The Broad Arrow or Crow's Foot Symbol is a mark on all War Dept, Ministry of Defence Property. It is not only on Navy property but on Army and Royal Airforce equipment as well. Subject to any other Identification this Watch could be ex any of the 3 services. Regards, Ged.
Posts: 909 | Location: Winterton-on-Sea Norfolk, England | Registered: February 17, 2003
Nice watch Jim, Glitzy sells some good things. I was not home when the auction ended, but had my eye on that one too. How hard will it be to get a stem and fit it to this watch?
Ged The broad arrow was used on property of all services. I have only seen the "broad" broad arrow on RN property. Very silimar to the marking on a couple of watches I have. They have an Admiralty pattern number on them. It still took a lot of time to found any reference to them anywhere thou.
Posts: 58 | Location: Auckland, New Zealand | Registered: February 28, 2005
While the Royal Army used the broad arrow, I would agree that this one looks like an Admiralty type broad arrow. I have seen various former Royal Navy Webley revolvers, MKI, MK II, etc, with similar- large- “crows foot” broad arrows hand cut into them. The arrow is also similar to the one used on the Admiralty depth charge stop watch.
This watch is uncommon in various ways. For one thing, the marking appears to have been hand cut. Or, the mark was die stamped at first and then accented by hand.
To me, hand work is cause for concern. It is possible that a sailor with nothing to do accented the broad arrow on his watch. The concern is how easy it is to take a worthless commercial watch and cut a broad arrow into it and sell it for more money. With an internet picture, it’s hard to tell. The next step is to run your fingers over the crows foot and see if it feels freshly cut or if it is worn down. If the ware on the broad arrow is consistent with the ware on the rest of the case it is more likely a genuine military watch. If the broad arrow was die stamped that would also be sign to me that it is genuine.
Best regards
Greg
Posts: 2017 | Location: East Lansing, Michigan USA | Registered: November 24, 2002
....thanks to all for your comments...I fitted the 'piece w/a detente stem and crown and will likely Ebay it...no other marks on the movement or case ex: a case #...the accents on the broad arrow, under close examination, appear too precise to be anything but die-stamped...runs and sets well; keeps good time...thanks again!
