S&B Hungarian Scopes - When did the branding change?

[phillc]

I was browsing the classifieds and mainly looking at S&B fixed scopes. I noticed that at some point, at least on the Klassik 8x56 scopes, the branding of "Made in Hungary" changed to "Made in Hungaria". Or visa versa I guess.

See the advert from @grimstone for "Made in Hungaria": For Sale: - Schmit and Bender 8x56 Klassik

And the advert from @exmarksman9870 for "Made in Hungary": Sold: - Schmidt & Bender klassik 8x56 hungarian £330 posted
@2teal's advert also says "Made in Hungary": Sold: - Schmidt & Bender klassik 8x56 Hungarian £310 posted

Can this branding change be used to more accurately understand the build date of these scopes?

 

[grimstone]

I’ve always wondered this myself!

 

[Foxyboy43]

There is some good info on the purchase/establishment of the Hungarian business on this site…

Where Are Schmidt & Bender Riflescopes Made? - Optics Trade Blog

S&B is one of the few remaining European companies that produce all their products in-house in Germany and Hungary.

www.optics-trade.eu

 

[Essexsussex]

They are quite helpful you could probably just send them the serial number and get a date

 

[wytonpjs]

Some info here:

History

www.schmidtundbender.de

 

[Sako75Hunter]

My guess is those with 'Made in Hungaria' are older, since the same was written on the pre-Klassic steel-tubed S+B fixed scopes.

I have one of these older models in 6x42 on my .22wmr (see profile pic). Brilliant optic.

 

[spannulman]

I have a 6x42 bought 2nd hand off here in 2019 and an 8x56 bought new three years ago and both are ‘made in hungary’, if that helps.

Personally, i would like one that says W.Germany just to be ‘picturesque’. But I still say Ceylon and Malaya despite being born after their independence so maybe i’m just living in the past.

 

[Finndeer]

I was browsing the classifieds and mainly looking at S&B fixed scopes. I noticed that at some point, at least on the Klassik 8x56 scopes, the branding of "Made in Hungary" changed to "Made in Hungaria". Or visa versa I guess.

See the advert from @grimstone for "Made in Hungaria": For Sale: - Schmit and Bender 8x56 Klassik

And the advert from @exmarksman9870 for "Made in Hungary": Sold: - Schmidt & Bender klassik 8x56 hungarian £330 posted
@2teal's advert also says "Made in Hungary": Sold: - Schmidt & Bender klassik 8x56 Hungarian £310 posted

Can this branding change be used to more accurately understand the build date of these scopes?

Hello,
Just seen your post. Even the people at S & B couldn't answer this for sure, but I have both and the serial number on the 'Hungary' one is later than the other, so I think it's safe to assume 'Hungaria' changed to 'Hungary'.

P.D.

 

[JTO]

Personally, i would like one that says W.Germany just to be ‘picturesque’.

Mine does! "West Germany", in fact.

 

[Midlandstalker2024]

Hello,
Just seen your post. Even the people at S & B couldn't answer this for sure, but I have both and the serial number on the 'Hungary' one is later than the other, so I think it's safe to assume 'Hungaria' changed to 'Hungary'.

P.D.

Just stubbed upon this after wondering the same thing as I’ve bought another S&B 8x56 which has “made in Hungary” on it. S&B could tell me my hungaria scope was made in 2002 and the newer was made in 2014. Honestly thought my hungaria scope was much older

 

[Heym SR20]

Wiki has the following entry which talks about Hungary.

S&B were marked “West Germany” till the Berlin Wall came down and reunification happened in 1990. Not sure exactly when branding switched over.

S&B had a real step change a few years ago when their scopes were accepted into the US Military in Sniper rifle role, but I am not sure if they have a dedicated US business as Swarovski does.

S&B Hungarian Scopes are made with the same components as the Germany ones but were at slightly cheaper price point thanks to lower labour costs. However they were not cheap.

I changed the zeiss 4x32 that came with my Heym in about 2000. The S&B 6x42 of either German or Hungarian were expensive scopes. I ended buying a Meopta of the same magnification - all I could afford at the time.

 

[wytonpjs]

I ended buying a Meopta of the same magnification - all I could afford at the time.

Nothing wrong with Meopta IMHO - greatly undervalued