Antique c.1915 Negretti & Zambra London WW1 Officer’s Pocket Compass Brass

A genuine piece of British history: an antique Negretti & Zambra, London officer’s pocket compass from around 1915, the era of the Great War.

Made by one of Britain’s most respected scientific instrument makers, it has a blackened brass case, a hinged sighting lid with a window and hairline sight, a rotating bezel, a card-locking button and the original leather pad on the back.

The dial is beautifully clear, with a 0–360° scale and the maker’s name on the card. The case shows honest wear and a lovely aged patina, the marks of a compass that has seen real life.

A wonderful addition to any militaria, WW1 or scientific instrument collection, or a striking display piece in its own right. Please see photos for condition.

Box not included.

About this piece

Negretti & Zambra were among Britain’s finest makers of scientific instruments, and this pocket compass exemplifies their precision work during the Great War period. The blackened brass case is substantial and built for field use, with a hinged sighting lid fitted with a glazed window and hairline sight for accurate bearings. A rotating bezel and card-locking button secure the compass for transport, whilst the leather pad on the back would have protected the wearer’s tunic.

The dial is clean and legible, marked with a full 0–360° degree scale and the maker’s name printed on the card itself. The brass shows honest patina and surface wear consistent with genuine service use—scratches and darkening speak to decades of handling and outdoor exposure. This is a working instrument, not a display piece that has been polished, and all its original mechanisms remain intact. A superb piece for collectors of military kit, Great War history, or scientific instruments.