I am looking at purchasing a Military Compass. I have seen the Cammenga @ USCAV for 64.00 and have seen the Stocker & Yale @ Cabela's for 74.00.

Which is better? I know Cammenga is the current mfg for the military but Stocker & Yale did it before them? Any difference in the two?

Thanks,

You are much better off buying a silva or brunton. Are you in the military and want one for some specific reason? If so then go with that you have researched. If not, then go with a civilian model. Being in the Marines, the ability to use a compass is very important, and I use the silva explorer.

Just my 2 cents

Garrett

The military compass has many things going for it that other compasses don't. It is very robust. The metal casing protects the compass when not in use. The tritium allows the compass to be used at night and it is supposed to stay good for fifteen years. It is a dry compass which in my opinion is the only way to go. Every Brunton or silva I have owned have failed because of a bubble that form in the liquid. It does lack a protractor and measurements for some scales of maps, so you would want to add a a protractor.

As far as difference between companies. There both made to the military's specifications. They both are built out of the same materials, so as long as there both brand new there shouldn't be any problems.

I have no clue how accurate the two compasses are, or whether they have global needle or not.

I agree with you about the bubble issue, but sending it back to the compnay will get you a brad new one. The metal housings are actually being phased out, as is the tritium. Radiation is bad I guess. And military compasses dont have a global needle in them. The dry needle is good though, if you want it to last forever.

just my expirience,

Garrett

Hey Garrett,

Thanks for the info. BTW, what are they replacing the older compasses with?

Sorry if I'm mistaken, but IIRC the US issue ones are rated for 'dip' (the technical term eludes me now...I'll probably remember at like 3 in the morning...but I'm talking about the ability of the needle to compensate for local factors that could cause a needle to 'hang up' as it attempts to swing, but is pulled down due to your location). If that's what is meant by 'global' needles, then the lensatic compass is good to go. (If you find yourself in a location where the lensatic compass 'does' hang up...you're probably so far north or south that it won't be of much use anyways...)

And tritium isn't all that bad...as long as the glass or plastic cover remains intact. The old radium compasses, while much brighter and with a longer half life, tended to spray rays where they weren't wanted. But tritium is fine for a dozen years, since the relatively weak radiation can't penetrate most glass/lexan/plastic cases. Only problem is that you've got to replace your gear every dozen years or so...and that can get pricey for a government.

We were issued the Silva Ranger compass as our primary SERE gear (Canada), but most of us...uh...'acquired'... the US lensatic ones while on courses or meets, since, (a) the grass is 'always' greener on the other side and their toys are cooler, and (b) waiting for a replacement to your 'wet' compass won't help if you crack it when you *really* need it.

Just my 2 cents.

They are still using the lensatic compass, but they are moving toward cheaper production models. The ones that were in the fleet when I was a lt were solid pieces of equipment, but as they broke or got lost, they were replaced with cheaper models that dont work nearly as well as the old ones and are far less sturdy.

I dont even carry a military compass. I carry a silva explorer. I like it better as it is easier to use on the move.

just my opinion

Garrett