Leupold & Stevens
Encyclopedia
Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is a manufacturer of telescopic sight
s, red dot sight
s, spotting scope
s, and binoculars
located in Beaverton, Oregon
, United States
. The company, started in 1907, is family owned and has been run by five generations of the family.
equipment. 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. 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. 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.
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. By 1979 the Leupold scopes were generating twice the total revenue of Stevens instruments.
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. 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. 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. In 2002, Leupold & Stevens won a Wausau Insurance Gold Award for workplace safety at the company’s factory. By 2006, the company employed 600 people at its Beaverton facility. The company is now in its fifth generation of ownership.
2008 sales were reported at $203 million.
In 2008 Leupold & Stevens purchased Redfield Optics along with its brand name and all intellectual property rights.
, the Secret Service
, and the Navy SEALS. The United States Navy
and the Marine Corps
also use their scopes. Leupold & Stevens also manufactures binoculars for sport hunting.
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
s, red dot sight
Red dot sight
A red dot sight is a common classification for a type of non-magnifying reflector sight for firearms that gives the user an aimpoint in the form of an illuminated red dot...
s, spotting scope
Spotting scope
A spotting scope is a small portable telescope with added optics to present an erect image, optimized for the observation of terrestrial objects...
s, and binoculars
Binoculars
Binoculars, field glasses or binocular telescopes are a pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes when viewing distant objects...
located in Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The company, started in 1907, is family owned and has been run by five generations of the family.
History
Leupold & Stevens was originally founded by 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 surveySurveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
equipment. 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. 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. This device could transmit water level information via telephone, allowing for remote monitoring of water resources
Water resources
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water....
to become feasible.
In 1942, the company name was changed to its present form, Leupold & Stevens. Surveying equipment, rifle scopes
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
, 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.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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. By 1979 the Leupold scopes were generating twice the total revenue of Stevens instruments.
In 1969, the company acquired a majority interest in the company Nosler Bullets
Nosler
The name Nosler applies to a number of companies involved in the manufacture of ammunition and handloading components, specializing in high performance hollow point and soft point hunting bullets. Current companies include Nosler, Inc., Nosler Custom, and Nosler Reloading...
(also a family company), and then sold off their portion in 1988. Other ventures include Biamp Systems
Biamp Systems
Biamp Systems is a manufacturer of commercial audio electronics based in Beaverton, Oregon. Founded in 1976, Biamp has a long history of producing analog mixers, equalizers, and amplifiers. Since the early 2000's, their new products have mainly consisted of programmable audio DSP's....
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. 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. In 2002, Leupold & Stevens won a Wausau Insurance Gold Award for workplace safety at the company’s factory. By 2006, the company employed 600 people at its Beaverton facility. The company is now in its fifth generation of ownership.
2008 sales were reported at $203 million.
In 2008 Leupold & Stevens purchased Redfield Optics along with its brand name and all intellectual property rights.
Products
The company’s gun scopes are used by organizations such as the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, the Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
, and the Navy SEALS. The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
also use their scopes. Leupold & Stevens also manufactures binoculars for sport hunting.