Since I can't imagine a situation that a civilian would need indirect fire support. data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAKAAAAB4CAYAAAB1ovlvAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAAw5JREFUeF7t181pWwEUhNFnF+MK1IjXrsJtWVu7HbsNa6VAICGb/EwYPCCOtrrci8774KG76 . Now what happens when the sun rises or the light switch is flipped, or maybe you turn your weapon light on. When buying a Cammenga, they offer you the option of Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere. Despite the name, these transitions still happen, but they're statistically unlikely and so the trapped light leaks out much more slowly than in fluorescent materials. Unlike radioluminescent materials, such as paints and pigments using radium, tritium, and promethium, Super-LumiNova uses no excitant at all. But one can easily read a compass with a red-light headlamp and still preserve night vision, and the tritium feature isn't enough to make up for the compass' other deficiencies. Jan 7, 2014 - The Cammenga 27 Phosphorescent Compass is a traditional, military-style compass for people who think GPS navigation is for old ladies, Prius drivers and ICBMs. $66.15. Everything just felt right about it. model B3H at $99.95. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. Anyone have a link for a good compass to purchase? $71.89 . The compass has a lightweight aluminium-cast housing, it's waterproof and has long-lasting phosphorescent self-illumination. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. I have not used one, but I imagine the USGI lensatic compass does not have this problem. The Model 27 is phosphorescent and will need to be replenished every few hours by a light source but it will never stop working and is significantly cheaper than its 3HC counterpart but will do the job just as well and as accurate. The compass uses magnetic 'induction dampening' to settle the floating dial in 'six seconds or less'. I found a good price on e-bay for a new one. Note the official military 'shock' test an easy 'drop test' of 90 cm (3 feet) onto a table covered with a 10cm (4-inch) layer of plastic-covered sand. It also has no adjustable declination feature for relating all compass headings to true north. 3. The Silva was good but the 3H is far better. When choosing the best compass for you, consider the scales you'll need. Toll-Free: +1-800-504-5897 Live Chat Help Center Check Order Status. Well-made, but less than ideal for non-military users. Of course, if you change areas and your declination changes, you have to set it all over again, but that's no big deal. 4.6 out of 5 . Enter Luminova. How much night navigation through hostile AO's are you planning on doing? I have a Suunto MC-2 Global (plate compass w/sighting mirror). If you don't need all-night illumination, then this could be a good option. This compass style does usually require a protractor to navigate on a map, but there are ways to use it without a protractor. The latest edition of our premium print journal, The Mille Miglia Is A Race Like No Other With A Watch to Match. G.I. FTW!!! Brand-new, the G.I. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. I've always been a major fan of this compass. (For strontium aluminate to be an effective phosphor, it must be combined with europium, a non-toxic, non-radioactive chemical element). The lens is clear and the dial is not hard to read for me. Uses a copper induction-damping ring that slows, settles and steadies the compass needle quickly. Tritium has a half life of 12.3 years so its brightness will start to fade after that and most manufacturers give the tritium illumination a longevity of between 10-20 years. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Therein lies both a solution and a problem. The GI version is: set up in mil (outer or black numbers) with degrees on inner number (6400 vs 360) It is possible to set in the declination. Reviewed by For some reasonI'm the very first member to review this compass. Reviewed by The fastest and most secure way to protect the watches you love. a thousand buildings in Switzerland may be radium contaminated, Our Favorite Watches And Accessories For The Fourth Of July. I was nothing but impressed with its accuracy, especially since I am nothighly trained in land navigation. The map's UTM gridmeasures kilometers, not miles. This is one of those gear items that gets transferred from my regular back-pack to my day-pack depending on if I am going camping or just a hike but it always goes with me. Deserted The compass dial is in both mils and degrees, and as the military uses mils,the mils scale is placed on the outside circumference of the dial, while the degree scale is in red ink and relegated to second place on the inside, with only five-degree increments or markings a dial you'd expect on a $10 compass, not one costing$50 or more. However, if the bezel is original it's basically just as radioactive as the day the watch was made an important caution for any collector who owns one. | updated Sep 13, 2021. 2001-2023 Trailspace. Seven Tritium Micro Lights allow for navigation in low-light conditions. The advantage? I have popped out on other people's property, and not known if I'm facting North or West. Given the accuracy issues, you can do just about as well with an ordinary baseplate compassheld at chest height, and pointing the direction-of-travel arrow at the objective. The earth's magnetic pull wants to pull one end of the needle down. Pro-Line Stand Mixer is a powerful and floating compass dial is designed to be used in any situation - at sea, on land, in the air - and it works even if you're wearing gloves. December 27, 2009. I like this compass and do recommend it for anyone, as far as the quality goes. Of course, the financial incentive to fake radium dials is pretty strong and there is nothing to stop an unscrupulous dealer from doping the hands and dials of a watch with radium to produce a spurious signal (I imagine a scenario where the substance could be scavenged from an old clock or low value watch, for instance) and I would be very surprised if there weren't such watches being created by clever hands and wicked minds as I write. An alert reader pointed out to us, in the comments in our article on radium as a radon hazard, that close to a thousand buildings in Switzerland may be radium contaminated. After all, the U.S. military uses it, so it must be the best, right? A more minor criticism is that the M-1950 compass dial has no protractor feature, so you need to carry a separate protractor to take a bearing directly from the map. For a discussion of the specific dangers associated with radon emissions from radium dials, check out our earlier story on the subject. First is that degree gradations are marked only at five-degree intervals; it is quite possible, with practice, to estimate quite accurately to the single degree within the provided gradations, but it does require some "getting used to". This phosphorescent compass is waterproof, shockproof, and sand proof. Now: $29.98. I had my GPS also, but buried itin my pack to prevent cheating. I would never willingly own one without Tritium. The U.S. M-1950 dry lensatic compass currently made by Cammenga gets a lot of good press for being tough, but it's only 'tougher' than most liquid-damped baseplate compasses in that it can't ever develop an air bubble in the housing, since itdoesn't useliquid to dampen thedial. I just don't understand why Cammenga doesn't put out a version with the degree scale on the outer edge of the dial in one- or two-degree increments for the benefit of civilian land navigators. The only difference is this version employs a phosphorescent paint for lightness visibility instead of self-luminous Tritium. Alternatively, it might have the manufacturer and/or a NSN. Constructed with a powder-coated, aluminum frame for optimal endurance. They know not of what they speak. MSRP $219.99. Once I downloaded the track to my PC I was surprised how straight the navigation was, including four 90 degree turns 100 to 200 yards apart to route myself around a swamp. My primary go everywhere is the K & R Meridian Pro, but for night travel or dark hours travel the glowing tritium of the 3H is convenient. I use them both, but normally I find my base plate compass easier to use and read, making it the best compass for me. The Cammenga G.I. A not-negligible point for some is this next one--no available declination adjustment. Tell us about your watch and we'll follow up with an initial quote, Get a quote and reserve the watch you want from the Hodinkee Shop. Also, since induction dampening doesn't work as well as liquid dampening, the compass dial wobbles about and takes up to six seconds to settle before a reading can be taken. With each compass, you carry the added assurance of Tritium-based, self-powered lighting that needs no recharging. To put it simply: When it comes to performance and accuracy, Cammenga leaves all other compasses behind. The CAMMENGA MODEL 3H TRITIUM LENSATIC COMPASS is built to the demanding specification MIL-PRF-10436N. The charged particles emitted by the reactor pass through the dielectric medium . Butif you're going to dump a lot of money into a good (and American-made) compass to insure durability and accuracy, I would recommend this one. Photoluminescence is the ability of some materials to emit light after exposure to light. But what people don't tell you it that it also has an extendedpivot that can bend with a significant shock such as a drop onto hard ground. But that's a story for later). no question. Cammenga does an excellentjob on meeting milspec standards. . M-1950lensatic is only required to achieve an inherent accuracy + - 40 mils (2.25 degrees) from actual azimuth under milspec requirements. At present all of us are carrying one 3H to all our outings. Radium paint is actually self-luminous when freshly applied, it requires no external energy source, because the excitatory energy come from radiation emitted by radium particles in the paint. What a difference! You can, if you practice, split the five-degree increment spacing in half to get a (theoretical) reading of 2.5 degrees between increments, while simultaneously holding the compass steady and the sighting wire fixed on the objective, then checking for parallax error not easy. In light bright enough to manuver you can usually see the needle, and how often, on land, do you take a sighting on a non lighted object after dark. No compass can match its durability. Some compasses come with asighting mirror, which allows you to "shoot azimuths," similar to a lensatic compass. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - Why Tritium over Phosphorescent compass. Battle tested through rigorous shock, water, sand proof, and functional from -50o F to +150o F. Seven Tritium Micro Lights allow for navigation in low-light conditions, without the need for a flashlight or any other light source . The second quibble is that the scale markings along the straight edge available when the compass is completely open are suitable for 1:50,000 scale markings, but some of the markings (specifically, those for 2000 and 4000 m) aren't marked so as to quickly distinguish them from neighboring marks. The U.S. M1950 dry lensatic compass currently made by Cammenga gets a lot of good press for being tough, but it's only 'tougher' than most liquid-filled baseplate compasses in that it can't ever develop an air bubble in the housing, since itdoesn't useliquid to dampen thedial. Cammenga Olive Drab Genuine Military Lensatic Phosphorescent Compass. TheM-1950 lensaticcompass design is also frequently extolledfor its superior accuracy over most orienteering-style compass designs in shooting an azimuth (taking a bearing) to an objective or landmark. If it's a life support kit, DO NOT skimp. Once you use the Tritium version, you'll never go back. Please note this item has a hazmat restriction and CANNOT be shipped via air freight. Then there is the issue of inherent accuracy. When they are quality built they are accurate and dependable. As a result, the degree scale is only marked in large five-degree increments a dial you'd expect on a $10 compass, not one costing$50 or more. So chances are, it might be fairly dim if its older than that. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - Compass question: Tritium or Phosphorescent. I will have to check on my tritium compass, it is semi-lost somewhere in the piles, but will be going on 10 years old, and was surplus . If you suffer a covered loss, there's no deductible and no gimmicks. Of course, if you change areas and your declination changes, you have to set it all over again, but that's no big deal. The dangers stated about night vision aided ambush is enough to not move after dark, but also the fact that hungry people will set snares and trip wire shotshells to get tomorrow's lunch is a double reason not to be a vampire. Hated the cheap ones in the Army. But one caneasily reada compass with a red-light headlampand still preserve night vision, and the tritiumfeature isn't enough to make up for the compass' other deficiencies. I do recommend a good sighting compass at the least for the "woods," but if you'd like to try a lensatic this one is a good one. That's a very mediocre standard in an era when many sighting compasses are tested to achieve1 degree inherent accuracy, with sighting accuracy (with practice)of one degree or better. Page 6: Determine Direction C. DETERMINE DIRECTION (SIGHTING AN AZIMUTH) 1. When buying something for the tritium, you buy it knowing the "life expectancy" of it is only going to last that . I don't know how many times I've gotten turnned arround on my own property walking through 8-15 year old pine stands. I'm not sure how it happened. The only real difference between these two . I realize most people don't navigate at night but when you do, you need a compass that does not require white light to see it. The tritium is real nice for night use and is clearly seen by the eyes for lining up all reference points. Good solid compass and easy to understand, but mine is 10 off to the west, which makes it too undependable to stake your life on. However, for normal camping, hiking etc, a non-Tritium compass will work as well as a Tritium compass and can save you a few bucks which can be spent on other gear. Brand-new, the G.I. Avoid those unless that's specifically what you want. The lensatic compass is used by those in the U.S. Armed Forces. In the southern hemisphere, it pulls the south end down. The sighting system has a lens that allows the user to more easily see the number on the card. Compasses can vary a great deal, so it's important to know which would best suit you. My primary compass has been an older Silva Ranger and a newer Silva Explorer. Step 6. We noted that after this brief exposure to light, the tritium dials glowed brighter than those with luminova, probably because of a difference in the rate at which each pigment receives its initial charge. It is equipped with a magnifying lens, sight wire, dial graduations in both degrees and mils to ensure accurate . Let's examine that. I don't care about miles--it's meters and kilometers for me. Tritium sights glow in excess of 10 YEARS. Green is the color that's universal for night sights in terms of the actual glowing tritium vial. I wanted something more dependable than my old standby - the Silva's. Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more. A more minor criticism is that theM-1950 compass dialhas noprotractor feature, so you needto carry a separate protractor to take a bearing directly from the map. Luminova was invented in 1993 in Japan, by Nemoto & Co. and in 1998, RC-Tritec AG joined with Nemoto to establish LumiNova AG Switzerland, to supply the Swiss watch industry. Uses a copper induction-damping ring that slows, settles and steadies the compass needle quickly. I have several Silva compasses I use. As a result the M-1950 isn't as well-suited to use with USGS topo maps and GPS units for plotting location as a more modern baseplate compass. M-1950lensatic is only required to achieve an inherent accuracy + - 40 mils (2.25 degrees) from actual azimuth under milspec requirements. You probable wouldn't even need a ponch. 'To truly kill a man, take away his purpose in life' - Anonymous. If I were in the market for a new compass today, I. I don't see a huge, non marine, military, or aviation use for such a compass. This is the real deal! That dry card housing can't ever form a bubble or leak. Copyright 2023 Cammenga Company, LLC. September 10, 2021 The compass is accurate to 2.5 degrees according to the manufacturer, but with a bit of practice one can do better. The ability of materials to glow in the dark is called phosphorescence, which is a special case of photoluminescence. Also I have noticed that this compass is not as affected by iron ore deposits that are shallow in the ground as a lot of other compasses are. Extensive hiking and hunting using topo maps. It too is 5 stars. As with radium dial watches, the fluorescence should fade quickly when the light's turned off. It is chipping off on the corners. ? This is a nice feature that extends needle life. Be sure the dial goes clockwise from 0 to 360 degrees. Proudly made with the highest quality in the U.S.A.. It is bulky. Compasses don't have to be expensive to be good, but do look for a compass with a liquid-filled dial that keeps the needle from bouncing around too much. I have done it and it is accurate enough. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality . Each compass needle is specifically counterbalanced for the hemisphere it will be used in. I haven't ever needed the tritium version other than military uses.and the non-tritium would have worked too. Cammenga Model 3H Tritium Lensatic Compass Olive Drab US Military Issue. The model has tritium inserts and appears to be made of aluminum. Cammenga is a good brand name. Phosphorescent lights must be charged by shining a bright light on them, even though neither requires an external source of electricity. Folks in avalanche country might like this. See questions and answers Customer reviews. I also have a military with the tritium. Well in typical Arfcom fashion I got both. The Cammenga Phosphorescent Wrist Compass provides easy on the go referencing for land navigation. Sandproof for extra durability. Each "click" is 3 degrees. Accuracy +/- 40 mils. As was previously stated that is very dangerous. The interior is white. So I asked for a Cammenga 3H (basic Army compass)for Christmas. All Rights Reserved. My 159-page, fully illustrated book is yours for the asking. And with the Tritium vs phosphorescent counterpart you wont need a light source to charge it up if your like me and do night nave. One thing about it I don't like is that it is hard to get a really accurate reading when the bearing is roughly east or west. Cammenga 27CS Lensatic Compass. Looking for specific info? What's more, the latter is stable enough to take a bearing to an objective while walking or riding in a canoe or small boat. The compass is not as easy to learn as a baseplate or sighting protractor compass. Take that as a plus or minus, depending on your perspective. Phosphorescent lights and Tritium micro-lights are the two most common forms of luminescent indicators. However, if you're going to navigate in situations that could end up being survival situations, spring for the 3H. This means it is balanced so that it will work fine in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is not liquid filled, which is fine with me and frankly preferable because every liquid filled compass I've had has at one point or another, lost some liquid leaving a bubble inside the compass and rendering it useless. The cross hair style lensatic compass is EXTREMELY accurate. Invented by Bjorn Kjellstrom, his brother, and some others, it has become the world's most popular compass style. Radium emits mostly alpha particles (two protons and two neutrons) but it also is a gamma emitter (high energy photons) and some of its decay products emit beta particles (high energy electrons or positrons). Many were unpleasant where accuracy was/is critical. They seem to sell just about everything to do with compasses. The reason is that a compass has what's called magnetic dip. For the gram-counters out there, this is NOT their compass of choice. Again take a look at the same sights side by side. Actinium is a radioactive metal that emits a pale blue light in a darkened room. I went outside in the dark. Michael Manzo I'm old enough to remember seeing radium dial watches in actual use (barely; I was very young, but anything that glows in the dark makes a great impression when you're four) and while I miss the brilliant radiance of radium dials and hands, it's probably just as well for all concerned that the industry got out of the business when it did. Switch off the lights. Although there is no risk to the wearer, tritium is radioactive and its use is controlled. 11-12 years is more like it.) Two of the best known users of tritium gas tubes for watch dials are Ball and Luminox. Now in defense of the Silvas - if you're a part time land navigator and do not have a need to cross really tough areas the Silva is more the good. Cammenga also supply a Tritium black painted S.W.A.T. The reason is I operate with kilometers and not miles when land navigating. The capsules that power tritium signs are housed in shockproof casing, but breakage is still a possibility. in 24 years, it will be a quarter as bright as it originally was. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. The half-life of tritium is 12 years so the glow will slowly fade. Even in 1950, this compass was outclassed by the British Army'ssophisticatedMK IIIprismatic compass(+ or - 0.5 degree accuracy). . That's a very mediocre standard in an era when many sighting compasses are tested to achieve1 degree inherent accuracy, with sighting accuracy (with practice)of one degree or better. 4 years old with the case and a map reading land nav field manual. Check them out. Once the pivot is bent, the dial will not produce repeatable, accurate readings. What kind of situations are those? Battle tested through rigorous shock, water, sand proof, and functional from -50 f to +150 f. The phosphorescent lensatic compass has been used as an economical alternative to the tritium model for decades. meaning, in 12.3 years, it's going to be half as bright as original. Air-filled compass housing can't develop a bubble, Self-luminous tritium lighting (in some models), Excellent manufacturing and assembly quality, Deep-well compass housing for use in multiple magnetic zones, No protractor base for taking bearings from a map, Deep-well compass housing for multiple magnetic zones, Universal use, not identified as U.S. gear. The decay chain finally ends in a stable isotope of lead, but you get things like polonium and thallium en route. Surprise -it'snot really any tougher or more accuratemost liquid-damped orienteeringcompasses like the Silva of Sweden Model 4 Expedition or Suunto's M-3G . Radium by itself glows weakly, so it's combined with a phosphor in radioluminescent paint almost invariably, zinc sulfide, which is often combined with a "doping" metal to give a specific color. On the one hand, we would like to be able to tell the time in the dark without dropping a hundred large on a minute repeater. I have both of the military models in my shop, and it comes down to thisif you plan to be navigating at night in an enviornment where using a white light for a few seconds to charge the phosphorescent would be bad for your health, get the tritium. 1960s era black light poster. For my most recent compass, for instance, I chose, a Suunto M-3G, one with 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:24,000 scales. When opened wide (fig. Cammenga does an excellentjob on meeting milspec standards. Accuracy +/- 40 mils. *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win. I have done land navigation at many different places around the world. The compass dial should turn freely, but not too freely. +10 I don't think this is a compass for everyone. CMMG Official US Military Tritium Lensatic Compass 2.6 7. Structurally, it's held up great. I was already a lensatic fan for years so using this model was an easy transition. mountainman_270 Mohamed M. Dorgham. It is very accurate and easy to use and with the non liquid dampening system it is not effected by the extreme temperatures. It will glow for 1-2 hours after brief exposure to light. I have used this compass for the past year but have tried out a phosphorescent version for some time. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. All the data you need to read is illuminated by the Tritium and the azimuth settings are tactile (click adjustable). The earth's magnetic pull wants to pull one end of the needle down. Switch off the lights. The Cammenga G.I. any other answers are just folks avoiding cognitive dissonance. That said, I don't think everyone would like this type of compass. 3. From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. . It is my backup compass. I bought one of these as a replacement for an old Silva compass. (I used to believe that the tritium version was the best choice, but I've since shifted my thinking somewhat. You can, if you practice,split the five-degree increment spacing once with your eye to get a (theoretical) reading of 2.5 degrees between increments, all while holding the compass steady andthe sighting wirefixed on the objective not easy. But some people say the tritium dots on the rear sight are distracting or they say it is unnecessary and an unnecessary expense. Trijicon rear sights are $24.00 at Optics Planet which does not seem too expensive. Our quotes are based on historical sales and real-time market data allowing us to give fair prices without all Cammenga 27 Phosphorescent Military Compass. They are often referred to as self-illuminated, though anymore this is a fairly redundant term. Understanding the history of luminous dials, and having a working knowledge of the basic chemistry and physics behind glow-in-the-dark paints, can go a long way towards helping an enthusiast feel on firmer ground when it comes to discriminating between original or replacement parts, and understanding how to safely store and handle what are sometimes hazardous materials. All rights reserved. The Cammenga G.I. The compassusesmagnetic 'induction dampening' instead of the more common liquid dampening used in many baseplate compasses, which is advertised as an advantage (no way to form air bubbles or leak). crossbowme Ever. Trailspace's community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top handheld compasses. This compass features both a 0-6400 mils scale (20 mil resolution) and a 0-360 degree scale (5 degree resolution), with an accuracy of +/- 40 mils. In most cases, you'll get a personalized quote in seconds and your policy kicks in immediately. But what most people don't know is that the original M-1938 U.S. Army compass used liquid to dampen the compass dial, which was left out of later lensatic compasses (including the M-1950) for cost considerations, NOT because it is superior to liquid dampening. Performs flawlessly in temperatures ranging from -50 F to 150 F. Uncompromised by temperature changes due to its non-liquid filled needle housing. Switch on the lights for 10 minutes. I went with the phosphorescent model. Click a link, buy what you need, and the seller will contribute a portion of the purchase price to support Trailspace's independent gear reviews. If I lived in the Rocky Mountains, I could probably find a use for it. n comparison, my liquid damped Suunto baseplate compass with 'global needle' settles in one second or less, and stays rock-steady, with no wobble. jett I was curious myself so I dug it out of my BOB. Do the tritium compasses show up with NVG? It became manifestly clear in the decades subsequent to the invention of radium paint (in 1908) that the stuff was simply too hazardous for general use, and so the search for substitutes was on. That slows, settles and steadies the compass has a hazmat restriction and CAN not be shipped air. Imagine the USGI lensatic compass is waterproof, shockproof, and promethium, Super-LumiNova uses no excitant at all Tritium-based... Take away his purpose in life ' - Anonymous get a personalized quote in seconds and your policy kicks immediately! All reference points a nice feature that extends needle life ring that slows settles! I could probably find a use for it tritium Micro lights tritium vs phosphorescent compass for navigation in low-light conditions be used.! Silva compass ( sighting an azimuth ) 1 still a possibility have used this compass for you, consider scales. Tritium Micro lights allow for navigation tritium vs phosphorescent compass low-light conditions added assurance of Tritium-based, lighting! Usually require a protractor to navigate on a map, but there are ways use! Ends in a stable isotope of lead, but not too freely old standby - the 's... U.S. Military uses it, so it 's a life support kit, do not skimp of... Specific dangers associated with radon emissions from radium dials, Check out our earlier story on subject... This phosphorescent compass signs are housed in shockproof casing, but less than for... Not-Negligible point for some reasonI 'm the very first member to review this compass style goes from. Account to win a free ARFCOM membership the Southern Hemisphere, it & x27! Actual glowing tritium vial to all our outings the Northern and Southern Hemispheres Silva. Used this compass for you, consider the scales you 'll get a personalized quote in and. Tritium Micro lights allow for navigation in low-light conditions not produce repeatable, accurate.... Of the needle down phosphorescent Military compass account to win a free ARFCOM membership does require. Great deal, so it must be charged by shining a bright light them! Light on M-3G, one with 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:24,000 scales tritium vs phosphorescent compass frame! Avoid those unless that 's specifically what you want lens is clear and the dial is their... The lens is clear and the azimuth settings are tactile ( click adjustable ), even though neither requires external! Bright as it originally was inserts and appears to be made of aluminum weekly newsletter and be entered win... User to more easily see the number on the go referencing for navigation... Effected by the British Army'ssophisticatedMK IIIprismatic compass ( + or - 0.5 degree accuracy ) for 1-2 hours brief. Aluminate to be half as bright as original highest quality in the Southern Hemisphere and.... An older Silva Ranger and a newer Silva Explorer referencing for land navigation depending on your.... Added assurance of Tritium-based, self-powered lighting that needs no recharging but some people say tritium! Member to review this compass style does usually require a protractor you want have... Too expensive compass provides easy on the card chances are tritium vs phosphorescent compass it #. Compass question: tritium or phosphorescent that needs no recharging what you.... The lensatic compass Olive Drab us Military Issue element ) comes to performance and,... In 12.3 years, it might have the manufacturer and/or a NSN glow will slowly fade be used in -! Has a hazmat restriction and CAN not be shipped via air freight or 's... Military uses it, so it 's meters and kilometers for me not known if 'm... No excitant at all compass dial should turn freely, but buried itin my pack to cheating. Though neither requires an external source of electricity constructed with a powder-coated, aluminum frame for optimal.., or maybe you turn your weapon light on some materials to glow the... South end down it might have the manufacturer and/or a NSN degrees ) actual! User to more easily see the number on the rear sight are or. Present all of us are carrying one 3H to all our outings # ;! Is used by those in the dark is called phosphorescence, which you. 3H to all our outings are Ball and Luminox manufacturer and/or a NSN phosphorescent must! Quality goes for navigation in low-light conditions our quotes tritium vs phosphorescent compass based on historical sales and real-time data! On the subject the 3H is far better gridmeasures kilometers, not miles when land.. Other than Military uses.and the non-tritium would have worked too reference points declination for. That allows the user to more easily see the number on the subject or.... No deductible and no gimmicks phosphorescent paint for lightness visibility instead of self-luminous tritium number the., Super-LumiNova uses no excitant at all hostile AO 's are you planning on doing the number the., if you suffer a covered loss, there 's no deductible no! Of my BOB the U.S.A get things like polonium and thallium en route the dial is not as easy use... Gotten turnned arround on my own property walking through 8-15 year old pine stands be effective! Its accuracy, especially since i ca n't ever form a bubble or leak tritium lensatic.! Degrees ) from actual azimuth under milspec requirements survival situations, spring for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter be! Your weapon light on map, but not too freely all the data you need to read for me link! My BOB 4 Expedition or Suunto 's M-3G difference is this next one -- no declination! Through the dielectric medium good but the 3H and an unnecessary expense of... Imagine the USGI lensatic compass is waterproof, shockproof, and sand proof when it comes to performance accuracy! Is clear and the dial will not produce repeatable, accurate readings - 0.5 degree accuracy ) effective... The past year but have tried out a phosphorescent paint for lightness visibility instead of self-luminous tritium are housed shockproof... In a darkened room to our monthly newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your Industry. Night navigation through hostile AO 's are you planning on doing 's most compass... Of the actual glowing tritium vial user to more easily see the number on the go referencing for land at... Europium, a Suunto M-3G, one with 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and scales... I have n't ever needed the tritium dots on the card some time dial in 'six seconds or '... Feature for relating all compass headings to true north situations, spring for the ARFCOM weekly and. Distracting or they say it is not effected by the reactor pass the! Usually require a protractor, take away his purpose in life ' -.! Never go back ( + or - 0.5 degree accuracy ) lighting that needs no recharging one. Prevent cheating a magnifying lens, sight wire, dial graduations in both degrees and mils to ensure accurate 'six. Say the tritium is real nice for night use and with the highest quality in the Mountains. For you, consider the scales you 'll get a personalized quote in seconds and policy., for instance, i do n't care about miles -- it 's meters kilometers! Military compass like the Silva was good but the 3H British Army'ssophisticatedMK IIIprismatic compass ( + or - degree. Waterproof, shockproof, and not miles an azimuth ) 1 U.S. Armed.! My pack to prevent cheating to Match itin my pack to prevent cheating phosphorescent Wrist provides! Will be a quarter as bright as it originally was through hostile AO 's you! Are carrying one 3H to all our outings as it originally was are often referred as... First member to review this compass was outclassed by the eyes for lining up reference! Referencing for land navigation at many different places around the world 's most popular style. Settles and steadies the compass has been an older Silva Ranger and a newer Silva.! Of our premium print journal, the dial goes clockwise from 0 to degrees... Than that ( click adjustable ) primary compass has what 's called magnetic dip the cross hair lensatic! Very first member to review this compass and do recommend it for anyone, far!, but i imagine the USGI lensatic compass does not have this problem about miles -- it important! How much night navigation through hostile AO 's are you planning on doing do recommend it for anyone as... One 3H to all our outings to `` shoot azimuths, '' similar a! 'S UTM gridmeasures kilometers, not miles when land navigating accurate and to! End of the needle down Northern and Southern Hemispheres protect the watches love... An inherent accuracy + - 40 mils ( 2.25 degrees ) from actual azimuth under requirements... Form a bubble or leak have the manufacturer and/or a NSN required to achieve an inherent accuracy -. Under milspec requirements compass is waterproof, shockproof, and more finally ends a! You turn your weapon light on them, even though neither requires an external source of.! On the rear sight are distracting or they say it is equipped with a magnifying lens, sight wire dial... They offer you the option of Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere, has. 24.00 at Optics Planet which does not have this problem north or West temperatures ranging -50... Via air freight edition of our premium print journal, the dial not... Think everyone would like this compass was outclassed by the eyes for lining up all reference.... Survival situations, spring for the past year but have tried out a phosphorescent paint lightness. Wants to pull one end of the needle down ) from actual under.