How many scope manufacturers are there

[charles p]

Are there lots of private label products in the optics industry.  Boggles my mind to think of the optic brands that keep appearing in catalogs.  How many factories can we shooters support?

When I was a kid there were about as many scope companies as car companies and not a lot of advertising other than word of mouth.  But then, a family only had one car and in those days and I had one rifle with a scope.  I guess the total pie keeps getting bigger but the number of users grow much slower.

Where do old scopes go to die?

[Graybeard]

Not nearly as many as you might think at first blush. In the US we have Leupold and Burris. Most others are made over seas either in Japan, China or the Phillipines. I doubt that in the US and Asian areas there are more than a dozen or so plus the European makers.

All these other outfits that jump in and out of the industry just buy them from these manufacturers with their names on them.

[charles p]

I figured that must be the case.  Hard to start up a factory anywhere and sell $100 optics and be profitable.  With bricks and mortar cost, R&D, machinery, sales and marketing, and freight - it would not seem that new companies could easily sprout up.

Suspected that many new brands were private label products.

Will the bubble ever burst?  When will we reach saturation point?

[wfeher]

what about nightforce, i thought they were made in the good ol u s of a

[Swampman]

Some scopes are assembled in the US out of parts made in China.  They still mark them Made in USA.

[45-70.gov]

i was  told by  one of my supplyers
i  could have scopes  named  what ever  i wanted
packaged  to  my  specs

just  had to  order  one thousand  at a time.....alike

i  told  them  my middle name was leupold 
and  thats  what  i wanted  the scopes  name  to be
they  said  that  might  not  work  out  to  well for  me

so  send  me  900  prepaid  orders  and  i will  get us  some ''GREYBEARD OPTICS''  SCOPES

[PLEASE  DON'T  DELETE  THIS  FOR  NOT BEING IN THE CLASIFIED  SECTION      LOL]

[mrbigtexan]

where are the muellers made?

[Graybeard]

Made in China to Mueller's specifications.

[yooper77]

Question: How many scope manufacturers are there?

Answer: One in my eyes = Leupold! (All others fail to measure up)

That was fun!

Some retail stores put their names on optics made by other companies.

I am sure there are more than I realize if someone has an accurate listing.

Anyone know who makes the scope sold with Thompson Center name?

yooper77

[Swampman]

I use to be a Leupold fan.  After spending a lot of time looking through scopes both in and out of stores I use Nikon Prostaffs & Bushnells.  As good or better for 1/2 the money.