The height of the front prismatic sight can be adjusted to focus the compass card. The lid has a scribed line in a glass window to serve as the rear sight, and the glass is protected by an exterior guard. A brass bezel can be rotated and is marked off in 10-degree increments. The bezel has detents so you can change the heading reference a known amount without looking at the compass. A side adjustment varies the tension on the detent mechanism. The outside diameter of the compass case is engraved with a compass rose for fast determination of rough direction. 

The compass has a antique finish and the compass measures 2 3/8 inches (6.0 cm) in diameter, 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) thick, and weighs a very solid 300 grams). This compass is fully functional, but is not certified accurate.