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Chris - ? about New Leupold Gold Ring |
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Online Points: 14569 |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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Water Hazard??
Obviously some one forgot to mount the Mud tires.
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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Regarding the Leupold Gold Rings, does anybody know if these are really made in the USA or is this one of the Leupold games of Assembled in the USA.
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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That says that their riflescopes are. I'm asking about the GR bino's.
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Klamath
Optics Master Joined: May/20/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1308 |
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As far as I know the GR Binos are made in Japan. The original ones were assembled in the Leupold plant, but not now. Getting a solid answer to this is sort of like chasing a greased pig. From some thread on bird forum, the designer of the GR bino pretty strongly hinted (but did not say so outright) that the design partner was/is Kowa. He was fired by Leupold for some reason, which was the only reason he was on the thread in the first place. This guy was also responsible for the Yosemite. The last Gold Ring box I saw said nothing about either made in or asembled in anywhere. My GR Switch Powers say nothing about their heritage.
Edited by Klamath - April/13/2010 at 10:05 |
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Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron |
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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."Leupold uses foreign sourced components for some parts of Golden Ring products, primarily lenses. This is because at this time, there is no American manufacturer that can supply the quantity of high quality lenses that Leupold needs for its annual Golden Ring Optics production. Leupold’s lens systems are designed at Leupold, by American optical engineers, in its state-of -the-art optics lab and then procured from outside vendors who must meet stringent quality standards".
(Golden Ring products and Golden Ring Optics should also include binoculars). Edited by Bird Watcher - April/13/2010 at 15:54 |
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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Are you saying that Leupold gets it's lenses only from forein sources and that they make all the other components themselves just like the riflescopes? Like what Steve said, the box that the GR bino's comes in doesn't say Made or Assembled in the USA like the scopes do.
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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ROY, It seems like it has been quite some time since we tackled the question of optical glass & it sources, correct me if I am wrong. (As I get older my memory gets rustier).
I was under the impression that "Top-of-the-Line" optical glass, for binoculars, only comes from two main locations, Schott AG in EUROPE and manufacturers in JAPAN.
Perhaps Koshkin & lucznik will chime in and shed more light on the subject, once again.
<The ABOVE Quotation is from the LEUPOLD website and NOT my own wording>.
Stan
Edited by Bird Watcher - April/13/2010 at 17:02 |
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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Glass can come from many sources all over the world. That's not what I am referring to and perhaps I wasn't clear on that. I have heard that the GR bino's were completely made in Japan.
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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Are we being taken on an emotional journey? (Honest Question)
Advertising has been a real sore spot for alot of us, over the years, because advertisement is done in such a way so as to ATTRACT customers (buyers/consumers), and often times is NOT 100% honest.
Companies such as Minox use Schott AG glass, from Mainz Germany, but the Top-of-the-Line HG/High Grade Series of binoculars are assembled in Japan. I do not see this as a problem.
If the Golden Ring binoculars, from USA Leupold, ARE being made in Japan, I do not see that as an issue, as we all know that Japan has some of the very best optics and optical products in the world, as well as very high standards for manufacturing and Quality Control. (Leupold seems to think so also). In the 21st century we do live in a Global Market, under a Global Economy.
If advertising IS "THE" ISSUE, and we want to do something about it, we need to start making phone calls, or sending emails, UNTIL we are satisfied that they are being Honest, in their advertisements, to their loyal customers. Obviously there is some current confusion regarding where Golden Ring binoculars are being assembled and/or manufactured., etc.
I understand that some Americans have real Patriotic feelings when it comes to supporting Communist countries. That is an individual decision that a person has to make for themselves, regarding the purchase of foreign products.
Because our economy is so messed up and because the US dollar no longer has the strength that it once had, we have been flooded with numerous goods from China, to fill in the gap. Alot of consumers, on a tight budget, are looking at price first. Those of us who are interested in the county of manufacture are probably much smaller in numbers.
Edited by Bird Watcher - April/14/2010 at 18:46 |
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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All I'm looking for is a simple answer.
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Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
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Roy,
I was thinking about the Red, White, and Blue remarks, from chasseur, on page 1 of this post.
I think that many of us would love a simple answer, however, certain companies choose to shroud their products with an air of mystery.
Edited by Bird Watcher - April/14/2010 at 22:31 |
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Bird Watcher. No harm in admitting "I don't have the foggiest idea".
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Roy Finn
MODERATOR Steiner Junkie Joined: April/05/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4856 |
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Perzactly
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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Roy,
My 8x42 Golden Ring binocular has "Assembled in USA" very clearly indicated on both the binocular and on the box. My 15-30x50 Golden Ring spotting scope has the same. US law (§304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 as amended 19 U.S.C. § 1304), requires that all imported products have their country of origin "conspicuously and indelibly marked in English" and must be so indicated on both the product and its packaging. There are very strict standards for what can be legally labeled "made in USA." The short version is that to so label a product it must be "all or virtually all" made in the USA. I cannot point you to a definitive source as I've forgotten the link and cannot now find the printout I made from it, but I read once in an official announcement by Leupold that all Golden Ring products are assembled in the United States. The housings, tubes, turrets, etc., etc., etc. are manufactured in their Beaverton, Oregon plant whereas the glass components are manufactured and shipped in from Japan. Green Ring "Wind River" products are all wholly manufactured in either Japan or China. |
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What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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My GR HD's do not have assembled in the USA anywhere on the box. They are 3-4 months old.
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lucznik
Optics Master Joined: November/27/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1436 |
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That's very interesting. Of course, as an "assembled in USA" product, they do not strictly have to mark such as the law applies specifically to import products, but it is interesting that they would elect to change their long-standing practice.
Most US companies really take advantage of any opportunity to emphasize their "home-made" status. Did they remove the "Assembled in USA" engravings from off the binocular as well. It is on one of the "golden rings" on mine? (I don't remember which side and I don't have the binocular in front of me to check.) Edited by lucznik - May/04/2010 at 16:52 |
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What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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anweis
Optics Master Joined: January/29/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1148 |
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Interesting. So, can i take my birding glass hunting? Or, can i watch birds while hunting?Just kidding, of course i am doing that.
A good binocular is a good binocular.
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anweis
Optics Master Joined: January/29/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1148 |
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I can't find boots made in USA anymore.
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