Show me, your favorite go to compass.

I hate to say this but think twice before you purchase a compass based what someone here on this froum has been using. Not that their advise is bad but it may be out of date.
It is a sad fact that in the current world ecconomy that many of the companies that we have used and trusted over the years are now just names purchesed by holding companies and slapped on cheap coppies of what were once good products. Sliva being one of them.
I have been using the Silva Rangers which used to be made in Finnland and they are good.
Unfortunately the new Silvas are made in China and you couldn't pay me to take one. If you don't believe me check some of the on line reviews.
Brunton is now making what is basically the same compass as the old Silva Ranger and I believe they are still made in Finnland.
I have also heard good things about Suunto also.
What I am trying to say is that you really need to do a little more research to find out where a particullar model is currently made before you buy.
I went to my local REI and checked out the compasses and all of the Silvas were made in China or Indoneasa.
And when shopping on line most companies will say imported but not give a specific country of origin.
If you can't get a hands on look at the one you think you want contact the company and ask.
 
bentblade said:
I hate to say this but think twice before you purchase a compass based what someone here on this froum has been using. Not that their advise is bad but it may be out of date.
It is a sad fact that in the current world ecconomy that many of the companies that we have used and trusted over the years are now just names purchesed by holding companies and slapped on cheap coppies of what were once good products. Sliva being one of them.
I have been using the Silva Rangers which used to be made in Finnland and they are good.
Unfortunately the new Silvas are made in China and you couldn't pay me to take one. If you don't believe me check some of the on line reviews.
Brunton is now making what is basically the same compass as the old Silva Ranger and I believe they are still made in Finnland.
I have also heard good things about Suunto also.
What I am trying to say is that you really need to do a little more research to find out where a particullar model is currently made before you buy.
I went to my local REI and checked out the compasses and all of the Silvas were made in China or Indoneasa.
And when shopping on line most companies will say imported but not give a specific country of origin.
If you can't get a hands on look at the one you think you want contact the company and ask.
Click to expand...


And then there's the misinformation....like that Silva is a Finnish company when in reality it's Swedish: www.silva.se ;) (...just kidding with you, swedish finnish who cares)
 
Well it seems Im going to eat crow. Low and behold, apparently Fiskars has bought Silva at some point. :eek:
 
http://www.silva.se/en/Products/Compasses/

"Silva is the leading manufacturer of compasses worldwide, starting in 1933 with the invention of the first liquid filled compass. The head office is situated north of Stockholm in Sweden. Leading export markets include the European Union and the USA.

Outdoor and Wellness are the main business areas with products such as compasses, pedometers, headlamps, outdoor instruments, binoculars, professional instruments and orienteering equipment.

Silva’s outdoor division is a part of the Finnish based, Fiskars Corporation. Companies in the Silva group include the parent company Silva Sweden AB and its subsidiaries Silva Ltd in UK, Silva Deutschland, Silva France and Silva Far East in Hong Kong. Silva also has representation by its distributors in approximately 100 different countries.

Fiskars Corporation, founded in 1649, is a Finnish corporation traded on the Helsinki Stock Exchange and is one of the oldest companies in the world. It operates in consumer product businesses through four segments including Craft, Garden, Outdoor Recreation and Housewares, the main markets being Europe and USA. Silva is operating under Outdoor Recreation division complementing Gerber Legendary Blades which has a strong position in the US camping and outdoor recreation market. More about Fiskars Corporation "
 
Silva (USA) is owned by Johnson Outdoors Gear LLC. They acquired the name in the US and maybe Canada when the real Silva of Sweden didn't apply for the name in these parts. So, a Silva in North America is not a real Silva of Sweden compass.

Brunton used to distribute them under the Nexus name, now they are just given individual model names like; 26D's (Field 26), 16DLU (Ranger 16) and 15TDCL (Expedition 15) and 54LU (Expedition 54). Basically, the more traditional looking Brunton compasses are really Silvas from Sweden.

http://www.brunton.com/catalog2.php?cat=400
http://www.silva.se/en/Products/Compasses/
 
And then there's the misinformation....like that Silva is a Finnish company when in reality it's Swedish: www.silva.se (...just kidding with you, swedish finnish who cares)

DOOOOH!
That is the second time I have done that. I would have bet money that my Ranger says finnland.
 
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There are a couple of compasses that I swear by. Which one I use mostly depends one the scales of the maps I'm using.

One is an old Swedish Silva Ranger Type15 bearing compass. I have some odd Adirondack maps that need the 1:25000 scale.

But I do have a very good Finnish Suunto MC2D that I like very much. This is the more standard azimuth compass with the 1:24000 scale. I really like the sighting hole, magnifier and the GID ring. Great compass.

I have a few others, including a Finnish Silva 515, Finnish Silva Explorer, and a Brunton Eclipse. The Eclipse is very innovative and tough, but I've just never gotten along with it. It uses some interesting concepts, but the whole thing just seems kind of clumsy and awkward to me. Bulky too.
 
bentblade said:
And then there's the misinformation....like that Silva is a Finnish company when in reality it's Swedish: www.silva.se (...just kidding with you, swedish finnish who cares)

DOOOOH!
That is the second time I have done that. I would have bet money that my Ranger says finnland.
Click to expand...

Well considering it's swedish-finnish and what else you might remember it just right... :p
 
Ive got a Silva Ranger 3 baseplate compass which has served me well. Got no complaints about it.

It has a built-in magnifying glass, great for looking at the small print and searching for splinters in your finger. Map measuring scales in 1:50k and 1:25k, and as you can see on the pic the plastic on the bottom of compass is raised so it can slide easily around the map, thats a nice detail. Rubberized compass housing which is grippy when wearing gloves. I recommend it.

4240066865_3cd8625191_b.jpg
 
LUW said:
Guys, I would like to buy a Suunto MC-2G with global needle. Can anyone recommend an online store that ships overseas?
Click to expand...


MEC

this is where I usually buy my Suuntos for the office... they are reliable and ship overseas, but it will cost you!
 
Buy it now $40. Brand new. 2 available.

You are not going to beat that price.

Best of luck. They are a great compass.

Carl-
 
I bought the same compass off the bay when I took my wilderness survival course with Oregon Firearms Academy last year on their suggestion.

Very nice, you will not regret it.

Best of luck.

Carl-
 
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