Binoculars

[samuel orris]

I saw a pair of binoculars advertised for a future auction and they look to be CW era. The only wording on them is "Chevalier Optcien Paris." How can I telll if they are indeed from the Civil War period? There is also a case.

 

[Private Watkins]

I've found that Civil War "Era" does not necessarily mean pre-1865, but might encompass post 1865 items. I'm certainly not an expert, but from what I've learned if the front cross bar is angled, like a bridge, and not straight, it is likely post Civil War. The front cross-bar should be straight across, not L shaped, for it to be pre-1865. Also the size or diameter of the front eye pieces is an indicator; the earlier ones did not have the larger diameter that the later ones have.

 

[Private Watkins]

http://www.sharpsburg-arsenal.com/collection/optics/cat_20.html
I bought a pair once from Sharpsburg Arsenal and was satisfied as to their authenticity and Civil War time period... I have no connections with them other than having been a satisfied customer. You might look at the pictures of what he's got listed here for comparison...

 

[Private Watkins]

I would emphasize again though that I'm not an expert, and I'm sure there are many on this forum that would know more than I do and I welcome their corrections if I've misstated or misrepresented anything... There are also I'm sure many other good dealers out there as well, just sharing from personal experience.

 

[E_just_E]

Chevalier Optcien is a French binocular maker that was in business from the mid 1700s till 1900. So you know that if you have one of their pieces it is an 18th or 19th century piece. Very high quality and very desirable by optics collectors. The issue is that even if you had a piece that was manufactured in 1959 or 1860 or 1861 or 1862 or 1863, the odds that it was used in the States by US or CS troops are very small. If you want a civil war used item, stay away. If you want an exceptional optics item, it is a different story.

The words "Civil War Era" are framing a time. And people use them because it attracts buyers. And it is entire correct, even if the item was hand crafted in China in 1863

 

[samuel orris]

Thanks for your tips guys. Civil War era was a term I used, they are not advertised as being as such. I wish I could figure out how to post photos. The case has two loops on the rear side, as if to pass a belt through them. I'll try with photos.

 

[E_just_E]

I wish I could figure out how to post photos.

Get the photo some place on the web (flickr, photobucket etc) that has a URL (usually ends in .jpg)
Copy that URL from your browser
Click that icon up there next to the smiley face; it says "image" if you mouse over
Paste your URL.



Good luck

 

[samuel orris]

Get the photo some place on the web (flickr, photobucket etc) that has a URL (usually ends in .jpg)
Copy that URL from your browser
Click that icon up there next to the smiley face; it says "image" if you mouse over
Paste your URL.



Good luck

The photo is posted on AuctionZip as a jpg. image. I tried to just copy and paste, but that doesn't work.

 

[samuel orris]

Sorry, it's a bmp.

 

[samuel orris]

Okay, I tried something else by taking a picture of the picture. May be a bit blurry, but maybe something can give a hint. Forgot to mention also that the funny thing is in the bill of sale they're listed as only binoculars. I know the owner, but he is not sure what they date to.