K&R M1 Sport Compass | Rugged and simple

When I first entered the Marine Corps there was no handheld GPS to tell me where I was at and how to get to my destination. We had to learn how to use a compass and protractor with our maps. Land Navigation courses were taught with the old school military issue Lensatic compasses and a map whether it was day time or night-time. The use of a compass is a perishable skill, much like shooting. It requires practice. Nowadays we have wrist mounted GPS units, handheld units and our smart phones that provide us with navigational aids. But what if the batteries run out or your GPS device gets submerged and shorts out. Now what? How do you get back home? Do you have a backup method of navigation?

Since being out of the military I’ve continued to carry and utilize a compass. The compass I have chosen to use is the K&R M1 Sport Compass. This is a simple sighting compass with some cool upgraded features that make it superior over several other compasses on the market.

There are really two features (in my honest option) that make this compass superior.

The sighting mirror on the M1 Sport is NOT made from a breakable glass like many others. The sighting mirror on this compass is made from unbreakable polished aluminum. No worries If you drop your compass or accidentally step on it; you’re sighting mirror will be good to go.

The compass needle housing is not made from plastic like most. The problems you see with those are that when you get the smallest hairline crack, you will develop bubbles in the needle housing. K&R has constructed the M1 Sport Compass with a Thermo-elastic capsule which has some give to it, creating a durable bubble free compass.