It wouldn’t be all that surprising to find out that Harbor Freight is probably not the first place people would think of when trying to hunt down old-school nautical devices. But anyone with that thought process would be, unfortunately, incorrect because when it comes to vintage navigation gadgets, the renowned tool and equipment retailer does have a brass sextant available for purchase.
For those who aren’t familiar with these crucial components used to voyage across the sea, sailors first began taking advantage of their ability to measure the angle between two things in the sky, like the sun and the horizon, over 250 years ago. When the intricate process is done correctly, the ancient analog GPS allows anyone using it to calculate their position on the planet’s surface, making any perilous journey to whatever desired destination that much easier.
The exploration instrument comes equipped with an adjustable arc and a 2x scope. It also has an index and horizon mirror as well as sun filters. While it does say it can measure the altitude of the stars, people who decide to add this piece to their collection may want to consider just utilizing it as nothing more than a beautiful brass decoration.
While it does have many stellar reviews, one person who gave it a one-star rating — left in August 2023 — doesn’t recommend using it for navigation purposes, claiming they were lost at sea. It is sure to be a conversation starter that would look great on a side table, office desk, or shelf amongst the rest of the intriguing trinkets collectors who appreciate these types of things would most assuredly have on display.
