Where was my 1979 Lyman scope made

[MD]

I got a Lyman brand scope from SIR in the late 1970s, probably around 1979.

I still have it. it is a 2-7, the only variable scope I have.

Were they made in the U.S. or Japan at that time?

 

[AP]

Lyman stopped using the "All American" name for scopes around 1972 ... B&L started production of scopes in Japan around 1983 .... having stopped US production around 1972 ....It appears that Japanese optical companies were starting to produce rifle scopes in that period.... Weaver started having trouble in the late 60's due to foreign competition on the low/mid end scopes ... soooo I think it would be a fair guess that by the mid-70's a lot of optics companies where looking at the far east for at least part of their production..

The best source for telescopic optics info has (in my opinion) always been Bob Bell who was incidentally a young WWII sniper and wrote outstanding articles on the shooting optics industry for years! I couldn't find anything about your Lyman in my Bob Bell references BUT he was a vet and I infer from some of his writing that he didn't care to promote the origin of scopes that were made in Japan - such as the late B&L


On a different note ... it would be good to try to consolidate the collective wisdom of folks on this board regarding Canadian made optics eg REL and Wild Leitz (others?) so that it is not lost. After all .. what better place for that info to be saved!!

 

[Timberlord]

Photo - Lyman All American 3X PermaCenter and Lyman Tru-Lock rings
A Lyman scope will be stamped " Made in USA " .
The Alaskan will have "Made in USA " and " Middlefield Conn."