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 Silva Huntsman 423 Compass By: Silva Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 2 More Information Silva overlooked accuracy on this compass that a few lines would have fixed.  On: 2007-05-17I use compasses a lot when backpacking, birding and sea kayaking. Taking a sighting using the mirror is an important feature for my use. Small errors can add up on long distances. I was a bit let down by both the Silva Landmark and Huntsman (the only difference is the color if the housing). This compass has a few shortcomings for my use that Silva could have easily avoided. When I take a sighting I line up the hair line in the mirror with the index line on the front of the rotating bezel (mirror side of compass) and the virtual continuation of that line on the rear of the base plate (closest to me). This lines up my target and the compass on several points for an accurate reading. On both the Huntsmen and the Landmark The 360 degree rotating bezel has in tiny index mark on the mirror side which is dark red on a black background. It is nearly impossible to see in the mirror when taking sighting. To make matters worse the side close to me on the base plate has no line to line up the hair line in the mirror with. This leaves room for error. I guess they feel accuracy is not an issue on a compass of this size. Or its intended for close work not distant sightings. For me a better choice for accuracy (in the same price range is the Silva Guide. It has the marks I made reference to, is a little larger and much easier to read. The Guide floats. The guide only weighs a few grams more than the Huntsman or Landmark. The Huntsman and Landmark are well constructed and open with a hinge. The Guide has a flexible plastic hinge (which has held up fine in real use). I would recommend the Guide over the Huntsman and Landmark due to the ease of reading and accuracy. Silva overlooked accuracy on this compass that a few lines would have fixed. On: 2007-05-16I use compasses a lot when backpacking, birding and sea kayaking. Taking a sighting using the mirror is an important feature for my use. Small errors can add up on long distances. I was a bit let down by both the Silva Landmark and Huntsman (the only difference is the color if the housing). This compass has a few shortcomings for my use that Silva could have easily avoided. When I take a sighting I line up the hair line in the mirror with the index line on the front of the rotating bezel (mirror side of compass) and the virtual continuation of that line on the rear of the base plate (closest to me). This lines up my target and the compass on several points for an accurate reading. On both the Huntsmen and the Landmark The 360 degree rotating bezel has in tiny index mark on the mirror side which is dark red on a black background. It is nearly impossible to see in the mirror when taking sighting. To make matters worse the side close to me on the base plate has no line to line up the hair line in the mirror with. This leaves room for error. I guess they feel accuracy is not an issue on a compass of this size. Or its intended for close work not distant sightings. For me a better choice for accuracy (in the same price range is the Silva Guide. It has the marks I made reference to, is a little larger and much easier to read. The Guide floats. The guide only weighs a few grams more than the Huntsman or Landmark. The Huntsman and Landmark are well constructed and open with a hinge. The Guide has a flexible plastic hinge (which has held up fine in real use). I would recommend the Guide over the Huntsman and Landmark due to the ease of reading and accuracy. A bit smaller than I thought  by: gwpowellbooks On: 2007-03-31 A good first compass. I bought it as a gift for a cub scout and I think its appropriate for him. I had thought that you could adjust the inner dial for magnetic declination, but you cant. Its a minor pain up here in the NW where its 22 degrees from True North. I have the "Silva Ranger" model and like it better, but again, for a cub scout, this one works and if he loses it, we wont be crying in the dirt. On the title, I prefer a compass with a little larger dial/base. Its easier to get a good bearing with the larger version. On the other hand this one fits in a shirt pocket with nary a bulge. A bit smaller than I thought On: 2007-03-30A good first compass. I bought it as a gift for a cub scout and I think its appropriate for him. I had thought that you could adjust the inner dial for magnetic declination, but you cant. Its a minor pain up here in the NW where its 22 degrees from True North. I have the "Silva Ranger" model and like it better, but again, for a cub scout, this one works and if he loses it, we wont be crying in the dirt. On the title, I prefer a compass with a little larger dial/base. Its easier to get a good bearing with the larger version. On the other hand this one fits in a shirt pocket with nary a bulge. |