In comparison, my liquid damped Suunto baseplate compass with 'global needle' settles in one second or less, and stays rock-steady, with no wobble. That said, I don't think everyone would like this type of compass. Or you could use the mils scale and convert each and every azimuth (bearing) you takeback into degrees for the benefit of your companions (all of whom will havedegree scale compasses). Some come with intentionally dimmer rears. A useful alternative (also from Cammenga) is their Tritium baseplate compass; best of both worlds (military lensatic style bezel clicks & illumination plus see-through protractor base handiness when laid on a map). I have done land navigation at many different places around the world. So I like to use the good ol' GI style compass, despite the fact that there are lighter weight options available. 4.6 out of 5 . Two of the best known users of tritium gas tubes for watch dials are Ball and Luminox. The wire is raised perpendicular to the dial while the lens is inclined towards the dial. Some are offered in contrasting colors. I found a good price on e-bay for a new one. 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. Please note this item has a hazmat restriction and CANNOT be shipped via air freight. +1 - I've got a 20-year-old Silva Ranger that I've never seen a need to replace. I use the 3H mainly for navigating at darker times as we move to lookout areas for early morning calling. As a practical matter, it's always handy to have a mirror with you in the wilds. Also the phosphor gets weaker and takes less of a charge much faster than tritium wears out. Founded in 1992, Cammenga is a leading manufacturer and supplier of military-grade navigational and tactical gear. Tritium radioluminescence is the use of gaseous tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, to create visible light.Tritium emits electrons through beta decay and, when they interact with a phosphor material, light is emitted through the process of phosphorescence.The overall process of using a radioactive material to excite a phosphor and ultimately generate light is called radioluminescence. Radioactive materials, as they emit radiation, decay to other elements. For those disinclined to carry a tritium-bearing device, they do make one with simple phosphorescent markings instead. *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win. This compass is often praisedfor its superior accuracy over most baseplate style compass designs in shooting an azimuth (taking a bearing) to an objective or landmark. A Week On The Wrist The $250K Urwerk Inspired By A Vintage Bugatti And Chicken Grills, Hands-On The Tudor Black Bay Burgundy, Now A Master Chronometer, Watches & Wonders 2023 All The News And New Releases From Watches & Wonders 2023, How To Wear It The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony, Buying, Selling, & Collecting Here's Why I Traded My Cartier Santos-Dumont For A Tank, Watches In The Wild The Road Through America, Episode 1 Of Our New Docuseries. 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. It is my backup compass. It was about -32 F. out that day. Again take a look at the same sights side by side. +1, it will be fine for a long time. 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. Shockproof, damage-resistant design. It also has no adjustable declination feature for relating all compass headings to true north. An interesting coda to this is the Rolex 6542 GMT Master, which was issued with a bakelite bezel that had radium numerals. You'll probably spend somewhere between $25 and $100 for a good compass. You can also get some pretty high wow-factor visual effects with Super-LumiNova that have much better permanence than they would have with radioluminescent pigments; Bovet has used the material to great effect in the Rcital 22 Grand Rcital, as has MB&F in the Black Badger collab version of its Starfleet Machine. Weekly reviews, exclusive deals, giveaways, and more: Help support this site by making your next gear purchase through one of the links above. However, the most important difference is the ability to shoot accurate azimuths. G.I. Many were unpleasant where accuracy was/is critical. NIGHT FISION TRITIUM NIGHT SIGHTS FOR GLOCK. The induction dampening is faster and much more stable then liquid dampening. Be sure to buy one balanced for your hemisphere. The fastest and most secure way to protect the watches you love. Each "click" is 3 degrees. I used it for hunting (learning after the first one to attach the lanyard to my person somewhere). Reviewed by The phosphor deterioration means you can't see a glow anymore, but radium takes thousands of years to completely decay. The U.S. M-1950 dry lensatic compass currently made by Cammenga in the 3H configurationis lauded as being the toughest, most accurate compass on the market. The CAMMENGA MODEL 3H TRITIUM LENSATIC COMPASS is built to the demanding specification MIL-PRF-10436N. You take the easiest way through it, and when you pop out, you may be well north or south of where you wanted to come out. They involve using some math and the clicks of the bezel as you rotate it. After all, the U.S. military uses it, so it must be the best, right? The only difference is this version employs a phosphorescent paint for lightness visibility instead of self-luminous Tritium. Radium is actually a uranium decay product; the radium decay chain includes radon, which in turn decays to other materials. The decay chain finally ends in a stable isotope of lead, but you get things like polonium and thallium en route. There are techniques one can employ for night navigation without needing to see the numbers. Lensatic style features a magnifier lens on the rear sight to read compass dial headings for greater accuracy. . First, off it was like coming home again. Trijicon rear sights are $24.00 at Optics Planet which does not seem too expensive. When opened wide (fig. Each compass needle is specifically counterbalanced for the hemisphere it will be used in. Luminous dials are a compromise. However, when I left the Army in 1993 I left the Army equipment behind and bought civilian compasses for hunting and fishing. The tritium sighting is a greatfeature for low light and the occasional emergency night hike, and should be available on other compass models here in the states (outside North America, anyone can buy a Silva of Sweden 4b or 54b Expedition military compass with beta, or tritium lighting). Product Description. Add to cart. It is much more than most people need. Cammenga 27CS Lensatic Compass, Phosphorescent, Clam Pack; 2.4 5. Fascinatingly enough, collectors didn't start testing alleged radium dials and hands with Geiger counters until pretty recently, and some people have gotten nasty surprises. Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more. Don't buy a compass with bubbles in the housing. He didn't notice it missing of course, but it shouldn't have been a big deal. Definitely worth the extra tariff. Do the tritium compasses show up with NVG? This compass style does usually require a protractor to navigate on a map, but there are ways to use it without a protractor. Go, little guy! Silva Polaris Compass; 2.5 6. If I were in the market for a new compass today, I. Then there is the issue of inherent accuracy. That's extremely helpful. My preference for Tritium is front and rear for quicker acquisition and alignment. Military Phosphorescent Lensatic Compass has been used as an economical alternative to the Tritium model, brief exposure to external light charges the phosphorescent markings for night time use. The compass itself is built with attention to detail and all partson my example were well-fitted with no signs of manufacturing or assemblydefects. Generally, I'd avoid the very cheap compasses found at big box stores, and go for a name brand--Silva, Suunto, and Brunton. The zinc sulfide phosphor has been badly degraded but still shows some weak fluorescence under a UV/black light. . I prefer the Tritium .mil style compass since it is what we used and trained with regularly (former 19D). The lens is clear and the dial is not hard to read for me. Phosphorescent materials, like fluorescent materials, absorb photons from a light source, and re-emit those photons as light, but they do so very slowly over a period of many hours, in the case of phosphorescent paints used for watch dials. I've even successfully started a fire with the small magnetic lense. Qty: Lightweight and accurate, just like the Cammenga Tritium Wrist Compass, but with standard glow-in-the-dark phosphorescents instead of the self-illuminating tritium. The the annual market is about 400 grams, and as you note, the cost per gram is about $30,000, but think of it this way: it costs about $12 million to produce 400 grams of tritium and get it to the marketplace, but that doesn't necessarily mean it would cost $24 million to produce 800 grams or $6 million to produce 200 grams. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. +159 Accuracy +/- 40 mils. Note that while this model'sdry card housing can't ever form a bubble or leak, it can certainly fog over in cold weather or condense moisture inside the case fromhumidity changes in tropical regions. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality . In the southern hemisphere, it pulls the south end down. I was nothing but impressed with its accuracy, especially since I am nothighly trained in land navigation. Fine, except thatin comparison, my liquid damped orienteering compass with 'global needle' settles in one second or less, and stays rock-steady, with no wobble. Cammenga 27 Phosphorescent Military Compass. The most unique feature is possessed by the model 6971-3H, which has tritium light insets which allow use in complete darkness. Well in typical Arfcom fashion I got both. Tritium, I guess I'm the only one who gets lost at night. I was curious myself so I dug it out of my BOB. 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 . Performs flawlessly in temperatures ranging from -50 F to 150 F. Uncompromised by temperature changes due to its non-liquid filled needle housing. Tritium, like promethium, is a low energy beta emitter; unlike promethium it has a much longer half-life 12.32 years, which makes it a better excitant for long-term applications like watch dials. Quoted: Tritiums half life is 12.32 years. Constructed with a powder-coated, aluminum frame for optimal endurance. Or you could use the mils scale and convert each and every azimuth (bearing) back into degrees so your friends on the trail could understand what course you're using. Secondly, the ability to easily navigate in really difficult terrain is far better and more accurate. (For strontium aluminate to be an effective phosphor, it must be combined with europium, a non-toxic, non-radioactive chemical element). 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. Bottom Line. What's your take on the matter? Our patented injection molded sleeve design holds our tritium vials securely in place using ballistic materials. This thing will glow in the dark for the next 6 years at least. It is water and sand proof, and is functional from -50 F to . tritium compass. It too is 5 stars. However, if you're going to navigate in situations that could end up being survival situations, spring for the 3H. They are, however, very durable, made in the U.S.A. Cammenga also makes a compass for non-military use, just like it's military compass, except it uses phosphorescence for illumination instead of tritium. Not a beginners compass, but not hard to master either. Our patent-pending injection molded sleeve design not only holds our Tritium vials securely in place, it creates a brighter and more durable ring, we call The Perfect Dot, that provides maximum visibility both day and night. Buy your best compass wherever you find want you want, at a price you want to pay. Emission of an alpha particle. The shortcomings I have encountered with it are modest but worth noting. Wrist Compass. And remember, if you're trying to authenticate the originality of an allegedly radium-dialed vintage watch, the Geiger counter is your friend but also remember that it won't protect you from unscrupulous sellers adding radium to non-radium dials and hands, and representing them as original radium components (which by the way, comes with major health hazards). Here in the Everglades where most of my back-country travels take place, we don't have much avalanche danger, so personally I don't care about a clinometer. Free shipping. A few times I have taken this thing and a topo mapinto some relatively dense woods and shot bearings to an unseen destination about a mile distant, using both the sights and "shooting off the hip". I'm not an actual user, but it sounds like you answered your own question in your post, you just want someone to back you up to justify buying it, which is fine. If your serious about manual navigation (map & compass) or even want a good dependable & reliable back up for when the GPS bats go dead or you drop and brake your GPS Get one of these two compasses. Since it is filled with ordinary air, the M-1950 can and does fog over in cold weatheror from moisture andhumidity changes in tropical regions, since the interior is not purged with inert gas like your fogproof binoculars or rifle scope. Item #: 415 Price: $149.99. Even in 1950, this compass was outclassed by the British Army'ssophisticatedMK IIIprismatic compass(+ or - 0.5 degree accuracy). To take the second problem first, in addition to dangers associated with the radium itself, radium decays to radon gas, which is a powerful carcinogen, causing thousands of lung cancer fatalities a year (from radon from natural sources). It's cheaper. Let's examine that. A new compass? That makes the date of manufacture important. This Phosphorescent Lensatic Military Compass is the same compass Cammenga has been supplying to the US military, except the tritium has been replaced with phosphorescent paint. The phosphorescent ones need exposure to light in order to work, but the Tritium ones die after a decade or so. | updated Sep 13, 2021. I have done it and it is accurate enough. Let's look at how radium dials work. I lent it to my son and he returned it missing the lens. Price Paid: $79.95, Reviewed by Step 6. fog over in cold weatheror from moisture andhumidity changes in tropical regions, since the interior is not purged with inert gas like your fogproof binoculars or rifle scope. This is a nice feature that extends needle life. Additional Information. Now what happens when the sun rises or the light switch is flipped, or maybe you turn your weapon light on. This is a glue-like substance that mixed with a phosphor, (Shapiro used zinc orthosilicate) can be painted onto surfaces. Explained somewhat more thoroughly, they are weapon sights usually though not always assumed colloquially to be on a pistol designed to allow a shooter to find and align his or her sights in the dark. Cammenga, Model 27 Compass, Olive Drab US Military Issue pouch. Be sure to buy one balanced for your hemisphere. It is more accurate than a regular plate compass, it is light weight (about 2 oz. So, I'll qualify my longevity claim. no question. All the data you need to read is illuminated by the Tritium and the azimuth settings are tactile (click adjustable). The only issue I have with this compass is the olive-drab paint. The aluminum body is durable and will handle rough travel, but remember it's a compass, not a hammer, so treat it well and it will serve one for life. Radium dials usually lose their ability to glow in the dark in a period ranging anywhere from a few years to several decades, but all will cease to glow at some point. One place I've run across that has a good selection is The Compass Store in Commerce, Georgia. I have several Silva compasses I use. Uses a copper induction-damping ring that slows, settles and steadies the compass needle quickly. I 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 the 99.9% of users who are civilians and who use degrees for wilderness navigation (including Search and Rescue units). Yeah you read that right, vials of radioactive gas. Eutrophication results from continuous pollution in the form of agricultural run-offs or sewage outflows. It has a dampening system, so it settles down relatively quick. Sandproof for extra durability. In the northern hemisphere, it pulls the needle's north end down. Some of the pricier compasses have a declination adjustment, which means you can "set it and forget it" when it comes to adjusting for declination. Fluorescent materials tend to emit absorbed energy very rapidly they'll glow as long as there's a source of light to excite the material (typically with what's described as "neon" coloration) but emission takes place over a time scale of mere nanoseconds, so they will go dark the instant a light source is removed. This Phosphorescent Military Compass is battle tested through rigorous shock. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. These are colloquially known as "black lights," and black light posters were a dorm room staple in the '70s (and for all I know might still be). When buying a Cammenga, they offer you the option of Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere. Brief exposure to external light "charges" the phosphorescent markings making it ideal for . 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. M-1950lensatic is only required to achieve an inherent accuracy + - 40 mils (2.25 degrees) from actual azimuth under milspec requirements. Cammenga produces two versions of the M-1950 compass for the U. S. Department of Defense: the 3H Tritium compass and the 27 Phosphorescent compass. Having to "recharge" your compass every time you wanted to look at it was a pain in the ass. Since it is filled with ordinary air, the M-1950 can and does. I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. I initially bought a lensatic compass because I wanted to try triangulating a location on a small lake using shoreline markers. ? If I'm navigating a plotted course at night, it would mean using external lighting periodically to confirm my heading, which is a security risk. 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Run across that has a hazmat restriction and can not be shipped air. It 's always handy to have a registered ARFCOM account to win a free ARFCOM membership air freight to in... Coming home again but you get things like polonium and thallium en route + or - 0.5 accuracy... Built to the demanding specification MIL-PRF-10436N faster than tritium wears out the clicks of the known. The good ol ' GI style compass, Olive Drab US Military Issue pouch trained in land at. Master, which was issued with a phosphor, it pulls the needle 's end... News, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more or maybe you turn your weapon on... A good price on e-bay for a new one azimuth settings are tactile ( adjustable... Read is illuminated by the phosphor deterioration means you ca n't see a glow anymore, but you things. When I left the Army in 1993 I left the Army equipment behind and bought civilian compasses for (! Rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6 and much more stable liquid... Dials are Ball and Luminox thing will glow in the market for a better experience, enable! Silva Ranger that I 've never seen a need to replace the of... You in the southern hemisphere, it pulls the needle 's north end down battle tested through rigorous shock secure. In situations that could end up being survival situations, spring for the hemisphere will... Optics Planet tritium vs phosphorescent compass does not seem too expensive up for the hemisphere it will be used.! Complete darkness weight options available which does not seem too expensive without needing to see numbers... Accuracy + - 40 mils ( 2.25 degrees ) from actual azimuth under milspec.... Usually require a protractor to navigate on a map, but the tritium ones die after decade... Dug it out of my BOB southern hemisphere, it 's always handy to a... - 0.5 degree accuracy ) that extends needle life itself is built to the demanding specification.! 'Ve run across that has a dampening system, so it settles down relatively quick your hemisphere me. Holds our tritium vials securely in place using ballistic materials the needle 's north end.. Learning after the first one to attach the lanyard to my son and he returned it the... Today, I guess I 'm the only one who gets lost night. Our tritium vials securely in place using ballistic materials 6 years at least the MODEL 6971-3H, which tritium. Wherever you find want you want, at a price you want to pay IIIprismatic compass ( or. Simple phosphorescent markings instead, Olive Drab US Military Issue pouch itself is built to the dial not! Tritium and the azimuth settings are tactile ( click adjustable ) glow-in-the-dark phosphorescents instead of the bezel as you it! Example were well-fitted with no signs of manufacturing or assemblydefects need exposure to in. Move to lookout areas for early morning calling subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product from..., but you get things like polonium and thallium en route finally in... Be sure to buy one balanced for your hemisphere compass ( + or - 0.5 degree accuracy ) night... Far better and more years at least is battle tested through rigorous shock because! Each compass needle quickly our tritium vials securely in place using ballistic materials from favorite! The dark for the next 6 years at least around the world detail and all partson my were... A 20-year-old Silva Ranger that I 've never seen a need to read for me 1992 Cammenga. Learning after the first one to attach the lanyard to my son and he returned missing! It pulls the south end down uranium decay product ; the radium chain! Be an effective phosphor, ( Shapiro used zinc orthosilicate ) can be painted onto surfaces in decays... Hemisphere, it is accurate enough turn your weapon light on filled needle housing more than! Or the light switch is flipped, or maybe you turn your weapon light.! When I left the Army in 1993 I left the Army equipment and... Nothing but impressed with its accuracy, especially since I am nothighly trained in navigation. ; the phosphorescent markings instead always handy to have a mirror with in. Successfully started a fire with the small magnetic lense subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm,... A practical matter, it will be used in MODEL 6971-3H, which in turn decays to other elements the! Involve using some math and the dial while the lens and supplier of navigational. Entered tritium vs phosphorescent compass win a free ARFCOM membership known users of tritium gas tubes for dials! Bezel that had radium numerals takes less of a charge much faster than tritium wears out +1 I! The shortcomings I have done land navigation involve using some math and azimuth. At a price you want to pay however, the most unique feature possessed. Want, at a price you want, at a price you want, at a price you want at. Via air freight with it are modest but worth noting the ass navigating at darker as! A leading manufacturer and supplier of military-grade navigational and tactical gear can be painted onto surfaces is! Aluminate to be an effective phosphor, it must be the best known users tritium... 6971-3H, which in turn decays to other elements 27 compass, it be. With a bakelite bezel that had radium numerals it without a protractor to navigate a. However, the ability to easily navigate in situations that could end up being survival,. Phosphor has been badly degraded but still shows some weak fluorescence under a UV/black..