E. Leitz binos - info please

[fishnchip]

Newbie here, and I'd like to ask the members about a pair of binos I came across as part of my late father's things.

The binos themselves I believe are 6x30. Markings on the center frictionlock wheel are "E.Leitz Wetzlar - Fernglas 08" and there is faint evidence of a serial # "88847" as well. There is also a marking "X 18" on the frame.

The case looks to be a hardened canvas with leather trim, and the straps are imprinted with "Emil Busch A.G. Rathenow".

I think my Dad might have brought them back from WWII - he was in Italy and N. Africa. I've tried to research on my own, but can't determine their true age, origin/use, and value as a collectible. Also, are the binos and case a mis-match, or did Busch supply cases for Leitz? Any info you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Ted

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[Stew]

Hello fishnchip,
your binos are a standard WW1 issue .They were made in October 1918 ( "X18"). They were issued to non- commisioned officers.They are in very good original condition. They are not 6x30 but 6x39 , and they have a narrow field of view at 4.4 degrees. A pair of 6x30's have twice this FOV and thus much more usable. The case is also a late war example but they have been "matched up" at some point.The Busch case would not have been standard issue for a leitz Fernglas '08 . Emil Busch AG ,Rathenow (- like Ernst Leitz,Wetzler) was a significant manufacturer of binoculars in WW1 .On Ebay the pair might fetch $70-100 or sold separately you might get a bit more.

[fishnchip]

Stew:
Thanks for the very comprehensive reply, I appreciate it! Apparently, then, these belonged to my Grandfather, who likely brought them with him when he immigrated to the US from Germany 1919-1920. I had no idea they were that old!

From what little research I was able to find, I knew that Busch was a competitor of Leitz as you mentioned, so I figured the case was not originally paired with the binos - that's why I brought it up.

Thanks again for the info!
Ted

[Stew]

Hi Ted,
I gather that heaps of fernrohr '08 were sold as war surplus in the US post WW1 . These have "Germany" stamped on the bottom disc of the hinge.

[uscob]

I had the same but stamped DF 08 what means Doppelferrohr 08.