This navigational telescope has a leather-covered barrel and a single brass draw tube. The other fittings are also brass and include an objective lens cap and a pivoted eyepiece cover. The maker's name is inscribed on the draw tube as 'Dollond London', as are the words 'Day or Night', indicating that the telescope was designed for use in all light conditions.

A table of the most common signal flags is set into the barrel. This records that it was produced by 'STEBBING PORTSMOUTH, OPTICIAN &c TO THE R.Y.S.'. This may well have been produced later than the telescope - it was common to replace these removable tables so that they showed the most up-to-date codes.

Like NAV1682 and NAV1684, the telescope is said to have belonged to William Griffin, who entered the Royal Navy in 1812, becoming a Rear-Admiral in 1862.