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Hello Doug,

The Poulin 808 isn't the only sextant made that way. Some examples of the
Dutch Observator that are used for geodetic survey also have the legs
extending from the top. I'm sure there are others. I agree. I find it a
sensible approach. You pick the sextant up with your right hand and without
having to turn it over, you're ready to use it. The design itself, however
is a throw back to pre-WW II designs even though the maker did not start
production until after the war. In my description, I'm recommending it for a
collector rather than a practicing navigator. The scope has to be original
because the fork is of a unique design. However, I got the scope power from
one of the sources with whom I corresponded. I have no independent knowledge
of whether that's correct. I have a second one which is not as clean. Most
likely from the same ship.

Joel Jacobs


----- Original Message -----
From: "Royer, Doug" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 7:30 PM
Subject: French Sextant


> Joel,
> I was browsing through stuff on e-bay today and as usual stopped off at
your
> store to check it out.
> What really caught my eye(I'm not in the market for a sextant.Just like to
> look)was the Poulin model 808 sextant you have listed.
> That is an interesting sextant.I've not seen many that are configured as
> that one.
> I wonder why the sextant manufactures changed the design from being able
to
> rest the sextant with the handle faceing up.Makes more sense to me to have
> them this way as one can grab the handle 1st and not the frame?
> Was the 8 x 30 scope original?That's a  high power scope on such an
> instrument.

   

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