Description
WWII Japanese Type 93 Battery Commander’s Telescope Kit – Artillery Observation Group
This WWII Japanese field artillery ranging and spotting kit centers on a Type 93 battery commander’s telescope, accompanied by a Japanese Army artillery subtense bar / range-finding target bar, signal lantern, spotlight lantern, tripods, and fitted transport cases. U.S. wartime technical references identify the Model 93 battery commander’s telescope as an artillery fire-control instrument used to measure azimuth and angle of site, with 8x magnification and a 6° field of view. The same references also note the high quality and sturdy construction of Japanese artillery optics.
Type 93 Battery Commander’s Telescope
The main optic body remains in good condition and retains nearly all of its original paint, with clear signs of field use. The left optic is non-functional and shows a chip in the objective lens, while the right optic with the ranging reticle remains clear. That combination makes the piece honest and intact as a wartime field instrument, while still preserving the more important visual and technical features of the telescope itself.
The optic was produced by Nikko and bears the serial number 4874. The tripod head was also produced by Nikko with a matching serial. The tripod base was manufactured by TOKO and serial numbered 5421.
Construction / Configuration / Pattern
The set includes the Type 93 battery commander’s telescope, a WWII Japanese Army artillery subtense bar / range-finding target bar, a signal lantern, a spotlight lantern, a tripod case, a range finder case, and a Type 93 optic case. The Type 93 optic case is in excellent condition. The range finder case is also present, and the cases as a group remain in excellent condition. The tripods are in excellent condition as well.
The artillery subtense bar / range-finding target bar retains excellent paint, and the numbers remain crisp and legible. Its presence fits an artillery observation grouping well, since subtense devices were used as ranging aids in field fire-control work.
The signal lantern retains its tripod clip, vertical shutters on either side, and collapsible construction. The glass is intact, and the paint remains intact as well. It shows expected field use and age but remains in excellent condition. Japanese portable signal lamps of this type served for point-to-point light communication in the field.
The spotlight lantern retains its swinging circular aperture, intact glass, and pivoting handle. The tripod case remains in excellent condition, with pliable leather keepers and canvas construction. Taken together, the kit retains the major observation, ranging, transport, and lighting components expected in a field artillery optical group.
Historical Context / Pattern Development
Japanese field artillery relied on a family of optical and support instruments rather than a single all-purpose sight. Wartime U.S. technical manuals illustrate the Model 93 battery commander’s telescope alongside spotting telescopes and range finders as part of the artillery observation system. In service, instruments of this class helped battery officers observe the target area, measure angles, and direct fire from positions away from the gun itself. The manuals also note that Japanese battery transport included range finders, binoculars, battery commanders’ telescopes, communication material, and tools, which fits the mixed optical and signaling character of this group.
That broader context matters more than forcing every item into a single exact model identification. The telescope is the core of the set. The subtense bar supports ranging work. The lanterns support observation or communication tasks in the field. The fitted cases and tripods show that this was transportable working equipment, not improvised postwar storage. As a result, the group reads clearly as a Japanese artillery observation and fire-control kit from the World War II period.
Condition
The Type 93 battery commander’s telescope retains nearly all original paint and shows normal field use. The left optic is non-functional and has a chip in the objective lens. The right optic remains clear and retains the ranging reticle. The subtense bar remains in excellent condition, with excellent paint and crisp numerals. The signal lantern and spotlight lantern both retain intact glass and present well. The tripod case, range finder case, and Type 93 optic case are in excellent condition, and the tripods are likewise in excellent condition. Overall, the set remains a strong and well-preserved Japanese artillery observation group. Knurling is sharp, Paint is intact, tripod leg tubes are not collapsed or kinked, the cases retain their leather closures, adjustments spin freely, and the kit as a whole is in overall excellent condition.
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