Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
Scopes still made in Japan, not Philippines? |
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Author | ||
Elkins45
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/07/2014 Status: Offline Points: 25 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: September/07/2014 at 09:34 |
|
I used to be a huge fan of the Sightron S1 line of scopes because they were IMO the best exception to the general rule of optics that you get what you pay for. They were made in Japan and were the only scopes in the $100 price range that I would consider owning. In fact, I own several of them and use them on range toys and fun guns. My hunting rifles all have Leupolds, but if I had to take one of my old S1's afield I expect it would do just fine in the rain and the brush.
Fast forward to earlier this year when I bought a rimfire S1 and discovered to my huge disappointment that it was made in the Philippines. I didn't go looking for the country of origin, but I knew something was wrong the minute I looked through it. It turns out that Sightron is now doing all the S1 scopes there and not in Japan any longer. I have owned several Philippine-made Nikons and a Burris and none of them have equaled the mechanical or optical quality of a Sightron produced in Japan. To be perfectly honest I can't tell how Philippine scopes are any better than most of the cheap Chinese junk being sold at K Mart. Or maybe I'm just biased toward Japan, but my impression after looking through a bunch of scopes over the last 15 years is that I want my scopes made either in Japan, Europe or USA. So here's my question: which scope lines are still being made in Japan? |
||
cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
|
||
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
|
||
Elkins45
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/07/2014 Status: Offline Points: 25 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Wow...here's a thread that went nowhere.
|
||
Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122166 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
There are too many scopes made in Japan to go over all of them, I think.
|
||
Visit the Ed Show
|
||
bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11200 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
I was thinking that the Sightron SII and SIII lines were still L.O.W. in Japan. Perhaps not???
|
||
If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
Anomymous |
||
Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122166 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Of course, the Weaver K and V lines are made in Japan....I'm not sure about all the rest of the Weavers...
Bushnell Elites? We need help over here!!
|
||
Visit the Ed Show
|
||
Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Kaspa weaver line is made in Korea M223 line for Nikon made in Phillipines. for the cost of these scopes, they are outstanding values. Sightrons cost more most shooting stuff is made somewhere other than the US, I wish it was all US, but the reality of it is most gun powder comes from Sweden, France, Australia, only ball powder plant in the US Escort firearms are made in Turkey as well as Howa I believe. sports shooting is something everyone should be able to enjoy, not if the product works, that's great. some just want to get the kids out, and not spend a lot on machines, others wanted the best that's out there God-what a great country! |
||
I love little league baseball-- it keeps the kids out of the house
Yogi Bera |
||
cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
|
||
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
|
||
Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122166 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
|
||
Visit the Ed Show
|
||
Elkins45
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/07/2014 Status: Offline Points: 25 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
The Weaver 2.5X7 classic rimfire is made in Japan, or at least the one I bought last week was.
|
||
tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Was that one new?
|
||
Doug
|
||
cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Good scope. I have one and love it. And yes, mine says "Made in Japan" too.
|
||
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
|
||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Manufacture of most low end scopes moved out of Japan a while back, with Weaver K and V scopes being among the few holdouts.
For the most part, I have not seen any real quality difference due to that except for some early samples. Most of the rest of perceived quality difference is likely due to user bias and sample variation. Most of the Phillipine factories that make optics are Japanese owned with Japanese engineers on-site. That having been said, as the complexity goes up, Phillipine factories still struggle a bit, but even that is changing. If you insist on Japanese made scopes, get ready to pay up a bit (aside from an aforementioned Weavers). With Sightron, S2 Big Sky and S3 are made in Japan. With Bushnell, most of the Elite scopes. Just about every other Japan-made scope is even more expensive, aside from fixes power SS scopes. ILya |
||
NDhunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: September/15/2006 Status: Offline Points: 601 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
The Nikon Monarchs are made in the Phillipines, the rest are made in China. How about Leupold, where are they made. |
||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
At the moment all Nikon scopes are made in the Philipines (I do not think they make Monarch Gold or Monarch X any more which were made in Japan). ILya
|
||
Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122166 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Leupolds are made in Beaverton, Oregon...and I believe the Redfields are also made there at Leupold's facility.
|
||
Visit the Ed Show
|
||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Assembled, would be more accurate. Glass comes from China, Korea or Japan depending on the product. Same for the smaller mechanicals. |
||
RSnatch
Optics GrassHopper Joined: January/19/2009 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Specifically, what do you find to be inferior to your older Sightron SI scopes? It's my understanding that Sightron manufactures the SII line in the Philippines as well, but I've never seen a complaint on that product line. |
||
Elkins45
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/07/2014 Status: Offline Points: 25 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
I don't think I have any inherent bias against the Philippines, so I must have been a victim of an unusual amount of bad sampling variation. Both of my Nikon ProStaff scopes had mechanical flaws and the three Sightrons all have inferior optics as compared to the Japanese made versions I bought just a few years earlier. Both of the Nikon's were probably from the same lot and were both early production, and maybe the Sightrons were from the early production switchover as well. What's an SS scope?
|
||
Elkins45
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/07/2014 Status: Offline Points: 25 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Optical quality. Resolution and contrast both seem noticeably lower. Mechanically I can't tell any difference.
|
||
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |