What is this?

[G_P]

Solid brass. Heavy and very well made.
No clue what it is. Protractor? Came with a little magnifying glass in the case.

Sent via carrier pigeon

 

[The Cobbler]

I think it's for navigation on the seas. somehow you line it up to the stars

 

[General Geoff]

My guess is it's something used on a map for navigation.

 

[dlcwent]

It appears to be some sort of sextant

 

[zkling]

I don't remember the correct name but it is something like arm tangent protractor.

The one for nautical navigation (ships) is called a sextant and is quite a bit different.

 

[A_Pmech]

It's a vernier protractor.

 

[zkling]

It's a vernier protractor.

That's it. What the heck was I thinking. After looking at it again my tangent comment didn't make sense at all especially with the minute scale.

 

[G_P]

It's a vernier protractor.

Cool. What is it used for? Extremely accurate measurement of angles?

 

[zkling]

Cool. What is it used for? Extremely accurate measurement of angles?

Yes, it will measure down to minutes of an angle. 1°=60 minutes = 3600 seconds.

When people talk MOA in shooting they are referring to minute of angle as degree changes at a long distance end up equating to a large lateral deflection.

 

[sasquatch12]

Beautifull piece!!

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

That is very cool, almost a work of art.
-Sam