King’s Outdoor World Blog

Leupold Buys the Redfield Brand

April 24th, 2008 David King - King's Outdoor World

I have always enjoyed a good Leupold brand scope and they have been a great supporter of King’s and Hunting Illustrated. Leupold is currently one of our sponsors for our King’s ShadowCamo photo contest. I saw this press release and read it with interest:

Leupold® & Stevens Announces Purchase of The Redfield® Brand

BEAVERTON, Ore. –Leupold® & Stevens, Inc. announces the purchase of the Redfield® brand including all intellectual property and associated assets.

Redfield was originally founded in 1909, and spent many decades as a leading U.S. producer of riflescopes, spotting scopes, riflescope mounting systems and binoculars until it closed in 1998. The Redfield brand subsequently changed hands several times, before being acquired by Meade Instruments, from whom Leupold & Stevens made the acquisition.

Tom Fruechtel, President and CEO of Leupold & Stevens, declined to discuss the purchase price or plans for the Redfield brand under Leupold ownership, but did state: “Leupold & Stevens is pleased to have had the opportunity to acquire one of America’s leading sporting goods brands. For half a century, Leupold respected Redfield as a leading innovator and competitor in the sports optics industry. The opportunity for Leupold to rescue this American brand from dormancy could not be missed. As we carefully consider how to proceed, we will be very cognizant of Redfield’s historical significance and the position it fills in the hearts of millions of dedicated American Sportsmen.”

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., is the leading American-owned and -operated optics company, employs more than 650 people in its state-of-the-art Beaverton, Ore., facility where rugged, dependable, high-performance Golden Ring® sports optics are designed, machined and assembled. Leupold is a fifth-generation, family-owned company. Winner of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers Accessory Manufacturer of the Year award for both 2006 and 2007, Leupold’s products are sold worldwide to hunters, wildlife observers, competitive shooters, law enforcement officers and special operations military personnel. The product line includes rifle, handgun and spotting scopes; binoculars; rangefinders; flashlights; mounting systems; and optical tools and accessories.

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