A Brunton M-2 Artillery Compass, made for the Danish Army c.1954, with the serial number 37082 and official Danish military 'FKF' Crown logo engraved on the lid. FKF stands for Forsvarets Krigsmateriel Forvaltning, which translates to 'Danish Defence War Materiel Administration'. This was the title of the procurement and supply branch of the Royal Danish Army from the 1940s to the 1960s. Items stamped with the 'FKF' and crown logo were official military property. FKF managed and procured military equipment, weapons, and uniforms for the Danish armed forces until July 1967, when the logistical command structure was reorganised and renamed Hærens Materielkommando (HMAK or 'Army Material Command').
The Brunton M-2 serial number 37082 shows that this compass was manufactured by William Ainsworth & Sons of Denver, Colorado between 1951 and 1957, most probably c.1954–1955. While this compass design is universally known as a 'Brunton pocket transit', the M-2 military contract version was primarily manufactured by Ainsworth & Sons under the Brunton patent. Ainsworth assigned blocks of serial numbers to military contracts, and production of the post-war M-2 model reached the 30,000 serial number range at the start of the Korean War era (1950–1953). As a founding member of NATO Denmark expanded and reorganised its artillery and mortar teams in the mid-1950s, and this included purchasing US-standard M-2 artillery compasses calibrated in mils (0–6400), rather than degrees, to match NATO standard fire-control systems.
The Brunton Pocket Transit compass was invented in 1894 by D. W. Brunton, a Canadian-born geologist and mining engineer. Brunton commissioned a skilled watchmaker in Denver, Colorado to manufacture his invention, and it proved to be very successful as an alternative to the bulky surveying equipment of that time. Unlike most modern compasses, the Brunton Pocket Transit utilises magnetic induction damping rather than fluid to damp needle oscillation. It is a specialised instrument used widely by those needing to make accurate navigational and slope-angle measurements in the field. It is still used by armed forces, geologists, archaeologists, environmental engineers, mining engineers, and surveyors. The US Army and other NATO members adopted the Pocket Transit as the M-2 Compass for use by field artillery. Modern versions, made by the Brunton company in the USA, are still in production.
William Ainsworth & Sons: Brunton M-2 compasses (often referred to as military-style Pocket Transits) were manufactured during the 1950s by Denver-based instrument maker William Ainsworth & Sons. Ainsworth was originally commissioned by D. W. Brunton in 1894 to produce his famous Pocket Transits and remained the primary manufacturer of these specialised compasses through the 1950s and 1960s. While Ainsworth stopped making large surveying transits around 1940, they continued producing the classic Brunton Pocket Transits well into the 1950s. It was during this postwar era that the company started introducing features like induction damping to help the needle settle faster. The Ainsworth company eventually folded in 1972, at which point the Brunton Company was formed to continue manufacturing the devices in Riverton, Wyoming, where they are still made today
Condition:
In very good condition, full working order, and finds North very well. There is some wear to the original military green painted finish of the case. The needle, jewelled pivot, transit lock, clinometer arm, mirror, sights and levels are all in very good condition and working well. With the Stock Number ‘7578443’, Serial No. 37082 and the Danish military 'FKF' Crown logo on the lid.
Dimensions : 80mm x 70mm x 30mm
