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Smith & Wesson Performance Optics Binos??

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gremlin View Drop Down
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    Posted: July/10/2004 at 06:44

I understand that S&W discontinued their Performance Optics line and have seen some great looking prices on the bino's on the web.  12x50 phase coated roofs with armor and RainShield coatings are not uncommon for $150 or so and the 8x32's can be found for $110 if you look around.

 

They were supposedly made by Hakko in Japan and look almost exactly the same dimensionally and optically to the Leupold Olympic 12x50's.

 

I bought a pair of 10x25's on eBay for $33 and got awesome performance out of them--not quite as bright as my Pentax DCF MP's in 8x22, but certainly as sharp and good with color rendition at 75 yards.

 

Has anyone had experience with their larger binoculars or can you add ANYTHING AT ALL about the S&W brand optics' origin?  They seem to be optically identical to the Leupold Olympic, Alpen Apex, and very similar to the Bushnell Legends.  Is it just me or did these binoculars get made someplace close to other, more famous or familiar bino's?

 

Thanks for the help!

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Chris Farris View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/12/2004 at 14:42
They most likely did come from the same factory as the others you mention.  Good buy while they last but keep in mind they look similar because they use the same housing, the glass and coatings on all of them are most likely different.
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gremlin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gremlin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/24/2004 at 02:33

I bought a pair of the 12x50's and my initial impression is that I would have been disappointed to have paid the $500 that Smith and Wesson was asking for them two years ago, however, I gave $150 new in the box delivered and feel like I got a steal.  They're not as rich in color as the Leupold Pinnacles but they compare very favorably with the Leupold Olympics for less than half the cost (at close out prices for as long as they last). 

 

I've got an Audubon bird walk tomorrow and I'll post a write up on them next week after I've had a chance to give them a work out.  They're from the Hakko plant in Japan that produces the higher end lines for Celestron, Leupold, and Bushnell and they have a really solid feel to them. 

 

Today they're a bargain.  Tomorrow... we'll see.  There's a chance of rain and if that's the case, I'll be able to compare the caliber of their RainShield versus Bushnell's Rain Guard.

 

Gremlin.

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