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Tez308
.224 member

Reged: 08/01/06
Posts: 6

Are Leupolds still made in the USA?
#57341 - 18/05/06 10:02 PM

Read this.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=859657&an=0&page=0#859657
My one an only Leupold(VX111)is the "Made in the USA" Type.

Whats the go,have they set up shop in another country

?

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DoubleD
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Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2437
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: Tez308]
#57349 - 19/05/06 01:42 AM

Most clearly the absence of Made in USA means is it definitely Made in USA. U.S. Law requires that good must bear the country of Origin if not U.S.

In reply to:

Title 19: Customs Duties
PART 134—COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING
Subpart B—Articles Subject to Marking

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§ 134.11 Country of origin marking required.
Unless excepted by law, section 304, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), requires that every article of foreign origin (or its container) imported into the United States shall be marked in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the article (or container) will permit, in such manner as to indicate to an ultimate purchaser in the United States the English name of the country of origin of the article, at the time of importation into the Customs territory of the United States. Containers of articles excepted from marking shall be marked with the name of the country of origin of the article unless the container is also excepted from marking

--------------------
DD, Ret.

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Tez308
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Reged: 08/01/06
Posts: 6

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: DoubleD]
#57360 - 19/05/06 08:50 AM

Yep.
This rumour is Wrong & total Bullsh!t!

I wrote directly to Leupold with the link & lots of questions.
I received a very informative(Detailed) & impressive email to where they source there gear.
And yes the Gold Ring series are still 100% asembled in the USA.
Now I can sleep easy,after I buy two more

.

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sako300
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Reged: 24/11/07
Posts: 29
Loc: BC Canada

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: Tez308]
#102988 - 20/04/08 12:53 PM

Of course, watch that you don't get a bogus counterfeit one made in China. Apparently this is a big problem with low-price online (disreputable dealers). Check out the Leupold website for warnings.

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mickey
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Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: Tez308]
#105038 - 14/05/08 02:44 PM

Tez

There is a difference between Made in the USA and Assembled in the USA. Where did Leopold say they got their lenses from?

--------------------
Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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JabaliHunter
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Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: DoubleD]
#105069 - 14/05/08 09:39 PM

Quote:

Most clearly the absence of Made in USA means is it definitely Made in USA. U.S. Law requires that good must bear the country of Origin if not U.S.

Quote:

Title 19: Customs Duties
PART 134—COUNTRY OF ORIGIN MARKING
Subpart B—Articles Subject to Marking

Browse Next

§ 134.11 Country of origin marking required.
Unless excepted by law, section 304, Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304), requires that every article of foreign origin (or its container) imported into the United States shall be marked in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the article (or container) will permit, in such manner as to indicate to an ultimate purchaser in the United States the English name of the country of origin of the article, at the time of importation into the Customs territory of the United States. Containers of articles excepted from marking shall be marked with the name of the country of origin of the article unless the container is also excepted from marking

Doesn't look like that applies to the origin of components though. Frankly I couldn't care where its made, as long as its GOOD.

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500Nitro
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Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: mickey]
#105071 - 14/05/08 10:00 PM

Quote:

Tez

There is a difference between Made in the USA and Assembled in the USA. Where did Leopold say they got their lenses from?

Where do most get the lenses from.

Germany and Japn - 2 of the best places to buy glass

And frankly, if they didn't, I'd be surpised.

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dnovo
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Reged: 21/02/05
Posts: 490
Loc: Chicago & SE Wisconsin

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: 500Nitro]
#105083 - 14/05/08 10:43 PM

As an amateur astronomer of long standing, I have a more than passing idea on 'where you get the glass from.' That is not a simple response.

I do not believe that optical blanks, for telescope lenses or telescopic sight lenses, have been made in the US for many, many years. The more expensive blanks came from Schott in Germany, from several Japanese sources, and from the former Soviet Union, which (while QC was not always the best) was capable of producing fine optic blanks.

There are still a handful of US companies building high end optics and telescopes, and they source their blanks from one or more of the above sources and then grind and polish here. I assume the high end US optics companies such as Leupold and Nightforce do the same if they state that the products are of domestic origin since I recall that raw material disclosure is not required under this regulation.

Now, if they are obtaining pre-built optics and simply assembling the tubes, etc here, that should be disclosed, IMHO. Dave

--------------------
Time Wounds All Heels

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9.3x57
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Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: dnovo]
#105088 - 14/05/08 11:08 PM

Leupold has different lines of scopes. I do not believe ALL components in ALL models are Made in USA.

Good question, I'll check.

Burris some time ago began assembling most of their lines in Philippines, like a growing number of scope makers. This is not necessarily bad, except in the case of the Burris scopes, I've heard a lot of negative feedback on the Filipino scopes. Whether this will improve or worsen with time who knows?

I had a great deal of respect for the Burris scopes. All of mine are stamped Made in USA and we like them very much.

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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DoubleD
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Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2437
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Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: 9.3x57]
#105092 - 14/05/08 11:38 PM

On the marking law.

If any component is made outside of the U.S. it must say on the product where that component is from. If assembled in the U.S. from foreign parts it will say assembled in the U.S. from foreign made parts from ---.

If it says made in the U.S. or does not say where it was made then all components are U.S.

If Leupold is using lenses made out side the U.S. the product must be marked where the lense were made. If Leupold has a line of scopes made out side the US they will be clearly marked where they were made.

Now the issue of getting lense blanks is interesting. The Marking law does allow for applying for a waiver in marking country of origin if there is a substantial change in the product. I question whether that would apply to lense blanks. Aluminum billets used to extrude scope tubes would be a good example of an item having a substantial change and eligible for waiver.

Now all this was correct as of March 29, 2008. After that I can't be sure because that's the day I retired from Customs and Border Protection. And of course If you want a definitive opinion on the Marking Law contact a U.S. CBP Import Specialist.

--------------------
DD, Ret.

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9.3x57
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Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: DoubleD]
#105096 - 15/05/08 12:20 AM

Thanks for the interesting info DD.

Yes, the Burris Filipino scopes are so marked...

...in very small print...

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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JabaliHunter
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Reged: 16/05/07
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Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: DoubleD]
#105097 - 15/05/08 12:26 AM

Quote:

Now all this was correct as of March 29, 2008. After that I can't be sure because that's the day I retired from Customs and Border Protection.

Thats good enough for me!!

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DoubleD
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Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2437
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: JabaliHunter]
#105099 - 15/05/08 12:54 AM

I just saw the post over on 24 Hour campfire where a representative of Leupold says they are are out sourcing their lens material overseas. If they are realy doing that they may be in violation of the Marking Law. The problem for Customs who has jurusdiction over the Marking law is that the Scopes are being sold domestically and would not be encountered upon importation. Additionally they may be getting lense stock and doing their own grinding and may have a marking waiver on file for a substantial change in material.

The only way CBP would take action---via Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) domestically would be upon a complaint. Now if I were a Customs Officer I might contact an Import Specialist in Portland and see what they know. But I am retired and still waiting to get my gold watch and my first retirement check.

The only person I would think that would be interested in reporting a possible violation would be the CEO of Burris.

--------------------
DD, Ret.

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9.3x57
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Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: DoubleD]
#105101 - 15/05/08 01:10 AM

I have a pair of Leupold binocs that are marked Made in Japan. I bought them about 30 years ago, and they are superb. Have used them all over and the optical quality is excellent. No fogging either. No complaints.

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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xausa
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Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 2037
Loc: Tennessee, USA

Re: Are Leupolds still made in the USA? [Re: 9.3x57]
#105154 - 15/05/08 02:37 PM

I posed this question to a friend who just recently retired from Leupold. This was his answer:

"All Leupold Gold Ring Products are made and assembled in Beaverton, Oregon, USA, with exception of the lenses which are procured from Germany and the Far East. Important: Although lens procurement is from foreign sources, the lenses themselves are designed, specified, and quality controlled by Leupold.

Some of the glass reticles are also made in Germany. Not because they are less expensive (they're not), but simply because US manufacturers could not meet Leupold's specifications.

As an aside, since Nightforce was mentioned, I believe Nightforce are made, assembled, totally outside the US."

I hope this helps.

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