Rifle Scopes leupold imports its optics glass
- Thread starter scxmod
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I remember when the Trijicon TARS came out some big deal about all U.S. components including glass. They specifically mentioned the glass and were very adamant about it. I thought that was very strange. Now I look at the website and I don't see anything about that anymore. So much for that marketing push. You would think you wouldn't spend so much time promoting a feature you weren't going to keep for even two years.
I can't think of a company that builds a scope in the us that uses glass in a production scope that isn't imported. Do tell.......
Not in the least and is a subject that has gone the rounds several times here in the past. Welcome to the Hide and the wealth of information here. And US Optics imports their lenses as well, be glad of that.
Well the German makers use German glass, and from what I've heard, Nightforce is using German glass in the BEAST and ATACR scopes. Leupold made some enormous upgrades to their glass with (at least some of ) their new Mark 6 and Mark 8 scopes but I can't remember if they sourced it from Germany or it's just a better grade of glass from Asia.
There's at least one industry pro on this thread that I'm sure could provide more information and correct me if I'm wrong (a very real possibility).
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The Trijicon might still use US Glass from NY, the prototypes were US sourced and they might have continued that, but remember the US Glass companies are still foreign, they just have offices here. Most of it is small batches for prototyping.
US Glass is a complete non-issue... there is not a single camera lens that is held in high regard because it is made here. Quite the opposite in fact. The issue is, how much the companies are willing to pay and what grade they spec. Most try to balance cost vs return, so you have everyone on a pretty level playing field, but there is certainly better glass available. At the end of the day it is more about the quality of the coatings and not the glass itself. The process to apply the coatings, the spec on the mix and how well they hold up over time. (Sunlight kills lesser quality coatings)
Spotters, cameras, etc, all have great glass, none of it sourced here.
US Glass is a complete non-issue... there is not a single camera lens that is held in high regard because it is made here. Quite the opposite in fact. The issue is, how much the companies are willing to pay and what grade they spec. Most try to balance cost vs return, so you have everyone on a pretty level playing field, but there is certainly better glass available. At the end of the day it is more about the quality of the coatings and not the glass itself. The process to apply the coatings, the spec on the mix and how well they hold up over time. (Sunlight kills lesser quality coatings)
Spotters, cameras, etc, all have great glass, none of it sourced here.
What's with Europe, German, Japan debate? Where the lens blank is molded, ground and polished is irrelevant. They all use similar processes and techniques. The only thing that matters is what the customer specifies and is willing to pay. The nationality of the worker doesn't matter, as they all have a finger to push the Start button. When B&L closed in Rochester everything got packed up and shipped overseas.
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