Canadian Forces 7x30 and 7x50 binoculars
 

Can anybody tell me the technical specifications about the 7x30 and 7x50 binoculars currently being used by Canadian Forces or know where I could find this information? I already have the Leech and Kubetz article (mostly about ELCANs) but am looking for more detailed information than it gives about the ELCAN’s successors, the Fujinon 7x30 and 7x50.

Frank,

If you search for "M22 Binocular" with a Nato Stock Number (NSN) of 1240-01-361-1318, you will likely be able to find the information you are after. The M22 binos are not uniquely Canadian.

Colin

Yes, it looks to me like the U.S. M22 Fujinon 7x50 is the same binocular the Canadian Forces use, but I’d like to able to verify that. However the U.S. M24 Fujinon 7x28 is not and have been able to find out very little about the Canadian 7x30.

I just checked that NSN in the NSN registry and found this:
“What NATO entities are users of this NSN?
Department Of The Army, Department Of The Air Force, U.s. Marine Corps, Department Of The Navy, Estonia, Spain, Canada, Portugal, Greece, and Nato Maintenance and Supply Agency”
I have an M22 and know the binocular well.
Now I have to find out about the 7x30.

Frank,

I located the Leech and Kubetz article you referenced here: https://vdocument.in/canadian-made-b...e.html?page=10

I do not believe that I have ever seen that type of binocular in service, although evidently 1 PPCLI had some in stock in 2014. During my service, I have used either the old ELCANS, or the M22 ( and one pair of massive Steiners while overseas).

There is some potential that those Fujinon 7x30s were local purchase or left-over after a trial (more research required).

It appears that they might be “SHS” series: http://s3.amazonaws.com/szmanuals/88...58db2763482b1e

Colin

Probably the most authoritative source would be the Life Cycle Material Manager for optics and binoculars. They manage the NSN from cradle to grave. If I can find a name or email address, I'll send by private message.

Thank you both very much. A name or email address would be much appreciated.

The Fujinon 7x30 referenced by Leech certainly does look like an SHS. If so, there’s a question as to what extent they were adopted and if they’re still in use. Also, to what extent did the Steiner see service?

There are some parallels between handheld binoculars used by U.S. and Canadian forces since WW II. During the war and until the mid-1970’s both countries used very similar Bausch & Lomb type 6x30 and 7x50 binoculars, and then in the mid 70’s both adopted a general purpose 7x50 binocular, Canada the ELCAN and the U.S. the Bell & Howell M19. Subsequently the U.S. in the mid 90’s and Canada circa 2000-2001 switched over to the Fujinon M22B 7x50. But for a short period circa 1986 - 1994 the Steiner M22G 7x50 was the U.S.’s principal instrument. I wonder how far these parallels go and if during the same time Canadian Forces may not have adopted the Steiner as well?