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Chris - ? about New Leupold Gold Ring

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mike650 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/10/2010 at 13:55

“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/10/2010 at 14:04
Water Hazard??
 
Obviously some one forgot to mount the Mud tires.  Big Grin 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/12/2010 at 16:01
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/12/2010 at 23:14
 


Edited by Bird Watcher - April/12/2010 at 23:16
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2010 at 09:39
That says that their riflescopes are. I'm asking about the GR bino's.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2010 at 10:04
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
Steve
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2010 at 10:59
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

That says that their riflescopes are. I'm asking about the GR bino's.

.

"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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2010 at 13:41
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2010 at 15:41

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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2010 at 17:44
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2010 at 13:22
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

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.
 
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 American Flag 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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2010 at 15:43
All I'm looking for is a simple answer.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2010 at 16:20
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

All I'm looking for is a simple answer.
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.  Sad
 
 
 
 


Edited by Bird Watcher - April/14/2010 at 22:31
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2010 at 20:18
Bird Watcher.  No harm in admitting "I don't have the foggiest idea".  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2010 at 21:39
Perzactly
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/04/2010 at 11:09
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.
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/04/2010 at 16:37
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/04/2010 at 16:51
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
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/08/2010 at 20:11
Originally posted by STWSniper STWSniper wrote:

I agree Hunting and birding binoculars are 2 different things. For a hunting binocular I am looking for ruggedness, waterproof, clarity and low light performance. Birders will most likely go for clarity and colour rendetion as a foremost criteria in their optics choice.
 
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/08/2010 at 20:13
I can't find boots made in USA anymore.
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