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American made scopes?

I've been looking to buy a good scope and was looking at a NightForce at a local store. Call me ignorant/naive, but I was shocked to see on the bottom of the scope: "Made in Japan." Guess I was wrong. I was under the impression that they were made in the US. Now I'm wondering, are Leupold scopes made in America? I looked through a nice Zeiss Conquest that said "Assembled in America."

I'm willing to pay the extra bucks for a NightForce if it is made here, but not if Leupold is made here and Nightforce isn't. I'd like the chance to pay for an American product. IF it exists!

Anyone know who makes what where?

Thanks to all.

Dave
 
Dave, I feel the same way about the scope issue. However, I did some research while I was looking for high $$$$ scopes. I never really could put my finger on something definite about Leupold but I could find bits of info that led me to believe that Leupolds are made across the pond too. So I own both high end Leupolds and Nighftforce. Both are fine with me but the only Leupolds that I have that compare with Nightforce is the MK 4. Just my observation. I'm sure others have different opinions. Bill
 
Bear Basin, who claims to be one of the largest Nightforce dealers in the country, told me, the scope TUBE is made in Japan. The scope itself is assembled here,US), with parts from all over.,including the lens, from Japan)
 
Gman, from the literature in NF brochure and booklet, they claim they have a manuf. facilities. Just noticed that last night while reading back thru that stuff. Bill
 
If you want to look at an American made scope, you will need to take a look at Burris. I went to them because they are made in the USA. I installed one of their 4 X 12 variable compact scopes onto a L-46 Sako I have in .218 Bee and I am very happy with it. Leupold is using Japanese glass, but is otherwise made in the USA.

Cordially,
Bob Blaine
 
Bob, I have a 4.5 X 14 Short Mag Burris mounted on my A-bolt.270 WSM. It is fine as long as there is plenty of light but when light begins to fade it is very difficult to see even on the low power settings. Might just be a bad scope. Don't know. Just my experience with Burris. I think you are correct about the glass in the Leupolds. Bill
 
billmo said:
Gman, from the literature in NF brochure and booklet, they claim they have a manuf. facilities. Just noticed that last night while reading back thru that stuff. Bill

billmo,
I'm not sure what you mean?
 
Gman, I was just pointing out that NF says they have facilities here in America. Point being, some say that NF is made in Japan. Don't know myself. Bill
 
From what I understand, most good glass is made either in Europe or Japan and none made here. It was just a bit of a surprise while comparing scopes side by side to see "Made in Japan" in big letters on the bottom of the NF and "Assembled in US" on the Zeiss. I looked at my Leupold and couldn't find any "Made in" marks.

Probably will still get the NF...
 
A7Dave said:
From what I understand, most good glass is made either in Europe or Japan and none made here. It was just a bit of a surprise while comparing scopes side by side to see "Made in Japan" in big letters on the bottom of the NF and "Assembled in US" on the Zeiss. I looked at my Leupold and couldn't find any "Made in" marks.

Probably will still get the NF...

Need to do a little more research on the glass---you will be surprised......
 
Yea, I know what you mean man. I have heard that Leupold's glass was not made here either, but that may not be true. But I believe that some of Leupold's cheaper line of scopes are made overseas. I know that when it comes to comparing the NF NXS to Leupold MK 4 the glass seems to be about equal but any of my other Leupolds don't seem to make the grade. Just my opinion and I know everybody has their own. Bill
 
Gentlemen,
The information provided in this tread has been very interesting and timely. Some recent events,number of rifles, type of shooting) have resulted in me planning a substantial downsizing in the number of scopes I have and getting a high quality scope I will use on the rifle I use most. With this said, I had almost decided on the scope, but after reading this tread, I will have to reconsider. It is disappointing to me there is not a domestic company producing high quality glass for their scopes. Too bad the produce support of some of the high-end scopes is less than great. Back to scope company websites....
 
Here's the info that I was able to gather from a respected source:

Burris - Their high-end scopes are manufactured in the US, but I believe that the glass is sourced from Japan. They have gradually outsourced their complete line of lower priced scopes,like the Fullfield II) from Asia since their takeover by Beretta. So, some Asian made scopes from an American-named company that's owned by the Italians! Go figure ;)

Leupold - They claim that all of their riflescopes are manufactured in the US, but some folks have their doubts about their discount store "Rifleman" line. All of their "Golden Ring" and MK4 scopes are manufactured in their plant in Oregon, but they've been VERY closed mouthed as to the origin of their glass. Rumor has it that their high-end lines use Japanese glass, while their less expensive models use glass from other Asian,Chinese?) sources.

Nightforce - Many Japanese made component parts sourced from the former Hakko organization, with very high quality Japanese glass, reportedly from the Optical Light Co. one of the worlds foremost lens producers who make lenses for some of the finest cameras available in the world. NF scopes are finish assembled and serviced at their facilities in Idaho for the US market and,the last I heard) in Australia for the Pacific market.

U S Optics - Excellent custom made scopes manufactured here in the USA. They claim to make their own lenses but rumor has it that it's originally sourced from Japanese lens companies. I couldn't say for sure on that.

Zeiss - Their Conquest line is assembled in a Zeiss factory here in the US from Zeiss supplied parts. Probably most from Germany, but possibly also from Portugal. Rumor has it that the lenses come from the same German glass supplier but are of a lower quality than what goes into their high-end German manufactured models.

I don't claim to be the final authority on this stuff and if anyone has conclusive evidence to the contrary please correct me :)
 
Hi guys, I'm pretty new around here but I can add to the info provided by Spotcheck Billy.
While at the shotshow here in Australia some months back I was talking to the rep from Lightforce,parent company) and he told me that the parts for Nightforce are made in Japan and then shipped to Idaho where they are blueprinted or brought up to spec and assembled.
That was the first time I had handled an NXS and as a result, I bought one.
 
gunamonth,

Dave223 is correct.

I believe that NF has the initial assembly on the scope done in Japan and completes the final work,reticle installation, MOA or Mil turrets, etc.) in Idaho.

When my local NF dealer orders mine - I'm always there when he makes the phonecall to NF - he repeats my specs to them, they check inventory for the basic scope model, and if in stock they tell him that it'll be about two to three weeks to build the scope that I want. And I'm not ordering anything that's not available from their catalog. That just seems to be the lead time that they need to finish the scope build whenever I've ordered one.
 
And that's a worthwhile point from gunamonth. When it does say Made in China I will give up on the idea of buying another NXS and look at a S&B instead. It's only money after all. Right fellas......?
 
A7Dave said:
I've been looking to buy a good scope and was looking at a NightForce at a local store. Call me ignorant/naive, but I was shocked to see on the bottom of the scope: "Made in Japan." Guess I was wrong. I was under the impression that they were made in the US. Now I'm wondering, are Leupold scopes made in America? I looked through a nice Zeiss Conquest that said "Assembled in America."

I'm willing to pay the extra bucks for a NightForce if it is made here, but not if Leupold is made here and Nightforce isn't. I'd like the chance to pay for an American product. IF it exists!

Anyone know who makes what where?

Thanks to all.

Dave
I am of the same opinion, I would prefer to support an OEM company than someone who is simply outsourcing or private labeling someone elses products. I knew Nightforce scopes 14 years ago when they were called "Lightforce" at that time the scopes were being built by Hakko in Japan as the "Superb Series" and rebadged as "Lightforce" for the US,Canada and Australia, they were a decent scope then as they are today but heavy built and solid, but overpriced as far as I'm concerned, they should not be sold at the same price point as a Leupold MK4 or Schmidt & Bender. My money will be spent on an OEM scope before I dump my cash on a rebadge. The OEM's are the ones that have done the R & D and vested greatly in bringing technology to the market, they are the true inovators and we should support them if we want them to be around in the years to come, they have a reputation to uphold, the Nightforces, Bushnells, Tascos and a plethora of others do nothing but shop around for who will give them the best price point, they are only a name on someone elses product. Now a Nightforce or any other name on that scope at $600-$800 is where they should be at, Actually Hakko should be selling their scope direct as far as I'm concerned,if they are still making the NIghtforce) but they have never been able to penetrate the North American market, strange! Actually they all have a market share but it's getting that you don't know what you have anymore just like the machine tool market you see two lathes in opposite ends of the country with very similar features but they have different names, which one is better!
That's where we are at today with most things coming out of hte orient.
JMHO
bigbull
 

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