A rare range finding device with just over 300 of these ever issued from Frankfort Arsenal, mostly in brass.
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Description
This finely engraved stadia made by George S. Simons & Bro., Manf’ss Phila., were issued through the Frankfort Arsenal, and are so marked. The stadia is complete with original string, and silver fob. It measures nearly 6 inches in length.
These were a useful range finding device to determine the distance of enemy troops, both infantry and mounted troops, and predominately used by sharpshooters and artillerist. The string would be placed in the mouth and then extended in hand to full length; looking through the sliding aperture, moving it until the figure in the distance filled the slot; this would determine the range.
Most of these were given to the best marksmen in the sharpshooting companies, and artillery units.
This is a rare military tool, finely crafted by silversmiths, and from what information I can obtain, only 340 of these were issued from the arsenal from 1858 – 1880 (thinking that most would have been issued during the Civil War. The company name for George S. Simons & Bro changed prior to 1876, then known as Simons, Opdyke & Co).
Additional information
| Weight | 5 lbs |
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