The sextant has a black-lacquered alloy ladder-pattern frame, and a black Bakelite or similar handle. The white plastic micrometer drum and clamp with worm wheel are positioned on the bottom of the index arm. The instrument has four shades, three grey and one green, and three horizon shades, two grey and one green. Index glass adjustment is made by a capped square-headed screw and on the large round horizon glass by capped screws, a detached pin and a lever. The telescope is fixed to a non-adjustable bracket and has a large objective of 98 mm and an erect image. Accompanying the sextant is an adjusting pin, an adjusting lever, a grey shaded eyepiece, two bottles of oil for lubrication, and spare screws.

The instrument has a brass scale from -5° to 137° by 1°, measuring to 130°. Micrometer to 0.5 arcminutes.

The sextant is contained in a square fitted pine box, with a certificate of examination of the Deutsche Seewarte, dated 21 November 1940, and a brass trade label for Plath.

The sextant belonged to Lieutenant-Commander W. Ashton RN who, according to documentation that came with the donation, used it during World War II, when serving in the Hydrographic Branch of the Royal Navy. Considering the date of the German certificate of examination, the instrument must have been taken during, or even after the war.