NavList:

Dear all,

I'm writing from Italy. I'm an "appassionato " sailor. I know theoretically the usage of a sextant. I have sometimes used one, but now I want to buy one. I don't plan to use it onboard, now, but to understand how it works and for collection.

Searching on the web and 2nd shops I found two interesting sextants. Both are C.Plath from 70s. Both seem good. My question is which one to choose (or none).

The first one is equipped with a 6x30mm magnification the other one with a 4x magnification (not info on lenses): which one is the better one for practical usage?

The first one has the standard phrase "free of error for practical use" issued by Weems & Plath the other has a second certificate not issued by C.Plath but by the Italian Navy that initially reports a 0" error, a 10" error at 15° and gradually increases to 30" at 45° and then is constantly 30".

My question is, is the error reported on the second certificate out of tolerance for a C.Plath or compatible with the "error free..." statement? Maybe the Italian Maritime Service rechecked the sextant and found a residual error, or the sextant was repaired and after that there were still some errors and it could not be restored to factory specifications? Or maybe it was a second choice sold at a discounted price?

Price is the same, the one with errors is sold by the son of the first owner who was a member of Navy, the other one is sold by a guy who doesn't know at all about sextants.