Leupold & Stevens

Last updated
Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
Company type Private
IndustryOptics and Sporting Goods
Founded1907
Headquarters
Beaverton, Oregon
,
United States
45°31′26″N122°49′21″W / 45.52380°N 122.82243°W / 45.52380; -122.82243
Key people
Bruce Pettet, CEO
Revenueapprox. $160 million (2010) [1]
Number of employees
approx. 700 (Nov. 2010) [1]
Website www.leupold.com

Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is an American manufacturer of telescopic sights, red dot sights, binoculars, rangefinders, spotting scopes, and eyewear located in Beaverton, Oregon, United States. The company, started in 1907, is on its fifth generation of family ownership. [2] [3]

Contents

History

A vintage Osborne Fire Finder produced under the name "Leupold-Volpel & Co." Osborne Fire Finder at Sand Mountain Lookout 01.jpg
A vintage Osborne Fire Finder produced under the name "Leupold-Volpel & Co."

Leupold & Stevens was founded by the German immigrant Markus Friedrich (Fred) Leupold and his brother-in-law Adam Voelpel in 1907, under the name Leupold & Voelpel. At the time, the company specialized in the repair of survey equipment. [4] In 1911, Leupold & Voelpel was contracted by John Cyprian (J.C.) Stevens to manufacture a water level recorder he had designed and patented. After the initial success of the product, he was made partner in 1914 and the company was renamed Leupold, Voelpel, and Co. [5] Besides the first water level recorder, the company invented several other innovative pieces of equipment, such as the Telemark water recorder which was patented in 1939. [5] This device could transmit water level information via telephone, allowing for remote monitoring of water resources to become feasible.

In 1942, the company name was changed to its present form, Leupold & Stevens. Surveying equipment, rifle scopes, and related products are sold under the "Leupold" name, while water monitoring instrumentation, such as level and flow recorders, are marketed under the "Stevens" brand. [5]

After World War II Leupold & Stevens began making gun scopes after Marcus Leupold failed to hit a deer with his rifle. His scope fogged up and he is reported to have exclaimed "Hell! I could build a better scope than this!" as the deer bounded off. [3] [4] In 1962, Leupold invented the Duplex Reticle, which most riflescopes now use. [6] By 1979, Leupold scopes were generating twice the total revenue of Stevens instruments. [3] [7]

In 1969, the company acquired a majority interest in the company Nosler Bullets (also a family company), and then sold off their portion in 1988. [3] [4] Other ventures include Biamp Systems (1985–1986), makers of sound equipment, and Fabmark (1984–1990), a sheet metal fabrication division that serviced high technology companies.

By 1996, the company had sales of $100 million. [4] In 1998, the water monitoring portion of Leupold & Stevens was spun off into its own privately held Portland-based business, Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, inc., with Leupold & Stevens also retaining the "Stevens" name as part of their corporate identity. [7] In 2002, Leupold & Stevens won a Wausau Insurance Gold Award for workplace safety at the company's factory. [8] By 2006, the company employed 600 people at its Beaverton facility. [9] The company is now in its fifth generation of ownership. [3]

In 2008, Leupold & Stevens purchased Redfield Optics along with its brand name and all intellectual property rights. [10] In 2010, the company added almost 100 employees, bringing total employment to almost 700 by November of that year. [1] In late 2010, a Portland Business Journal article gave the company's annual revenue as approximately $160 million, citing Reference.com for the estimate. [1]

A new chief executive, Bruce Pettet, was named in February 2014. [11] The 2014 NRA National Championship equipment survey listed Leupold as the most popular scope manufacturer for both the high power and high power hunter competition. [12]

Products

Leupold currently produces telescopic sights, red dot sights, binoculars, rangefinders, spotting scopes, and eyewear products in addition to scope mounts, apparel, and accessories. In 2020, Leupold launched a virtual factory tour.

Riflescopes

Red dot sights

Binoculars

Spotting scopes

Rangefinders

Mounts

Eyewear

Military contracts

Leupold and Stevens Mark 6 scope with variable magnification 3-18x44mm, mounted on a M24 SWS. Leupold-Mark-6-on-IDF-M24-SWS-2018.jpg
Leupold and Stevens Mark 6 scope with variable magnification 3-18x44mm, mounted on a M24 SWS.
IDF M24 SWS with Leupold Mark 6 3-18x44mm sniper scope. IDF-M24-SWS-2018-Zachi-Evenor.jpg
IDF M24 SWS with Leupold Mark 6 3-18x44mm sniper scope.
Leupold FX-II Ultralight scope on a Ruger 77/44. Leupold Ultra Light Scope.jpg
Leupold FX-II Ultralight scope on a Ruger 77/44.

The company's riflescopes are used by organizations such as the United States Army, the Secret Service and the Navy SEALs. [13] The United States Navy and the Marine Corps also use their scopes. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaverton, Oregon</span> City in Oregon, United States

Beaverton is a city in Washington County, in the U.S. state of Oregon with a small portion bordering Portland in the Tualatin Valley. The city is among the main cities that make up the Portland metropolitan area. Its population was 97,494 at the 2020 census, making it the second most populous city in the county and the seventh most populous city in Oregon. Beaverton is an economic center for Washington County along with neighboring Hillsboro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M24 Sniper Weapon System</span> Bolt action sniper rifle

The M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) or M24 is the military and police version of the Remington Model 700 rifle, M24 being the model name assigned by the United States Army after adoption as their standard sniper rifle in 1988. The M24 is referred to as a "weapon system" because it consists of not only a rifle, but also a detachable telescopic sight and other accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tektronix</span> American test and measurement devices company

Tektronix, historically widely known as Tek, is an American company best known for manufacturing test and measurement devices such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and video and mobile test protocol equipment. Originally an independent company, it is now a subsidiary of Fortive, a spinoff from Danaher Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle</span> Designated marksman rifle

The Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R) is a semi-automatic designated marksman rifle developed and used by the United States Marine Corps. It gave users the capability to provide fire in support of a rifle squad, providing precision fire in support of an assault, and aid in observation and adjusting of supporting arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reser's Fine Foods</span> Corporation in Beaverton, Oregon, US

Reser's Fine Foods, Inc., an American corporation based in Beaverton, Oregon, manufactures and distributes fresh and refrigerated prepared foods. Over 1,000 products are available in the 50 U.S. states, Canada, Guam, Mexico, and areas of the Far East. Its prepared foods are sold in national grocery chains, independent outlets, and convenience stores. Oregon State University's football stadium, Reser Stadium, is named after the company, which is one of its sponsors. Reser’s is also a primary sponsor of Martin Truex Jr. and the #19 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Cup Series. Reser's consistently ranks in the top ten privately held Oregon companies by annual revenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SR-25</span> Designated marksman rifle

The SR-25 is a designated marksman rifle and semi-automatic sniper rifle designed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by Knight's Armament Company.

Bushnell Corporation is an American firm that specializes in sporting optics and outdoor products. It is based in Overland Park, Kansas and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vista Outdoor. Bushnell makes binoculars, telescopes, spotting scopes, riflescopes, red dot sights, GPS devices, laser rangefinders, game cameras, night-vision devices and other optical equipments.

The McMillan TAC-50 is a long-range anti-materiel rifle. The TAC-50 is based on previous designs from the same company, which first appeared during the late 1980s. From May 2017 until November 2023, it held the record for the longest confirmed sniper kill. McMillan makes several .50 caliber rifles, based on the same proprietary action, for military, law enforcement and civilian use. It is produced in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States by McMillan Firearms Manufacturing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Scout Sniper Rifle</span> Designated marksman rifle

The Marine Scout Sniper Rifle (MSSR) is a Philippine semi-automatic designated marksman rifle developed by the Philippine Marine Corps for their Marine Scout Snipers. Designed in the mid-1990s to replace severely-outdated battle rifles then used as marksman rifles, the MSSR is essentially an M16A1 that has been heavily modified and accurized to serve as a marksman rifle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merix Corporation</span>

Merix Corporation was an American printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer based in Beaverton, Oregon. Prior to a merger in 2010 with Viasystems, the company had been the 31st largest public company in Oregon based on market capitalization as of 2006. The company is now part of TTM Technologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I.O.R.</span>

Întreprinderea Optică Română, often abbreviated by the acronym IOR, is a major optics company established in 1936 in Bucharest. IOR produces military and civilian-grade optics and associated equipment for export and domestic production. The company is known in North America particularly for its riflescopes, binoculars and other sporting optics, which often accompany Romanian military equipment sold on the North American market, such as the PSL rifle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T93 sniper rifle</span> Sniper rifle

The T93 Sniper Rifle is a 7.62×51mm bolt-action rifle designed and manufactured in Taiwan. It had an improved variant with 10-rounds magazine, called T93K1.

Schmidt & Bender is a German company specialized in producing high-end telescopic sights for hunting, sports, law enforcement and military arms.

The Beaverton Valley Times, also known as the Valley Times, is a weekly newspaper covering the city of Beaverton, Oregon, United States, and adjacent unincorporated areas in the northern part of the Tualatin Valley. Owned since 2000 by the Pamplin Media Group, the paper was established in 1921. Currently based in neighboring Portland, the Valley Times is printed each Thursday.

The C14 Timberwolf MRSWS is a bolt-action sniper rifle built by the Canadian arms company PGW Defence Technologies Inc. In 2005 they won the contract to supply the Canadian Forces Land Command with the C14 Timberwolf MRSWS for $4.5 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L129A1</span> Designated marksman rifle

The L129A1, also known as the L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle, is a 7.62×51mm NATO designated marksman rifle manufactured by Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) for the British Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis Machine & Tool Company</span> American firearms manufacturer

Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) is an American armaments company founded by Karl Lewis, in 1980. LMT manufactures weapon systems including a variant of the M4 carbine and the M203 grenade launcher. LMT products are used by the military forces of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Estonia, and the United States. LMT formerly produced forged FAL receivers for Illinois-based DS Arms.

Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (ESI) is an American high technology company headquartered in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area, specifically in Beaverton, Oregon, since 2021, but from 1963–2021, it was based in the unincorporated Cedar Mill area just north of Beaverton. ESI is a developer and supplier of photonic and laser systems for microelectronics manufacturers. Founded in 1944, it is the oldest high-tech company in Oregon. Along with Tektronix, and later Intel, it has spawned numerous technology-based companies in the Portland area, an area known as the Silicon Forest. From 1983 to 2019, shares in the company were publicly traded on NASDAQ, under the ticker symbol ESIO.

Cascade Microtech is a semiconductor test equipment manufacturer based in Beaverton in the Portland metropolitan area of the United States. Founded in 1983, the Oregon-based company employs nearly 400 people. Formerly publicly traded company as CSCD on the NASDAQ, the company is now fully merged with FormFactor, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scope mount</span> Part for mounting a scope sight to a firearm

Scope mounts are rigid implements used to attach (typically) a telescopic sight or other types of optical sights onto a firearm. The mount can be made integral to the scope body or, more commonly, an external fitting that clamp onto the scope tube via screw-tightened rings. The scope and mount are then fastened onto compatible interfaces on the weapon. Words such as mounts and bases are used somewhat loosely, and can refer to several different parts which are either used together or in place of each other as ways to mount optical sights to firearms.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Siemers, Erik (November 12, 2010). "Leupold & Stevens targets new markets". Portland Business Journal . Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  2. ↑ Leeson, Fred (November 17, 1996). "All in the family". The Oregonian .
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Van Zwoll, Wayne (2007). 1907–2007 Leupold & Stevens ... The First Century. Primedia, Inc. ISBN   978-1-8929-4774-1.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Marks, Anita (February 14, 1997). "Origin of the Species". Portland Business Journal . Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Stevens, John Cyprian. The Autobiography of a Civil Engineer, published 1959.
  6. ↑ Leupold & Stevens, Inc. (2020-11-23). "A Living History". Leupold. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  7. 1 2 Brinckman, Jonathan (March 10, 2006). "Firm no longer out of its depth in digital age: Scott South modernizes Stevens Water Monitoring of Beaverton". The Oregonian.
  8. ↑ "Leupold & Stevens recognized for workplace safety". Portland Business Journal. September 24, 2002. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  9. ↑ Monroe, Bill (February 27, 2006). "Oregon firms get SHOT in arm". The Oregonian.
  10. ↑ http://www.redfield.com/redfield-story/
  11. ↑ Kish, Matthew (February 24, 2014). "Leupold & Stevens names new CEO". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "NRA 2014 National Championship Final Bulletin" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "World-class Oregon". (October 2, 2005). The Oregonian.
  14. ↑ Woodward, Steve (October 14, 2001). "Military shops in Oregon". The Oregonian.
  15. ↑ "Leupold's Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44 Riflescope Chosen for..." (Press release). Leupold & Stevens. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  16. ↑ "Leupold Mark 5HD Selected by Army Precision Sniper Rifle…" (Press release). Leupold & Stevens. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.