Identifying Pre-1945 Soviet Military Binoculars: A Collector's Reference Guide
July 11, 2026
# Identifying Pre-1945 Soviet Military Binoculars: A Collector's Reference Guide
*Based on P.I. Pavlov's "Identification of Soviet Binoculars Manufactured Before 1945" (Moscow, 2013; Version 3.6, revised 12.02.2023)*
Soviet optical production before 1945 is a genuinely difficult area for collectors to map with confidence. Plants were renamed, relocated, and merged; instruments were re-stamped after repair; and wartime evacuation scattered production of the same model across three or four cities within a few years. The reference table below — compiled by Russian researcher P.I. Pavlov, with contributions from N.M. Pavlova and D.P. Pavlov, and assistance from A.A. Kolchin — is one of the more systematic attempts to lay out that production history stamp-by-stamp. It has become a standard working reference among specialists in Soviet optics.
This article translates and reorganizes that reference for an English-reading audience. Every die and stamp illustrated in the original has been cropped directly from the source scans and is reproduced inline in the table below, alongside its transcribed text — so you can compare a physical example against the actual mark rather than a verbal description of it.
## Where to look for markings
Soviet military binoculars were marked in a small number of predictable locations, and the location itself is a useful first clue to the instrument's type and era.
**Prismatic binoculars** (the standard configuration from the mid-1920s onward) were typically stamped on the **inner face of the left ocular (eyepiece) cover** — usually the maker's die, model designation, and serial number — and on the **inner face of the right ocular cover**, which more often carries the ordering-department marking (see the abbreviations glossary below) and/or a repeat of the model designation. The **central hinge assembly** (the folding bridge between the two barrels, "дужка" in the original — hereafter "hinge/bridge") occasionally carries its own stamps as well, particularly on Galilean-pattern and later wartime production.
**Galilean (opera-glass pattern) binoculars**, used for lower-magnification service optics (4×45, 4×50), were generally stamped only on the **hinge**, since these instruments lack the folding ocular covers of the prismatic pattern.
## General production notes
A few structural details apply across most of the table and are worth understanding before using it:
- On binoculars made up to roughly 1931, a **locking screw for the body's fold axis** is located on the **objective (front) side** of the hinge — the sole documented exception being early LOMZ 4×50 production (1930–1931), where this screw sits on the **eyepiece side** instead (see table).
- On the same early production, the eyepieces are **internally reinforced with brass** — the internal barrel structure and the mounting threads are brass rather than the zinc alloy used later. Minor, running changes to eyepiece construction and exterior finish were introduced during production that are too small to capture systematically in a reference table.
- **Repair stamps** — triangles, rhombuses, squares, and similar devices, sometimes accompanied by a repair year and sometimes not — may be found on refurbished examples and should not be confused with factory-of-origin marks.
- Binoculars with **zinc-alloy body components should not be disassembled**; the alloy is brittle with age and prone to cracking.
## Reticle types
Two distinct reticle patterns appear in this production run:
1. **Standard artillery-pattern angular scale** — a graduated horizontal mil scale used for range and angle estimation, marked in the Soviet "thousandths" (тысячные) notation (divisions of 0‑05, 0‑10, 0‑025, out to 1‑00, where 1‑00 equals 100 mils and a full circle equals 60‑00).
2. **Aircraft-silhouette recognition reticle**, fitted to binoculars issued to PVO (air-defense) visual observers, most notably in ZTM No. 69 production from 1937 onward. Instead of (or alongside) the mil scale, the **left eyepiece** carries a ring of **Soviet aircraft silhouettes** (types identified in the original include the TB‑7, TB‑3, I‑153, Yak‑1, Il‑2, MiG‑3, LaGG‑3, Su‑2, MBR‑2, DB‑3f, SB, Yak‑4, Pe‑2, Er‑2, and MDR‑6), while the **right eyepiece** carries the corresponding **German aircraft silhouettes** (including the FW, Hs 126, Bf 109, He 113, Bf 110, Ju 87, Ju 88, Do 215/Do 17, Br. Bf, He 111, and FW 189/198 types listed). This let an observer identify an approaching aircraft's type and nationality directly through the instrument.
## Dating by serial number
Where an example is **not** stamped with an explicit year of manufacture, Pavlov's guide gives a practical fallback: **the first two digits of the serial number generally correspond to the year of production.** This rule is stated to apply to **KOMZ, IZOS, and GOMZ** production specifically.
It does **not** apply to the "Krasnogorsk-pattern" binoculars actually manufactured in **Novosibirsk from 1942 onward** (not all of which lack a manufacture year in any case). For those, dating instead relies on features characteristic of pre-1945 production more generally: lens coating (bloomed vs. uncoated optics), eyepiece construction details, and decorative finish.
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## Identification table: Soviet military binoculars, pre-1945
Notes on reading the table: "Reticle scale" indicates whether the standard graduated mil reticle is present (**Yes**), absent (**No**), or found in both configurations across the period (**Variable**) — this is separate from the aircraft-silhouette reticle discussed above, which is called out explicitly in the Notes column where it applies. Every die/stamp is now reproduced as a cropped image taken directly from the source scans, alongside its transcribed text, so you can compare a physical example against the actual mark rather than a verbal description.
| Optics / Type | City | Plant | Years | Left cover / hinge marking | Right cover / hinge marking | Reticle scale | Predecessor / lineage | Notes & design features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6×30, 6×42 | Leningrad | Zavod Bol'shevik | 1925–1927 | "B.6×-30 (B.6×-42), No. 12426, 1928" |  | Variable | Optical Department, Obukhov Plant | — |
| 6×30, 6×42 | Leningrad | Zavod Bol'shevik | 1927–1930 | (as above; marking style shared across both periods) |  | Variable | Optical Department, Obukhov Plant | — |
| 6×30, 6×42, 8×40, 7×50 | Leningrad | LOMZ | 1930–1935 | "B.6×-30 (B.8×-40), No. 2611, 1932" | Three die variants recorded:<br><br><br> | No | Zavod Bol'shevik | 7×50 variant fitted with reticle illumination positioned above the eyepiece (experimental production); 6×42 variant marked V.T.O.M.P. |
| 4×50 Galilean | Leningrad | LOMZ | 1930–1934 | Hinge, three die variants:<br><br><br> | Hinge: "B.G.4×-50, 1931" | No | Zavod Bol'shevik | 1930–1931 production has the fold-axis locking screw on the **eyepiece side** (the documented exception to the general pre-1931 rule, see Production Notes above) |
| 4×45 Galilean | Izyum / Tomsk / Zagorsk | IZOS / ZOMZ | 1940–1945 | Hinge:  | Hinge: (same die) | No | New production capacity | Production began at IZOS (Izyum), continued at Tomsk under both IZOS and ZOMZ, then ZOMZ relocated to Zagorsk |
| 4×45 Galilean | Tomsk / Zagorsk | IZOS / ZOMZ | 1943–1945 | Hinge:  | Hinge: (same die) | No | New production capacity | Produced at Tomsk (IZOS and ZOMZ), then at Zagorsk |
| 6×30 | Leningrad | GOZ | 1924–1926 |  | "A.U., B.6×-30, No. 1040, 1926" | Yes | Optical Plant, Chugunnaya Street, St. Petersburg | "A.U." die applied to military-department order |
| 6×30 | Leningrad | GOZ | 1928–1931 |  | "Tip G., B.6×-30, No. 591, 1930" | No | Optical Plant, Chugunnaya Street, St. Petersburg | Variant: "A.U." marking used in place of "Tip G." on some examples |
| 6×30 (Prismatic) | Leningrad | GOZ | 1930–1931 |  | "A.U. / Prismatic binocular 6×30" | Yes | Optical Plant, Chugunnaya Street, St. Petersburg | — |
| 6×30 | Leningrad | GOMZ | 1932–1937 |  | Two variants: "U.V.P. 6×30"; or "6×30 / GOMZ named for OGPU" | Yes / No respectively | GOZ | U.V.P. and A.U. dies applied per military-department order; some examples fitted with aluminium or bakelite outer eyepiece housings |
| 6×30 | Leningrad | GOMZ | 1940–1941 |  | — | Yes | GOZ | A variant without the hammer-and-sickle device is possible for 1941 |
| 6×30 (Prismatic) | Petrograd | GAU | 1916–1923 |  |  | Variable | Continuation of Zeiss/Hertz-pattern production | Eyepieces of "Hertz" or "Zeiss" pattern |
| 6×30 | Podolsk | POZ | 1923–1929 |  |  | Variable | Continuation of Zeiss/Hertz production from Riga; GAU Petrograd; part of Zavod Bol'shevik, Leningrad | Eyepieces of Hertz or Zeiss pattern; on early examples the right cover reads "G.A.U." rather than "A.U." |
| 6×30, 8×30, 8×40 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 19 | 1929–1930 |  | "Prismatic binocular 6×" / "A.U. Prismatic binocular 8×30" | Yes | POZ | (A.U.) or (U.V.P.) applied to military-department order; 1931–1932 examples may carry serial prefixed "No. 6‑1234"; covers fixed with three screws 1929–1931, one screw from 1931–1932 |
| 6×30, 8×30, 8×40 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 19 | 1931–1932 | — | "A.U. 6×30 (8×40) (8×30)" | Yes | POZ | As above |
| 7×50, 6×30, 8×40 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 19 | 1932–1938 |  | "(U.V.P.) A.U. 6×30 (8×40)" | Yes | POZ | (A.U.), (U.V.P.) per military-department order; *"ZTM No. 19" designation used until 1935 |
| 7×50 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 19 | 1935–1938 |  | "7×50, U.V.M.S." | Yes | POZ | Reticle in left eyepiece; illumination positioned above; U.V.M.S. = Directorate of Naval Forces |
| 6×30 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 19 | 1929–1932 | "6×30, ZAV. TOCH. MEKH. No. 19, No. 09580" (also recorded: "6×30, No. 4676, Zav. Toch. Mekh. No. 19") | "MADE TO SPECIAL ORDER OF THE CENTRAL DEPARTMENT STORE 'MOSTORG,' PETROVKA 2" | No | — | Covers fixed with three screws |
| 6×30 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 19 | 1932–1934 | "6×30, No. 6‑3065" | "Zav. Toch. Mekh. No. 19" | No | — | Covers fixed with a single screw |
| 6×30 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 19 | 1934–1935 |  | "6×30" | — | — | Variants without a manufacture year are possible |
| 6×30, 8×40 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 69 | 1935–1937 |  | "6×30 (8×40)" | — | — | — |
| 6×30, 8×40 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 69 | 1937–1941 |  | "(6×30)" | Variable | ZTM No. 19 | Triangle-die orientation varies (along or across the cover); this production was used by **PVO air-defense observers** (see aircraft-silhouette reticle above); the right cover may also carry the triangle die |
| 8×30, 6×30, 8×40 | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 69 | 1938–1941 |  | — | Yes | ZTM No. 19 | 8×40 produced with the hammer-and-sickle device up to 1940 |
| 7×50 / 7×50 w/ illuminated reticle | Krasnogorsk | ZTM No. 69 | 1938–1941 |  | — | Yes | — | On early examples illumination is positioned above; reticle in the left eyepiece |
| 6×30, 8×30, 7×50 (incl. illuminated) | Novosibirsk | Zavod No. 69 / No. 350, later NPZ | 1942–1945 |  | — | — | ZTM No. 69; LOMZ (No. 350) | Illumination positioned below for the 7×50; reticle in left eyepiece for 7×50 |
| 6×30, 8×30 | Tomsk | ZOMZ | 1942–1943 |  | — | — | IZOS | Zinc eyepiece variants exist for 6×30; 8×30 eyepieces in brass |
| 6×30, 8×30 | Zagorsk | ZOMZ | 1944–1945 |  | — | Yes | New production capacity, incl. IZOS | Possible variant marked "(B8×30)" dated 1945; zinc eyepiece variants for 6×30 in 1944; aluminium eyepieces for 8×30 in 1945 |
| B10×40 | Zagorsk | ZOMZ | 1945 |  | — | — | — | — |
| 6×30 | Krasnogorsk | KMZ | 1944–1945 | Hinge:  | Hinge: "No. 77021, 1944"; second recorded variant:<br> | Variable | New production capacity | Early series carry a five-digit serial with no manufacture year; variant material combinations occur throughout: eyepieces in zinc or brass; covers in steel or brass (or combined); objective components in zinc or brass (or combined); marking variants also occur on the left cover |
| 6×30 | Krasnogorsk | KMZ | 1945–1946 | — |  | No | New production capacity | As above |
| 6×30 | Izyum | IZOS | 1940–1941 |  | — | — | New production capacity | — |
| 6×30 | Tomsk | IZOS | 1942–1943 |  | — | — | IZOS | — |
| 6×30 | Kazan | KOMZ | 1942 |  | — | Yes | GOMZ | Covers made of zinc; body uncoated |
| 6×30 | Kazan | KOMZ | 1942 | Hinge:  | Hinge: "No. 42006255" | Yes | GOMZ | Fully zinc eyepieces and objective-lens seats; steel covers and objective mounts; body uncoated; eyepiece material variants: zinc, brass |
| 6×30 | Kazan | KOMZ | 1942–1944 | Hinge:  | Hinge: "No. 42053960" | — | — | Could have combined eyepiece materials (zinc, brass); possible steel covers or steel/brass combination; objective assemblies also occur in zinc/brass/steel combinations |
| 6×30 | Kazan | KOMZ | 1944–1945 | Hinge:  | Hinge: "No. 113024, 1945" | — | — | As above |
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## Glossary of factories and marking abbreviations
**Manufacturing plants**
| Abbreviation | Full name (Russian) | English |
|---|---|---|
| POZ | Подольский оптический завод | Podolsk Optical Plant |
| ZTM | Завод точной механики | Precision Mechanics Plant |
| GOZ | Государственный оптический завод | State Optical Plant |
| GOMZ | Государственный оптико-механический завод | State Optical-Mechanical Plant |
| LOMZ | Ленинградский оптико-механический завод | Leningrad Optical-Mechanical Plant |
| IZOS | Изюмский завод оптического стекла | Izyum Optical Glass Plant |
| KOMZ | Казанский оптико-механический завод | Kazan Optical-Mechanical Plant |
| ZOMZ | Загорский оптико-механический завод | Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant |
| NPZ | Новосибирский приборостроительный завод | Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant |
| KMZ | Красногорский механический завод | Krasnogorsk Mechanical Plant |
| GAU | Главное артиллерийское управление (завод) | Main Artillery Directorate (plant) |
**Marking / ordering-department abbreviations**
| Abbreviation | Full name (Russian) | English |
|---|---|---|
| G.A.U. | Главное артиллерийское управление | Chief Artillery Directorate |
| A.U. | Артиллерийское управление | Artillery Directorate |
| U.V.P. | Управление военных приборов | Directorate of Military Instruments |
| Tip G. | (Тип Г.) — для служебного пользования | "Type G" — for official/civilian use |
| S&H (СиМ) | Серп и молот | Hammer and sickle device |
| V.T.O.M.P. | Всесоюзный Трест Оптико-Механических предприятий | All-Union Trust of Optical-Mechanical Enterprises |
| V.O.O.M.P. | Всесоюзное Объединение Оптико-Механической промышленности | All-Union Association of the Optical-Mechanical Industry |
| U.V.M.S. | Управление военно-морских сил | Directorate of Naval Forces |
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## A note on using this guide
This table reflects one researcher's collation of documented examples and is explicitly presented in the source as version 3.6 of an ongoing project (last revised 12 February 2023) — the author notes that minor cosmetic and construction changes occurred during production runs that are too fine-grained to capture in tabular form, and that repair-stamp overprints can complicate straightforward reading of a factory-of-origin mark. As with any single-source production history, cross-referencing against multiple surviving examples is good practice before making attribution or dating claims about a specific instrument.
*Primary source: P.I. Pavlov, "Identification of Soviet Binoculars Manufactured Before 1945" (Идентификация советских биноклей выпуска до 1945 года), Moscow, © 2013, Version 3.6 (12.02.2023). Contributors: N.M. Pavlova, D.P. Pavlov. With thanks to A.A. Kolchin.*