Description

Blued steel frames with the frosted amber lens and polished round section in the middle. Identified and pictured in many references as “sharpshooters glasses”, these also likely had some medical application as well. (we appreciate research that has been done by others on this subject but are very careful when conclusions are made in finite form based upon either negative or incomplete research. The far majority of CW research is by definition incomplete, and while the pendulum swings in the dogma circles much “conventional” wisdom comes and goes, and sometimes comes back again. After close to 50 years in the business I still say the more I learn the less I knew! Our research suggest several things. It is unlikely that the US Army provided US Sharpshooters with special glasses to enable them this early in it’s history. However, glasses made thusly, during the period, have contemporary annotation for shooting, as well as other outdoor activities where directed light and glare being minimized provided a value to the wearer. The technology utilized in these glasses, specifically for that purpose existed in the pre-war and wartime market. These glasses are found in 1860 patent marked Parker cases with all of the indications they were originally together in the period. To suggest that because the government did not provide them they were therefore likely not in use, is an extrapolation too far, in our opinion, and also a suggestion of much greater faith in the military’s willingness to provide, than our experience suggests. The glasses also provided some medical value for certain patients for the same stated reasons and were so marketed by vendors during the period. To suggest that they are inherently a post war item, because they were not issued, is simply incorrect. These glasses were marketed in various styles continuously from the pre-war period on for 2-3 decades. Later versions of these glasses sold more prolifically up into the turn of the century for both shooting and sightseeing were most commonly offered in a nickeled finish to prevent rust as this became a more common practice. They also appear to have more substantial earpieces. This blued steel pair suggests a more vocational application and the fine spring steel earpieces with beaver tail ends is indicative of an earlier style and manufacture. Whether medical or shooting related, they are a more rare example of CW era eye-wear than most) The lens are in good clear condition with no cracks and only minimal typical scratching from age and wear. The frames have some rusts spots here and there, typical of use. (the orange shading and highlighting seen in the photos is not from rust but reflection from the amber lens) This pair has that character we look for in a real veteran piece with nice patina and the added bonus of a period field repair to one earpiece. I examined it closely and it looks like a piece of thin brass was bent around the earpiece to strengthen a bend or crack and then wrapped with fine cotton twine, coated with some kind of glue/resin. (or maybe just scuz from age) This repair is the same period technology used for repairs to rifle stocks, for an example that came immediately to mind. Another piece important to it’s owner – valued and needed enough to warrant care and preservation of function when it could not be replaced due to either resources or circumstance. This pair of glasses will display better than any I have seen save maybe an identified pair. They have a story to tell – if we could only know.