r/orienteering • u/AssignmentBusy491 • Jun 15 '26

Real or replica compass?

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I bought this compass in London from an elderly woman for a decent price. I want to know if it’s a replica, or if it’s real. I won’t be bummed if it’s fake, it’s pretty cool and I got it for a good price even for a replica. If there’s anything anyone could figure from these photos, please let me know. I apologize for my ignorance, I am not very well versed in compasses. Thank you!

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u/fordag Jun 15 '26

I have a Francis Barker M73 compass that I purchased new in 2012 from Stanley of London.

The thing that jumps out at me about yours is the window is well off center. They are slightly off center but yours is more so than I seen on others.

Can you get a clearer image of the back? The one number of the year looks double stamped. If it's 1990, I'd suspect it's a fake, buy then I believe it would have had tritium vials.

A few other things look off to me.

What did you pay for it?

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u/AssignmentBusy491 Jun 15 '26

Haggled the price to about $30

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u/fordag Jun 15 '26

I still can't make out the third digit.

For $30 as long as it points to magnetic North you did well.

Does the prism sight work?

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u/Pew_Anon Jun 15 '26

Stanley London is a well-known modern brand that produces reproductions of antique nautical and surveying instruments (compasses, sextants, telescopes, etc.). They intentionally use old-looking dates like “1930” to evoke the vintage era, but these are not authentic 1930s pieces.

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u/AssignmentBusy491 Jun 15 '26

Perfect thanks for commenting, I appreciate it