Check out Schmidt & Bender’s web site, the Marines just decided that they were better, although they went with a variable instead of a fixed power. Believe you will also find they are lower priced as there is no “nostalgia premium” attached.
I have a 1.25x4 Schmidt & Bender, and it is very high quality. I bought it for a project I am in the midst of and am playing with it on other rifles right now. Is it functionally superior to say a Leopold, considering the cost difference, probably not, but it meets my project’s requirements regarding the “cool” factor.
Life is no joke but funny things happen
jon