Calibrated brass sextant

[twjj91]

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum but I thought it might be up you guys' street.

I'm looking to get hold of an old-looking sextant - something that wouldn't look totally out of place in the 18th or 19th century. It doesn't have to be 100% authentic but a good amount of visible brass would be nice.

Importantly it does need to be fully functional and calibrated as it will be used for navigation at sea!

Does anyone know of anywhere (ideally in the UK although I would be willing to look elsewhere) where I might be able to get hold of such an item at a fairly reasonable price?

Appreciate the help!

Tim

 

[Topcat47]

You might try Robinson's, the compass adjuster at Hamble. I got my Sextant there and he had a couple of Quadrants at the time. He deals with genuine old "nauticalia" unlike the shop of that name.

 

[PaulJ]

Just put "sextant" into ebay....... I just got 851 of them. I am sure you will find something there.....

Paul

 

[ffiill]

Basically most sextants are brass or certainly the quadrant is.
Tamaya and its offshoots Simex and Mac are all real traditional sextants. Simex and Mac were Europeanised offshoots of the Japanese Tamaya manufactured post war when things Japanese were unpopular.

 

[Lyndsey Doyle]

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum but I thought it might be up you guys' street.

I'm looking to get hold of an old-looking sextant - something that wouldn't look totally out of place in the 18th or 19th century. It doesn't have to be 100% authentic but a good amount of visible brass would be nice.

Importantly it does need to be fully functional and calibrated as it will be used for navigation at sea!

Does anyone know of anywhere (ideally in the UK although I would be willing to look elsewhere) where I might be able to get hold of such an item at a fairly reasonable price?

Appreciate the help!

Tim

Hi Tim, are you doing a historical reconstruction type voyage? Lots of folks on here would be interested, tell us some details! LD

 

[Strolls]

Here's (what appears to be) a pukka old brass sextant just come up on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282004775768

Watch out! There are loads of cheap reproductions on eBay, which are good for display purposes only. India seems to have a large reproduction sextant industry (other Indian sellers offer secondhand sextants salvaged at ship scrapyards). If the filters are no good, is risk of eye damage.

 

[jwilson]

For that date it must be a vernier, not a micrometer sextant..... Just as accurate, just a bit more difficult to read. Many old ones have though lost the scales with excessive cleaning.

Mine's far too new, US Navy 1943, micrometer, with art deco style sans serif lettering.

 

[Latestarter1]

For that date it must be a vernier, not a micrometer sextant..... Just as accurate, just a bit more difficult to read. Many old ones have though lost the scales with excessive cleaning.

Mine's far too new, US Navy 1943, micrometer, with art deco style sans serif lettering.

At last somebody gets it! I purchased my sextant in 1968, second hand Hezzanith micrometer. I had been given a vernier three ring sextant in those days nobody wanted vernier sextants and the dealer grudgingly allowed me £3 7/6 in part exchange. Whilst I agree with accuracy however real tedious near impossible read scale in twilight!

I also agree re damage caused by polishing of scale, good quality sextants had silver insert scale which is very soft and easily obliterated.