SandY, or Stocker & Yale, are now StockerYale and are involved in other areas.

http://www.stockeryale.com/company/about/index.htm

I still have my Silva Official Boy Scouts of America compass - "Made in Sweden, Assembled in the USA" that I purchased in 1954!!

Old thread resurrection notice...

I am wanting to find a good compass with which to teach my Cubscouts the basics of compass use and a search led me to this thread.

The problem is that Silva is no longer Silva and, it seems, Brunton no longer makes the 15TDCL which became the old Silva Ranger.

Does any one know what is comparable and in current production? I can find lots of Indonesian made Silva's and the closest Brunton is the O.S.S 70M

Sure, I can buy a $15 Silva for now but I'd like to buy a compass that will last for years. I have two kids in Cubscouts and would like to buy something once that will last as long as they can keep it.

You might take a look at the Sunnto MC2G:

http://www.amazon.com/Suunto-SS00425.../dp/B000FEUCRW

I haven't used it (I have a Ranger) but the reviews are good and some of the reviewers have, or have used, both.

ETA: I see that the "G" means that the Suunto has a global needle, I don't believe that the Ranger does.

Pat

Streck, you might want to check your google-fu.

What is wrong with these Silva Rangers?

http://www.amazon.com/Silva-2801077-...s=silva+ranger

http://www.amazon.com/Silva-Ranger-H...s=silva+ranger

or, as noted, this Suunto: http://www.amazon.com/Suunto-Mirror-...ef=pd_sbs_sg_2

TR

TR,

I asked because of the below post. If others have experienced that they are good to go, I'd be fine with using them.

There appear to be a bunch of Chinese knockoffs for sale, those seem to be in the $10 price range, and the real ones by both Silva USA and Brunton (Silva Sweden) at $35-50.

If the manufacturer warrantees them, and survives to honor that warantee, I would say to give them a try.

My older ones only bubbled (leaked) if I smacked them hard enough to crack the case.

TR

Struck,
Not specific to your question, but when my son joined I got a kit from silva which has 10-12 compasses in a hard plastic case, along with a large plastic model which is a great training aid. I also bought several orienteering flags with the hole punch devices. Once someone realizes you know land nav, you will be very busy:lifter!
And don't buy your sons a good compass until they loose/ break a couple of cheaper ones.

I have an elementary Brunton, luminous, very workmanlike that has after MANY years a tiny bubble. Don't know the model & none on it. In current availability it looks to be very similar to what they're calling their 9020G, a bunch of which come with this instructor's kit here.

It has basically refused to be subdued over the years and sits in a ziploc with a pre-configured wire antenna that's in the bag. I wouldn't hesitate to hand out some of these to a bunch of scouts. In my experience, much of "whether it lasts" depends upon the individual kid - they either have learned to take care of stuff, or not, or it's an opportunity to mentor on the former.

That would be the smart move....I'm a gear junkie though and think in terms of getting stuff that will last forgetting that <10 year olds drop and lose stuff too much.

I typically use a Cammenga lensatic but that is not too easy for for kids to learn with....I've even thought of picking up Cemmenga's Protractor Compass (LINK) for me to play with.

Working with kids whose farthest treks will be through local parks and fields, I need to drop the 'Best Gear Possible' attitude and just get them something adequate.

As the pack Cubmaster, I should see if the committee will fund a teaching kit....I know they have spent more for less....;)

Received an PM Qustion and thought I would share with everyone my FOG perspective. I'd be interested in other opinions especially on some of the new stuff that is now available.

Well I'm no expert on Trit or Rad. I do remember being on point during a patrol aggressing against ROK marines. They had the new Tritium front sight posts on their M16A1s. Saw a dozen glowing green dots all in a line as they laid in their ambush position. Doom on them! This was using unaided eye night vision and not the PVS3 stuff they had then, let alone today!

Another example was using an illuminated lensatic compass on a cord and whirling it over your head to silently signal your location during night ops. Today they would use a chemlight I guess, but you see what I mean.

Point is, in a tactical situation, you must factor in everything into your light/noise discipline. Illuminated equipment is great, but you must keep it covered when not in use and defiantly don't be waving it around at night. Don't forget glare during day ops.

As a civilian today I love luminescence for night work.

Bought a Silva Ranger for my nephew's son for Christmas. It had a leak in the housing that caused a bubble big enough to cause problems. I returned it and the replacement had the same problem out of the box at room temp.

They've also taken the magnifier off the baseplate. Silva has a problem. Thankfully, Amazon makes refunds a piece of cake.

PS: ultimately gave him a Suunto A-10, which is probably a better first compass anyway.