Schmidt & Bender celebrates 50 years
This year marks the 50th year for the German firm of Schmidt & Bender, manufacturer of precision riflescopes for hunting and professional use. The Schmidt & Bender company was founded in a converted stable in Biebertal, Germany, in 1957, at a time when scopes were not all that popular among German hunters. Recognising that their market was limited, founders Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Bender made a commitment to producing the finest optics available. They capitalised the firm with an investment of five Deutsche marks. Today, the firm remains family owned and employs more than 70 people in Biebertal, the historic centre of the German optics industry. Their products have been hailed by professionals as ‘the finest in the world’ and their scopes continue to offer some of the highest light transmission values ever achieved. In 1992, Schmidt & Bender purchased the respected Hungarian optical company that supplies the firm’s lenses, thus allowing unprecedented control and ensuring a consistent supply of glass. This contrasts with many other scope companies, which purchase glass from various outside sources. The US facility, headquartered in New Hampshire, was founded in 1993. Schmidt & Bender only manufacture riflescopes and due to the extreme precision and many hand operations required, manufacture them in limited numbers. Their products are prized by hunters around the world and the line of Police Marksman II (PM II) scopes have been largely responsible for the company’s rapid growth in recent years. To learn more about the Schmidt & Bender company or to view their products, visit their website at www.schmidtbender.com |
