Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Vintage Leupold Binoculars - any info?

When did Leupold start building binoculars?

What models were there?

In particular:

A Guy in '64; could he have bought Leupold binos and if what kind?

BTT

With kind regards, BTT. I really would like to know.

Thank you.

The first ones I had(and seen) was a set of infinity focused 10X50. Not sure if infinity focused is the right word or not. But the binoculars did not have a focus wheel. The quality was decent, but I am not sure now if they were American made or not. I traded them and bought some Swaro's. If I remember correctly the year was roughly 1990. This was the first Leupold binoculars that I ever seen. But that is just my experience. There could have been earlier models, but I do not remember seeing them. Tom.

Thanks Tom. That narrows it down a bit.

To my knowledge, Leupold only made binoculars themselves for a brief period in the late 1990's. They didn't sell very well and the project was cancelled. All the other Leupold binoculars have been imported.

Why don't you contact Leupold customer service? There's a guy there named Garfth Kendig who knows an awful lot about this history of Leupold optics. For instance, I have a very early Vari-X II 3-9x from the 1960's, and the reticle isn't constantly centered. I had never heard of this before so called Mr. Kendig, and he said, yeah, those were made during the first couple years of production.

I have a Leupold Gold Ring 9x35 IF porro I bought in 1992. There were three variations of this porro glass, mine being the last one. I think the original of that one showed up in 1986 or so. I think they were Japanese, in spite of he Gold Ring.

I have a review of the 9 x 35 Leupold Hunting Binoculars that was published in a newsletter in February, 1984. The reviewer bought his pair in 1983 for around $200. They had a mottled flat black exterior, and were also available in 7 x 30.

I think that was Leupold's first venture into producing binoculars, but I could be wrong.

Bob

I have a pair of those....good binoculars. At the time I purchased them from Cabella's in Nebraska they were as good as any out there. At the store in Sidney we took about 6 pair of various bins outside and compared. The Leupies were good. About 5 years ago they were getting pretty ugly and beat up. I sent them back to Leupold. They Called me and said they had enough parts to rebuild them, but cosmetically they might not be perfect, or they would offer me a new pair of different bins. I had them rebuilt. They are still pretty good,living a pretty easy life as "cabin" binoculars.

Lefty C

I have a pair I bought around 1994. They are 8X32, rubber coated CF roof prism. I have often wondered where they were made. I assumed they were US manufacture when I bought them. They have been very good, and I would be lost without them.

I still have a early Gold Ring porro 10x40. Seems they were from 80's. Individual focus? Don't carry them anymore.

I loved them, but also love the new Yosemites!

stumpy

Thanks all. The input is very appretiated.

I think everyone has hit on them. From what I remember in the late 80s the came out with the Porro binos described above in 7X30,9X35, and 10X40. They were Gold Ring, IF and made in Japan for Leupold. Pretty good glass for the money. I've still got a pair of the 7X30 and 10X40. I replaced the 7x30 several years ago for a set of 8X42 Pentax with center focus. If the 7X30 had center focus I'd still be using them in the woods. The 10X40 work well in open country.

270

I was turned onto the leupold compact Gold Ring bino's by one of my hunters. American made, I.F.,single-hinge, small, light and good glass. I've had the 10x28's for quite a few years and love them. Highridge1 had a pair of the 9x25's on the classifieds a week or two back. Resistance was futile.....They reside in the truck console, now.