I just got off the web and I was double checking something about Leupold scopes on the Dicks Sporting Goods websight.
On the three Leupold scopes that they have listed for sale, at the bottom of the page it says country of origin China.
I was under the impression that Leupold scopes were made in the USA. Does anyone out there know if they are now made in China and if so, are they all or just certain models.
I checked the Leupold websight and there is nothing there.
Thanks.

Nuttman,
Anything is possible, besides everything else sold here in the US is practically made in R.O.C. Uncle sam really need s to change a few things as far as Manufacturers taking advantage of the cheap labor rate overseas and then charging the US population 4 times what it's value is to make. Just keep it here in America....If they are made in China, I would bet it is the Rifleman line that leupold offers.........Low end for them and sold nationwide at Wallyworld!

Dbergero

Same idea as the Steel Workers Union. Now we produce no steel in the U.S. due to the union. Labor cost is through the roof. Betchya know where I stand.

I was under the impression that the low end of Leupolds line were made in china, I am talking about the rifleman series that you find at wal-mart and places like Dicks, when compared to other leupolds these are truley the bottom.

The Wind River RB800 & RB800C are imported from China.

I could be wrong but the only scopes that I know of made in the USA are the Burris Signature Series. All others are just assembled here.

I just got off the web and I was double checking something about Leupold scopes on the Dicks Sporting Goods websight.
On the three Leupold scopes that they have listed for sale, at the bottom of the page it says country of origin China.
I was under the impression that Leupold scopes were made in the USA. Does anyone out there know if they are now made in China and if so, are they all or just certain models.
I checked the Leupold websight and there is nothing there.
Thanks.

About 2 months ago, I purchased one of the Wind River Sequoia spotters. Yes, it is made in China. This was to replace old Redfield that I had been using for the last 25 years. This Sequoia was a huge disapointment. It wasn't as clear as the one I was replacing. I returned it and bought a Bushnell Elite.

Why would a company like Leupold with a reputation for making high quality optical products, risk that name by putting their name on inferior products?

I find it hard to believe that they would. But then again I suppose that if they think that theres a buck in it then most anything is possible.

As anyone thought of going straight to Leupold and asking them what the situation is with the manufacture of their products?

It might be worth the effort.

Rod

Anything with a green ring yes , gold ring here

Why would a company like Leupold with a reputation for making high quality optical products, risk that name by putting their name on inferior products?

I find it hard to believe that they would. But then again I suppose that if they think that theres a buck in it then most anything is possible.

Rod

They are trying to penetrate new markets. The corporate types figure if they can attach the Leupold name (even indirectly i.e. Wind River, they can get into that Simmons, Tasco, lower-end Bushnell market.

I am not saying I agree, but that is what they are doing.

IMO, Remington and Winchester hurt their reputations trying to do the Wal-mart market. The products they used in most cases were inferior to the Weatherby Vanguards, Howas, and Savages already there. So it was a lose lose for Winchester and Remington. One didn't survive, the other has a strong shotgun and ammuniton component to their business model and probably will.

About 2 months ago, I purchased one of the Wind River Sequoia spotters. Yes, it is made in China. This was to replace old Redfield that I had been using for the last 25 years. This Sequoia was a huge disapointment. It wasn't as clear as the one I was replacing. I returned it and bought a Bushnell Elite.

I got one too. Somewhat disappointed but still serves it's intended purpose. Guess I would rate it with other spotters in it's price range. Not at all what i expected with Leupold's name attached.

Go to Leupolds website , they have an explanation of what has taken place. Click on the red colored info site on their home page.

I just got off the web and I was double checking something about Leupold scopes on the Dicks Sporting Goods websight.
On the three Leupold scopes that they have listed for sale, at the bottom of the page it says country of origin China.
I was under the impression that Leupold scopes were made in the USA. Does anyone out there know if they are now made in China and if so, are they all or just certain models.
I checked the Leupold websight and there is nothing there.
Thanks.
Yep, they went over the pond a couple of years ago. The "Rifleman" line was their new approach to their new optics. :confused:

I just got off the web and I was double checking something about Leupold scopes on the Dicks Sporting Goods websight.
On the three Leupold scopes that they have listed for sale, at the bottom of the page it says country of origin China.
I was under the impression that Leupold scopes were made in the USA. Does anyone out there know if they are now made in China and if so, are they all or just certain models.
I checked the Leupold websight and there is nothing there.
Thanks.
My friend who owns a gun shop here in Pa where I live for now, told me that the chinese are flooding the American market with copies of good scopes like Leupold, Burris, Nikon. The scopes are junk, the companies are suing them to stop, but the case comes up in 2009. The **** judge didn't make them stop production. If you are unfortunate to have one, and it breaks the companies won't honor the warranty, because it isn't one of their scopes. Buyer be wear, if it sounds too good of a deal, be careful.

I have a Leupold Vari X I on a 270 WSM Browning - it came with the gun.

I am as sure that it came from China, as I am that the Pope lives in Rome.

Now you tell me, how is a person supposed to sight in his rifle when the scope doesn't have any clicks in it?

I turn and turn and turn and it goes left and right and not necessarily in the direction that I want it to go.

With the price of ammo around $25 a box of 20 here - that is not a good thing.

I also bought a Bushnell Elite 3200 5 x 15 x 40 last week to replace it.

At least I know where it came from.

One little note, Japan changed the name of one of its towns about 25 years ago to USA. They pronounce it usah...

Leupold gold ring products are made in the US. Check the Leupold web page for a posting about counterfeit Leupold products from the PRC.

It is far more than a high labor cost issue. US steel companies also had to compete with steel from overseas that was directly subdized by those governments. Korean steel was cheaper because of subsidies as was German steel. The same is true with Airbus today. The French and British government underwite a good share of the R and D.

Americans seem to flock to foreign products in favor of what their neighbor produces. Just look to this forum for examples. Every time you purchase a foreign product you contribute to the balance of payment deficit and make it harder for US companies to spend on research and development for their products. The bottom line is, that if you want Americans to work for Asia wages, then don't expect them to be able to purchase what you make or sell.

Leupold green ring products are not made here. As with other US companies they have been forced to produce overseas to stay competitive with cheaper products. Do you expect them to be the equal of the gold ring suff? I don't. They are ment to compete with the other Asian products. If that is what you purchase, then compare them to products of equal quality. The majority of the other brands are also Asian.

Burris, by the way, is a foreign owned company. Once again, the profit for that sale goes to the parent company.

Purchase what you want but know the ramifications of your actions.

In this global market economy, it's truly hard to be a dyed in the wool 100% buy American products person.

The last few vehicles I've bought (Chevy and Ford) were both made in Mexico and Canada.

Remington has outsourced their materials for their rifles to foreign countries, in addition to having them built overseas and then putting their names on them.

Winchester (USRAC) is owned by foreign investors (Herstel).

Toyota and Honda, Japanese vehicles are made in the USA.

Where do you want to draw the line? I've given up trying to sort it all out and now buy where I feel the quality and pricing is.

(In my area, when you hire a contractor for any remodeling or yard work, most of the crew showing up is illegal immigrants.)

I agree that it is hard to purchase totally American. More than likely none of us do. However, that does not mean that your shouldn't when you can. Leupold gold ring products are a great choice -- not just because they are made here-- but because they are top of the line in quality. So much so that Leupold also makes one of those high dollar European scopes of another brand name. To expect their green ring products to be equal to the gold ring stuff in unreasonable. To purchase low quality, inexpensive, Chinese scopes and want them to be equal to high end optics is a poor economic position. Once again, purchase what your want, but understand the ramifications of that choice.

Know too that just because a foreign company makes a product here, it does not mean that the profit from that items stays here. You mention Japanese companies. Most that assemble here require that engineering be done at home. Only engineering adjustments are made here. One Japanese car maker recently spent millions trying to develop a way to ship car glass from Japan without breaking it so they would not have to purchase from US makers. I am not faulting them. They are just looking after their own -- a lesson that we could learn from

I emailed them yesterday about outsourcing. This is their reply:

"All Leupold Gold Ring products are made here in Beaverton Oregon.Always have been. The glass has always come from Asia. In order for usto acquire the quantity of optical glass that we need and the qualitythat we need that has always been our best source. But everything elseis made and built here in Beaverton Oregon. Sharon"

So far, so good for the Gold Ring line of products. How about the others?

Leupold just bought the Redfield name from Mead Optics. It'll be interesting what they do with that name and line.

Interesting Bob, thanks. I hadn't heard of this till your post. Here's a bit off the net about it.

http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/leupold-purchases-redfield-optics-brand/