1907

Before we werea company,we were a family.

Fred Leupold and Adam Volpel—who had been brothers-in-law for eight years and close friends before that—go into business together.

1914

The Family Grows

J.C. Stevens invents the first water level recorder and becomes a partner when he brings it to the company. Fred Leupold’s son, Marcus, comes aboard as well.

1937

Phone It In

J.C. Stevens keeps inventing. This time, it’s the Telemark, a revolutionary water level recorder that uses telephone signals to transmit information.

1939

New Blood

Robert Stevens, son of J.C., follows in his father’s footsteps and takes a job with the company.

1942

Business is Booming

Both the family and the company are changing, and our name changes with it.

Our new—and current—name is Leupold & Stevens.

1944

We began as a family business, and we remain a family business.

Our co-founder and patriarch, Fred Leupold, passes away.

1940’s

“Hell! I could build a better scope than this!”

Legend has it that while hunting one day, Marcus Leupold missed a buck because his scope fogged up. He swore he could make a better scope, and that’s just what he did.

1947

Birth of a Plainsman

After years of research—and lessons learned from World War II—we introduce our first riflescope. We call it the Plainsman, and it’s the first truly fog-proof scope built by Americans.

Free & Clear

What was the secret to our first fog-free scope?

1953

The Man in the Field

Avid hunter and skilled marksman Jack Slack joins the company. Over time, he will become a celebrity in his own right.

Not to mention the fact that he’ll help shape the company.

1957

Weather-proofed optics quickly become hugely popular.

This surprises no one.

1958

Already having joined the company, Jack Slack becomes part of the family when he marries Marcus Leupold’s daughter, Georgia.

1962

We introduce the now-classic Duplex reticle.

The reticle style is clearly visible even in thick cover and twilight.

1968

The Torch is Passed

Marcus Leupold resigns, and his brother Norbert takes over the company.

1974

We introduce the industry’s first lightweight, high-power target scope…

1980s

We enter the handgun scope market.

1982

The company expands

Featuring 30 different models and employing over 500 Americans.

1983

Werner Wildauer

After 25 years with the company, Werner becomes President and Chairman.

One of the Team

Werner emigrated from Germany in 1958 after receiving a job offer in the mail from Marcus Leupold. He started as a manufacturing technician and took on more and more responsibility over the years. He eventually took on the company’s top position…

…which isn’t bad for someone who wasn’t especially interested in a management job.

1985

Proud to Serve

We enter the tactical optics market and supply scopes to the US military for the first time.

It will not be the last.

1986

We develop the first compact roof prism, waterproof spotting scope.

1992

Golden Ring Binoculars

For the first time in more than 20 years, Leupold binoculars are manufactured in the United States.

1993

We proudly unveil our first variable power, waterproof spotting scope:

the 12-40x60mm

1998

We release the VX-III,

scopes specifically designed for long-range shooting.

2002

New Releases

It’s a big year for new scopes.

2005

Alumina accessories revolutionize hunting optics.

2006

We release the VX-L,

which lets you mount a large objective riflescope in a more natural shooting position.

2010

Leupold Golf

Our True Golf Range ballistics software computes the flight path of the golf ball based on atmospheric conditions and angle of the shot.