Finnish Military Wrist Compass by Suunto - M/34 Suunto Oy Helsinki Finland - c.1938

A Suunto Military Wrist Compass M/34, circa.1938, With Original Leather Strap. In Working Order, A Genuine Wartime Antique.

In 1936, Tuomas Vohlonen of Finland invented and patented the first successful portable liquid-filled compass designed for individual use. Today Suunto is still at the forefront of design and innovation for sports watches, dive computers and instruments used by adventurers all over the globe. 

What’s On Offer 

In 1932 the company's founder, Tuomas Vohlonen, a surveyor by profession, applied for a patent for a unique method of filling and sealing a lightweight compass housing made entirely of celluloid and filled with liquid to dampen the needle and to protect it from shock and wear due to excessive motion. 

In 1935, Vohlonen was granted a patent on his design, and it went into mass production a year later as the wrist-mount Suunto M-311. Although it was not the first portable liquid-filled compass, Vohlonen's design was compact and lightweight, enabling it to be easily worn on the wrist. With minor changes, the M-311 was later adopted by the Finnish Army as the M-34 we are offering for sale here. 

This wrist compass has been well preserved over the years and is offered in fantastic antique condition. The aluminium case is in good shape as is the dial which appears to be in working order. We have also noticed that there is what seems to be some hand drawn engraving around the outer ring of the bezel with what seems to be a name, maybe of the soldier, the only part I can make out for certain is 1940, so this could have been the year it was issued to him. A nice opportunity to acquire a piece with real historical relevance. 

Additional information

Made from

Case: Aluminium

Dial: Black

Crystal: Plexi

Bracelet: Leather

Technical specifications

Winding: N/A 

Movement Type: N/A

Calibre: N/A

Jewels: N/A

Waterproof: 

Power reserve: N/A 

Purchase details

Condition: Excellent

Model Reference: M/34

Date of issue: c.1938

Warranty: 3 Months by VWS

Dimensions

Width (without crown): 58mm

Lug width: 

Lug height: (lug to lug)

Wrist size: Adjustable