screws smashed it.    So I then modded it all to be a solid lump.  Works well though.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

No idea, I don't have it any more (old photos).  Mine certainly felt like aluminium.  Maybe they changed material at some point; my pictures are certainly of a later model than Chako's.

No idea mate , I've had it yonks