Sard 6x42 Wide Field Mark43
Mfr: Square D (Sard), Kollsman Instrument Division, Flushing, USA
Date: WWII
AFOV: 70 degrees
Eye Relief: ~20mm
The Sard 6x42 is one of the pinnacles of American binocular design achieved during WWII (along with the B&L 7x50 WF). The close to 12 degrees of real field were used to great advantage by airborne spotters. This binocular has a distinctive shape, squat and bulky with enormous eyepieces. It is perhaps because of their bulk that Sard 6x42's are commonly found with chipped prisms and other damage. They are easily dropped if one is not careful. Another common form of damage found on this model is the corrosion on the prism covers. This appears to be due to a reaction to the material used inside of the leather case (One wonders why they were not issued with a rubber case such as found with most other American military binoculars from WWII). Though the Sard 6x42 is not that uncommon, it is rarely found in pristine condition (if you know of one, please let me know, I'm still searching).
