NavList:

I did post this question at the end of an earlier post but should have posted it separately as it is an earnest request for some feedback.

 

My Oaklet sextant (very similar to an Astra) that I have owned for about 25 years has a certificate that came with it that indicates an error of +10 seconds in the 20 to 30 degree range. The remainder of the ranges show 0 minutes and 0 seconds of correction.

 

From the various specs I have seen for top end sextants, it looks like +/-10" is about as good as it gets which makes me think the Oaklet I own is reaching a little. That said, I have only had two other sextants I have worked closely with that also had great looking certificates. Not quite as good as for the Oaklet but < minute correction for only several angle ranges. Not enough to start looking at the certificate if a sight didn't work out well.

 

Do others have certificates that look like this? When the claim is made that the spec is +/-10", does this suggest that in reality that most of the time the error is considerably less?

 

I realize making corrections of 10 seconds of arc is getting pretty fine in practical terms but I am curious.