WWII German Navy U Boat Commander 8x60 Binoculars

A rare and very desirable pair of WWII Navy (Kriegsmarine) German U-boat Commander’s 8x60 binoculars, famously nicknamed "The Fat Ones" or "Fat Boys," that were made by Carl Zeiss Jena.
The binoculars are very recognisable by their large size, even compared to the standard U Boat binoculars. They are not very long, rather they have large 60mm lens which allows more light in, making them ideal for low-light and nighttime maritime surveillance. It is stamped 8 x 60, the serial number 2111302 and the Carl Zeiss wartime manufacturer code ‘blc. The body is finished in a textured tropical tan/olive rough paint finish known as ‘Rauhlack’, which has been period covered in black paint. A lot of the latter has come off and the finish attests to a hard life. The binoculars retain their Benutzer (a bakelite rain/lens cap cover) with its elasticated retaining cord. The neck strap is missing. The right bakelite eyepiece is partially broken, but replacements are relatively easy to find, often using same size and thread Japanese examples. The optics on the left side, but the right side could do with a service, as they are a bit cloudy, but useable.
These binoculars were produced in limited numbers exclusively for submarine commanders and authentic surviving sets command high collector prices.
Size: 23.5 x 8.5 x 21 cm (9 ¼ x 3 3/8 x 8 ¼ inches)
Weight: 2579g