Scope industry secret?

[Pilsner]

Just found this video from Jim at BackFire where he found over a dozen "different" 4-16x44 scopes that were all made in the same factory to nearly identical specs.

This got me to wondering just how many optics manufacturers ARE out there? and has anyone put together a list of what manufacturer is making optics for which of the big and medium name optics companies like Nightforce, Leupold, Vortex, Arken, Tract, etc.?
It also seems that even the companies making scope here in the states are just building the bodies here and assembling them using either German or Japanese or Chinese glass.

Thoughts on this?

-Pilsner

 

[Axlrod]

Didn't know this was a secret.

 

[KenLee]

Just found this video from Jim at BackFire where he found over a dozen "different" 4-16x44 scopes that were all made in the same factory to nearly identical specs.

This got me to wondering just how many optics manufacturers ARE out there? and has anyone put together a list of what manufacturer is making optics for which of the big and medium name optics companies like Nightforce, Leupold, Vortex, Arken, Tract, etc.?
It also seems that even the companies making scope here in the states are just building the bodies here and assembling them using either German or Japanese or Chinese glass.

Thoughts on this?

-Pilsner

At least his list of Companies selling that scope are all turds and I'd have avoided all of them anyway.

 

[Pilsner]

Didn't know this was a secret.

He has to have some type of click bait title and thumbnail - its YT after all.
You are correct - it's not a very well-kept secret if it ever was one.
But I would still like to see a list of companies selling optics today matched up to a list of where their product was actually manufactured (not assembled).
-Pilsner

 

[Marbles]

But I would still like to see a list of companies selling optics today matched up to a list of where their product was actually manufactured (not assembled).

Would be more than one location, you would need to break it down by material cost from each location to have anything close to meaningful.

 

[Pilsner]

Ok, let's do this is a thought experiment.
Say if Vortex, Maven, and Leupold are all using the same glass and tubes from the same Asian factory on their low-end optics. Thats a useful point of comparison if the components are the same, and the warranty is the same, but the cost is different.
The same for their medium glass - if they are all using the same Germany company to make their glass and coating then sending it to the US for assemble then that is another valuable point of comparison for the consumer.
Unless you think I am a moron for wondering this then let me know what I have missed.
-Pilsner

 

[Marbles]

Useful, sure. But, I don't think it is that simple. It is the smaller parts than cannot be observed without disassembly that interest me, springs and such.

On springs, they could be made on the same line, in the same factory, but use different stock or change post processing and be of different quality. Most likely though, a place like LOW doesn't make the springs, and I bet they have different ones that can be specified to reach a price target.

Basically, it gets too complex to provide useful information efficiently. Beyond that, manufacturers are not going to be open enough and even if they were for various reasons will shift suppliers over time.

I could be wrong, perhaps someone in the business can enlighten us.

 

[KenLee]

Ok, let's do this is a thought experiment.
Say if Vortex, Maven, and Leupold are all using the same glass and tubes from the same Asian factory on their low-end optics. Thats a useful point of comparison if the components are the same, and the warranty is the same, but the cost is different.
The same for their medium glass - if they are all using the same Germany company to make their glass and coating then sending it to the US for assemble then that is another valuable point of comparison for the consumer.
Unless you think I am a moron for wondering this then let me know what I have missed.
-Pilsner

Still didn't hear a name that I'm buying new.

 

[wapitibob]

Leupold makes their own tubes. We used to make tubes for a NF model that’s no longer in production. One of their other models was assembled on the same line as the vortex pst in a Japanese plant.

 

[Pilsner]

Who makes the glass for Leupold and NF? They dont make their own do they? Just overseas makers doing it to their specs?

 

[Pilsner]

Still didn't hear a name that I'm buying new.

Well what optics companies WILL you buy new products from? And do you not want to know who made the glass that went into that product?
I have the same questions about NightForce, S&B, Leica, and Swaro as well.
Or do you think that is all an exercise in mental masturbation aka pointless to you?

-Pilsner

 

[Southernfried]

I asked a similar question a while back. Some answers you are looking for may be in there. Good luck!Scope mfgs?

 

[KenLee]

Well what optics companies WILL you buy new products from? And do you not want to know who made the glass that went into that product?
I have the same questions about NightForce, S&B, Leica, and Swaro as well.
Or do you think that is all an exercise in mental masturbation aka pointless to you?

-Pilsner

Pretty much yes to your 2nd question, but the #2, 3 and Trijicon in your list this time

 

[JohnJohnson]

I don't think it was much of a secret and I also don't think it's particularly informative on its own. For instance Vortex has their Razors made at LOW but then switches out most of the internals in their facility in the US. Nightforce uses LOW glass but do stuff in the USA related to the construction of it.

 

[wapitibob]

Who makes the glass for Leupold and NF? They dont make their own do they? Just overseas makers doing it to their specs?

No, they buy. I believe Swaro and Zeiss have their own glass, not sure about anybody else.

 

[Thinkingman]

I have heard from a number of sources Zeiss makes the optical elements for Meopta.

 

[KenLee]

I have heard from a number of sources Zeiss makes the optical elements for Meopta.

Backwards from what I've heard. Meopta makes the lower level Zeiss scopes.

 

[TaperPin]

Modern manufacturing seems to be somewhat mysterious to the general public, so these discussions are really good. Global supply chains have evolved because different companies are simply better at different things. No company controls all the inputs along the supply chain to their manufacturing, so supporting companies and even the production of raw materials is important. I have no doubt high end lenses are best sourced from companies like Zeiss, Leica, Swaro, etc., but are these same company set up to be the lowest cost producer of more basic lenses? Probably not, that’s not their competitive advantage.

 

[RockAndSage]

Modern manufacturing seems to be somewhat mysterious to the general public, so these discussions are really good. Global supply chains have evolved because different companies are simply better at different things. No company controls all the inputs along the supply chain to their manufacturing, so supporting companies and even the production of raw materials is important. I have no doubt high end lenses are best sourced from companies like Zeiss, Leica, Swaro, etc., but are these same company set up to be the lowest cost producer of more basic lenses? Probably not, that’s not their competitive advantage.

"There's not a single person in the world who could make this pencil":

 

[KenLee]

"There's not a single person in the world who could make this pencil":

But John Wick can kill 3 men in a bar with it.