Your favorite compass?

Sesoku

Sesoku

Joined
Oct 19, 1998
Messages
498
Hi,
I was wondering which compass you prefer and why, how durable is it? It seems like most of the compasses I have owned end up with the faces cracked.
 
I still use a Silva Ranger from the 60's. Other than an air bubble it's still holding out - which is good because I looked for a place to send for service to rid it of the air bubble to no avail..

Jimbo
 
I have a Silva compass with no cover and have not had any trouble cracking its face. I either carry it in my pack or put in a compass pouch on a shoulder strap. Never broke it and I've had it for 3 or 4 years on many trips.
If you are concerned about breaking your compass, buy a Cammenga GI infantry or Brunton M2 Officers and Artillery compass. You can buy either from Brigade Quartermasters. They both have a hard aluminum cover that I couldn't break even after going through many courses in USMC.
-CAman
 
I carry a Suunto Clipper on my watches constantly and have had no problems with them. My other compasses are a Silva and a Military Lensatic model. I also have an old reproduction brass compass I use. None of them have ever suffered any damage with a little care, I often wrap them in a soft cloth when I carry them.

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Lee

LIfe is too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde
 
I carry a Suunto MC-1 mirror compass that has a gear operated declination adjustment and a clinometer. I've been very happy with it. How do the different brands stack up/rate against each other?

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
I use a cheap silva compass... don't need the whistles and bells...

A lot of students show up with the silva ranger... a good compass that lets them compensate for the magnetic variation. However, I don't let them use that function until they understand the process.

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Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
I like my Silva Type 27, but would like a larger one for serious map work. I have used a GI Tritium compass a couple of times, they are AWESOME!
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I wish I could afford one! I do have a cheap knockoff of it, but it is a BACKUP compass. I tend to have two, three or four on me in different places if I am in a new area! I hate even thinking about being lost.
smile.gif




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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com

You use what you have on you, then you improvise! :)
 
I have an old Brunton that I've had for I don't know how long now. It's the one with the cool, funky bright yellow base.
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It has the declination compensation, but I've generally only used it for verifying my "dead reckoning", so as Greg mentioned, I'm not as familiar with its use as I probably should be.

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Don LeHue

The pen is mightier than the sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.
 
SESOKU: Try one and you'll SEE!
smile.gif
Seriously though, it glows in pitch blackness without needing a "recharge" as the tritium is slightly radioactive, it takes about 40 years to wear out, I believe!
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Also, it can be AIMED very precisely for accurate measurement. Also, it works very well for map work. Finally, it has a METAL frame/case. It is very rugged accordingly!

I hope this helps!



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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com

You use what you have on you, then you improvise! :)
 
Originally posted by Jimbo:
I still use a Silva Ranger from the 60's. Other than an air bubble it's still holding out - which is good because I looked for a place to send for service to rid it of the air bubble to no avail..
Click to expand...

I had a silva pedometer that needed servicing and sent it to Mark Dorricott canada@brunton.com at the following address:
Brunton Canada
6-637 The Queensway,
Peterborough, Ont.
K9J 7J6

Brunton apparently has bought out Silva.



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Kevin Miller
My Personal Interests Page
kevinandtrish@sympatico.ca
Look to the Lord and His strength, seek His face always.
 
Thanks Kevin!

I got your email too pointing out your addition to this thread - thanks!
I sure intend to get my compass serviced - sentimental value since I did my field mapping with it back in university days. I can't wait to hear what they say about a 30+ year old compass...

Jimbo
 
Interesting bit of history with the name Silva, FYI Brunton got bought by Silva (now Nexus) to market their product in America, after Johnson Camping took the trademarked in America name "Silva of Sweden" and started puttin it on other compasses, but there is an easy way to tell them apart, the pivot. An old silva, now nexus looks like slo-mo when bumped, all others jiggle more, kinda hard to describe, but easy to show, also sive now nexus pivots are hidden, others usually show a brass color.

I have two Nexus basic models, an old Silva Ranger, Old Silva Landmark, and a GI Lensatic. And a Suunto see through

But I carry the basic models, all I need to know is N anyway, and if I am really surviving, just follow the land, water or albedo.

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Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Resolution By Division(c) Innovative Cutlery Solutions
http://www.geocities.com/mdpoff/rbd.html

Allen Blade Custom Knives
http://www.geocities.com/mdpoff/allenblade.html

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
I had a Silva Polaris 7 for the longest time untill I lost it. Great compass: cheap, light, simple. Now I have a Silva Starter, its pretty close to the Polaris except the degrees are measured by 5 instead of 2. It's also a little smaller, but it is 100% functional and cheap as well.

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An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.
 
I recently sent my 30 year old Silva Ranger Type 15 compass to the Brunton Company in Riverton, Wyoming for repair of the large bubble developed over many years of use(even though the compass still worked fine it was very annoying). Not only did Brunton send me a replacement Ranger Type 15 at no charge but when I asked them if I could have the old one back for sentimental reasons they returned it right away. The entire deal cost me absolutely nothing but the postage to mail the compass in. This is what I would call outstanding customer service from a fine company. As long as they continue to make excellent products, with service like that they have earned my loyalty.

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Alex Penton
 
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