Stephen Prower
Well-known member
Barrel extensions for the Nikon Monarch 7 10x30
The 20mm barrel extensions that are shown in the attached photo as one of a number of customisations that I have made to a Nikon Monarch 7 10x30 are made out of simple materials that cost nothing, and are assembled and fitted without using glue or other fasteners.
The materials are:
In the spirit of "field customisation", for easier working I join the sides of the sheet to form the tube using an "ugly" overlapping join, rather than a butt join.
The barrel extensions are intended to decramp the hands. By affording the user a freer choice of handhold, this will potentially enable him or her:
The division of functions in an assymetric handhold is that the forward hand:
But the barrel extensions do so far in field tests seem to function, certainly as to decramping the hands, satisfactorily as intended.
At some point, since I don't foresee myself at any time getting access to an unmodified Nikon Monarch 7 10 x30, I intend instead to go on to conduct some impressionistic Before-and-After tests of the effect of the extensions upon the direction, balance and stabilisation of the binocular by successively removing and replacing the extensions.
Optimistically I did find a big perceptible before-and-after improvement in the performance of a small Roof binocular after I implemented the full set of customisations that appear in the photograph. The binocular was clearly intended by its designer to be used by persons with small hands. I prescribed inter alia 30mm barrel extensions. The binocular was transformed from a lemon in my large hands into a first-line binocular.
Stephen Prower
* In England, a Grahams 1 litre whole milk bottle
** Unfortunately in England, for market reasons ( I am told: "The transition to tubeless tyres"), not a popular range of sizes
*** My glove size is on the low side of "Large"

The 20mm barrel extensions that are shown in the attached photo as one of a number of customisations that I have made to a Nikon Monarch 7 10x30 are made out of simple materials that cost nothing, and are assembled and fitted without using glue or other fasteners.
The materials are:
- Part pre-curved flexible plastic sheet 0.35-0.45mm thick cut from the side of a milk bottle*
- Broad rubber bands cut from discarded bicycle inner tube that is sized to fit a mountain bike tyre of 2.30-2.50in maximum section**.
In the spirit of "field customisation", for easier working I join the sides of the sheet to form the tube using an "ugly" overlapping join, rather than a butt join.
The barrel extensions are intended to decramp the hands. By affording the user a freer choice of handhold, this will potentially enable him or her:
- To more precisely balance and direct the binocular
- By supporting the barrel end at a point further forward from the centre of gravity, to more effectively steady and stabilise the binocular.
The division of functions in an assymetric handhold is that the forward hand:
- Directs the binocular
- By holding the end of the barrel, stabilises the binocular
- By supporting the barrel with the thumb at the centre of gravity, together with the thumb of the backward hand balances the binocular.
- Focuses the binocular
- By supporting the barrel with the thumb at the centre of gravity, together with the thumb of the forward hand balances the binocular.
But the barrel extensions do so far in field tests seem to function, certainly as to decramping the hands, satisfactorily as intended.
At some point, since I don't foresee myself at any time getting access to an unmodified Nikon Monarch 7 10 x30, I intend instead to go on to conduct some impressionistic Before-and-After tests of the effect of the extensions upon the direction, balance and stabilisation of the binocular by successively removing and replacing the extensions.
Optimistically I did find a big perceptible before-and-after improvement in the performance of a small Roof binocular after I implemented the full set of customisations that appear in the photograph. The binocular was clearly intended by its designer to be used by persons with small hands. I prescribed inter alia 30mm barrel extensions. The binocular was transformed from a lemon in my large hands into a first-line binocular.
Stephen Prower
* In England, a Grahams 1 litre whole milk bottle
** Unfortunately in England, for market reasons ( I am told: "The transition to tubeless tyres"), not a popular range of sizes
*** My glove size is on the low side of "Large"

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