Hand Bearing Compass Valuation

[PeteCooper]

I have an elderly Sestrel hand bearing compass - the number on it is 877048.
It is grey with a prism mounted on top and a wooden handle underneath - the diameter of the compass is just over 4".

Has anybody any idea how much this would be worth?

Thanks.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have an elderly Sestrel hand bearing compass - the number on it is 877048.
It is grey with a prism mounted on top and a wooden handle underneath - the diameter of the compass is just over 4".

Has anybody any idea how much this would be worth?

That's a Sestrel Radiant. Do you know whether it is filled with alcohol (early) or oil (late)? Does it have a working illumination system (batteries in the handle)? Does it have the wooden box?

As a general guide, a scruffy one without box seems to fetch about £50 on eBay while a nice one in a box goes for about £100. There are always a few optimistic antique dealers asking hundreds, but I doubt if those sell.

 

[Woodlouse]

They're still made, not by sestrel of course but I remember a magazine article a few years back saying that new they are in the region of £600.

Depending on condition yours will of course be worth a lot less but its value really shouldn't matter. They are the best hand bearing compasses made, far superior to those nasty little puck things so you might as well keep it on the boat and use it.

 

[Woodlouse]

Seems they're made by SIRS now and they don't seem that willing to say how much.

 

[ffiill]

Use mine all the time

 

[AntarcticPilot]

If it's the one I recall from our youth, I'd keep it; it's a good piece of kit!

 

[PeteCooper]

If it's the one I recall from our youth, I'd keep it; it's a good piece of kit!

It's not. It will be appearing in the for sale section soon.

 

[savageseadog]

They're sold around the boat jumbles, ebay etc for around £60-£120

 

[Daydream believer]

They're still made, not by sestrel of course but I remember a magazine article a few years back saying that new they are in the region of £600.

Depending on condition yours will of course be worth a lot less but its value really shouldn't matter. They are the best hand bearing compasses made, far superior to those nasty little puck things so you might as well keep it on the boat and use it.

Last price I saw was nearer £900-00

Mine had the Beta light but that has expired. I still have the teak box with perspex front & storage bracket( 21st birthday present- I am now 68)

Like you I use mine regularly

I also have a Sestral grid compass which I have used since I was 23 years old every time I go out.
They would be the last bit of kit I would ever dispose of.

They , along with my lead line & charts are always my fall back in emergency electric failure

 

[VO5]

Last price I saw was nearer £900-00

Mine had the Beta light but that has expired. I still have the teak box with perspex front & storage bracket( 21st birthday present- I am now 68)

Like you I use mine regularly

I also have a Sestral grid compass which I have used since I was 23 years old every time I go out.
They would be the last bit of kit I would ever dispose of.

They , along with my lead line & charts are always my fall back in emergency electric failure

That's the stuff we like to read..:encouragement:

Excellent !

 

[Daydream believer]

That's the stuff we like to read..:encouragement:

Excellent !

Actually, I say that, but do you know how many electrical failures I have had in the last 18 years ????

 

[PetiteFleur]

I've still got one in it's original grey box - ex WD model - never used it in anger though. I prefer my arms length hb compass(forget the name) but I have to admit I've not used it recently.

 

[Minchsailor]

I use one of these - it has been in the family since the year dot......