the false economy of cheap scopes

[Victor3]

"The poor man pays twice" is never so true than when it's used in conjunction with scopes (And poor man me has a small suitcase full of cheap scopes to prove it!).

I've had very good luck with old El Paso K-series Weavers. I don't think I've ever paid over $100 for one, some in new condition. There is a place in Texas that refurbs them too. Not up to today's standards of multi-coated optics, but they work very well for many applications and look a whole lot more appropriate on a classic rifle than most aluminum tube models.

For new scopes, I lean toward Leupold even though they are expensive.

BTW, I can't verify this, but I've been told by some in the know (One being the owner of US optics, so take with a shaker of salt), that all Leupold scopes now use Chinese lenses.

[quickdtoo]

BTW, I can't verify this, but I've been told by some in the know (One being the owner of US optics, so take with a shaker of salt), that all Leupold scopes now use Chinese lenses.

I bet the owner of US Optics would love to start a negative rumor about a major competitor, grain of salt taken. :roll:  Here are 4 pages on the Leupold China connection started by someone who thought they knew someone  "in the know".

Tim

http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131233&highlight=leupold

[Victor3]

All I saw reading through the RFC link was a confirmation by one poster that Leupold does source glass from other countries.

I do know that they used to get their lenses from Japan (I think from Light Optical Works). I hear Hakko (Japan) has recently gone into bankrupcy, and I do know that many manufactures of telescopes and other optics are getting a lot of their lenses from China now since they can be had for good prices with excellent quality. There are some good sources there now.

No biggie, I like Leupold and trust that wherever they get their lenses from, they will be of high quality. I only mentioned it because someone above said that they would never buy Chinese.

[quickdtoo]

Leupold sources several of their binos from PRC, not just the glass. Personally, I don't care where my optics come from, just as long as the product I buy is serviceable and I get my money's worth, if I don't for some reason, then the mfr stands behind the product with good CS and repairs or replaces it, not unlike Leupold. Mueller is a prime example, PRC built optics, except for the TacII, great prices, and outstanding CS!! Who could ask for more!! :wink:

Tim