Reproduction of the highly sought after "British Made" WWII Escape compass. Also know as a "button compass." These small compasses were the most common escape compasses issued to both paratroopers and aircrews in WWII. These were issued in small escape/evasion kits comprised of a compass, a cloth map, and a small hacksaw blade. The compass' small size allowed it to be easily concealed any where on the body. Many troopers sewed the compass into the "fly" or the waist band of their trousers so it would not be easily found while being searched by the enemy when captured. Measuring .78" in diameter, .24" in height, and weighing less than an ounce these compasses match the design and quality of the original compass extremely well. Constructed from a solid piece of machined brass (just like originals), these reproductions utilize a acrylic crystal lens to cover the face of the magnetic dial. Escape compasses were manufactured as a "dry" design meaning that there was no liquid suspending the dial of the compass. The reason for this is in cold weather conditions a "liquid" compass could freeze rendering it useless. To purchase escape hacksaw blades and/or cloth escape maps, please see my other listings. Note that these compasses are rather magnetically sensitive. If there is a ferrous metal closer than a couple feet it will draw the compass needer to point toward that direction. This is not a defect. original escape compasses were equally sensitive to magnetic interference which can make traditional land navigation challenging hence why these were only used in emergency situations.
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