NavList:

Dear Niall,

The inspection date of 6/19/39 of this fake or completely reconditioned sextant is consistent with the serial number of 22515.  However, I believe this sextant is a fake.  At the very least, it has been totally refurbished, which destroys its value as a collectors item.  The arc goes to 135°, but most 3-circle sextants had a 6" arc only going to 125°.  

Some other discrepancies, some more damning than the previous: the horizon mirror adjustment knobs are not unpainted brass; the adjustment for the index mirror has holes for the adjustment pin rather than a standard scew-driver slot —it is brass-colored, not painted black; the 3.5x telescope is not lacquered brass like the 2.5x telescopes in Husun Mates; the 5° fiducial marks  on the arc do not extend from top to near bottom of the silvered part; the Husun badge on the index arm is brass, not white metal and the paint is worn —it appears not inscribed; there is no hole there for a screw to secure the lamp wire to the index arm; there is no felt in the box; the inner box walls are finished; the sextant finish is not crinkled; the brass screws holding the lamp cord at its pivot are not painted black, nor are those holding the horizon mirror shade assembly to the frame; the handle on this illuminated sextant is wood not bakelite; the stops for the horizon mirror shades are brass colored, not black. There are additional discrepancies.

Sorry for the bad tidings.

Yours Truly,
Fred Hebard