Welcome to our blog on where the top spotting scopes are manufactured! If you‘re looking to buy a high–quality spotting scope, you‘ve come to the right place. We‘ll be exploring the different manufacturers and countries that produce the best spotting scopes.
While a number of companies still have some manufacturing facilities in the US, many moved their operations to Asia. The availability of low–cost labor and materials, as well as a more favorable regulatory environment, made countries like China, India, and South Korea particularly attractive destinations for manufacturers. As a result, many US companies began moving production to Asia in the 1980s and 1990s in order to remain competitive.
Based on our research, we have summarised our findings below – correct at the time of posting the article.
| Company | Country of Manufacture |
| Austria | USA |
| Swarovski | Austria |
| Nikon | Japan |
| Leica | Germany |
| Zeiss | Germany |
| Vortex | Philippines, Japan & China |
| Barska | China |
| Konus | Italy |
| Svbony | China |
| Meopta | Czech republic |
| Burris | USA |
| Pentax | Japan |
| Redfield | China |
While the majority of companies have moved operations to China and Japan, Leopold and Burris still have manufacturing operations in the United States.
We spoke to James Hart, one of our resident experts on spotting scopes.
“Yes, it absolutely matters where a spotting scope is manufactured. Quality can vary greatly between different manufacturers, and it is important to research the quality of the spotting scope before making a purchase.
Quality materials and precision engineering are key elements when looking for a spotting scope that will provide you with the best performance possible. Additionally, many manufacturers offer warranties and guarantees to ensure that their products will stand the test of time.
That being said, we review Barska products all the time. Although they are based in California, the majority of the manufacturing is done in China. Generally, we see that the quality of their product is comparable to the others”
Read also: Barska rifle scopes under $200
Local factory visit
One of the biggest US Manufacturers remains Leupold with their 150,000 sq facility in Beaverton, Oregon. One of our team members, Natalya Husayn, describes going there.
“A visit to the Leupold factory in Oregon is an experience like no other. The factory is a state-of-the-art facility that produces high-quality optics for rifles, binoculars, and spotting scopes. Upon entering the facility, visitors are greeted by friendly staff and given a tour of the facility.
The tour begins in the lens grinding room, where Leupold’s iconic lenses are created. From there, visitors can see how the lenses are cut and polished, and how the optical assemblies are assembled.
After watching the assembly process, visitors can walk through the testing and inspection room to see how each product is given a rigorous quality assurance check. Finally, visitors can get an inside look at Leupold’s state-of-the-art research and development lab, where the company’s engineers are constantly innovating to create the best optics on the market. Overall, a visit to the Leupold factory in Oregon is an educational and inspiring experience that showcases the company’s commitment to quality and innovation.”
If you are interested in finding out about our favorite scopes under $1000, please read this amazing article.
Conclusion
You now know where all the key manufacturing plants for spotting scopes are. Write in the comments below if there are any spotting scopes missing you would like to know about.
An optics enthusiast – I love bird watching as well as wildlife. Originally from South Africa, I moved to the UK at a young age. I love reviewing the latest binoculars as well as traveling. I work as a comms consultant during the day. My plan is to travel across the world so building up to that goal.
