OIP Binoculars

Just bought a pair of OIP binoculars, and I seek information.

They are 8 x 38, Contract number is V6-06-00024 B.G. and dated 1953

I have found images of 6 x 30 with a contract V6-06-00026 B.G. (1951) and also
7 x 50 with contracts V6-06-00023 B.G. (1949) and V6-06-00025 B.G. (1951).

On the same prism those all say A.B.L.    Mine just says A.L.  I assume someone has cocked up here.  (Maybe earlier ones were marked A.B.B.L. and someone said leave out a B this time and that got translated into leave out both the B's)  

My question is I read that 8 x 38 were not issued to general Army troops, but were only issued to special forces.  Non elite forces got the 6 x 30 or the 7 x 50.

Can anyone confirm that this is so?   Thanks.




Case appears to have been with another pair at some time



Others I have found in Photos.

I have also found 8 x 38 from interwar years described as Artillery Binoculars Type 31 (as opposed to Infantry Binoculars)





So, where 8 x 38 post war binoculars possibly issued to Artillery regiments?

Undated , but marked A.B. but from a time period where French was the priority language (Armee Belge) with no second Dutch language (Belgische Leger) was put on the equipment?

I am not sure the answers to the questions, but I have a pair of Belgian binoculars that came from GD/RW issue. I will dig them out for camparison.

Wolverine wrote:I am not sure the answers to the questions, but I have a pair of Belgian binoculars that came from GD/RW issue. I will dig them out for camparison.

Thanks I would be interested to see those.

Mike

Here they are Mike.

This is obviously a set of ex-British binoculars, with what I believe to be a Belgian-made case. (The texture and colour of the webbing suggest Belgian origin rather than British surplus, as does the 1-inch wide strap attached to the case.)

The inside of the case lid and the bino neck strap are marked Amblève (aka Amel). These were given to me by a policeman from the area who mentioned that they came from old GD-RW stocks, if I remember correctly.

Graticule on my 'nockers