The Mystery of the RLN 8×30 Dienstglas Binoculars

The RLN 8×30 Dienstglas binoculars made by Carl Zeiss are a fascinating piece of military history, but their origins remain a bit of a mystery. There are conflicting details about their production, and while they were supposedly made in 1942, some features suggest a later manufacturing date. In this post, I’m going to break down these contradictions and try to shed some light on the story behind these binoculars.

The Carl Zeiss Factory Codes

During WWII, German manufacturers were assigned secret factory codes to hide the origins of military equipment. Before the war, binoculars had the factory logo and city clearly marked, but in 1939, this changed to a secret ordnance code to keep information from the Allies. Carl Zeiss, one of the top optical manufacturers of the time, used multiple codes throughout the war. Initially, they used “blc,” and later transitioned to “rln.”

Differences Between the 6×30 and 8×30 Models

The 8×30 binoculars were commercially available before WWII and share nearly the same housing and prism system as the 6×30 models. However, the oculars and objectives are different, and the eyecups of the 8×30 stand out as well. Since the two models are so similar, parts from the more common 6×30 models can be used for repairs—a huge plus for collectors and restorers.

Production Numbers and the Romanian Connection

Based on serial numbers, about 4,500 RLN 8×30 binoculars were produced in 1942. Interestingly, these numbers closely match the Romanian export 8×30 BC nr7 binoculars, which were also made in the same year. Both models have nearly identical construction and were issued with a civilian-style case modified for military use. The presence of a WaA202 stamp confirms that Zeiss was the manufacturer.

The RLN Code + Grease Code Paradox

Here’s where things get confusing. The RLN factory code wasn’t introduced until 1944—two years after these binoculars were supposedly made. On top of that, the lubrication markings tell another story. Some examples have a plus (+) marking, while others have a triangle (△), and this switch happened in late 1944. So, while the serial numbers say 1942, the grease codes and RLN mark suggest a production date around 1944. This contradiction makes it difficult to pinpoint the true production period.

The Mystery of the Rangefinder

Another oddity is the presence of a rangefinder in the RLN 8×30 binoculars. Normally, rangefinder models have an “H/6400” marking on the right plate, but these binoculars don’t have it. However, this isn’t too unusual, since late-war binoculars often lacked this marking.

Possible Explanations

So what’s the deal? There are a few theories:

1. Late 1944 Production: The RLN code and grease markings fit with a 1944 production date, but this doesn’t match the 1942 serial numbers.

2. Post-War Production: Dr. Hans Seeger, an expert on Zeiss binoculars, suggested in his grey book that these could have been assembled in 1946 using leftover wartime parts. However, this is controversial and lacks solid proof, especially considering all the wartime markings on the prism plates.

3. Unissued Wartime Production: Since these binoculars are usually found in mint condition, one possibility is that they were part of a Romanian order in 1942 but were never delivered. Instead, they may have been repurposed for the German military later in the war, marked accordingly, and stored without ever being sent to the front.

At the end of the day, the exact history of these RLN 8×30 Dienstglas binoculars is still unclear. What is clear, though, is that they’re excellent binoculars with the high-quality craftsmanship you’d expect from Zeiss.

If you want to check out my binoculars, click this link to see what I have available on my website!

Also, make sure to watch my YouTube video below, where I talk about the Rare Bakelite CXN 6×30 Dienstglas, and check out my YouTube channel, as I sometimes post binocular-related videos.

Thanks for reading, hope you learned something!

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