Bill, I simply copied-and-pasted what's on Leupold's website, which I also linked in my post. Since you took the time to respond to me so pointedly, however:
So Matt the customer service rep told you “We don’t currently make binoculars in this facility.” ? The Leupold website I linked refers to the domestic manufacture of binoculars in 1992, not now.
So Matt "nebulously mentioned the early 90s"? Well, did he happen to mention they used to manufacture binoculars stateside in the early 90's or what?
So you asked Matt, who probably wasn't born yet in 1992, if the 2 pocket models your rep told you about were assembled around that time and he said "Probably"? I've read the BF thread about this same issue from 2014 and I know that the words "assembled" and "manufactured" are sticking points for you, but probably not for Matt, right? So I wonder if you'd said "manufactured" instead of "assembled", would he have given you exactly the same non-committal answer?
But seriously, he's a customer service rep, Bill - I really wouldn't expect the man to know the details of product lines from the early 90's, nor would I hold out his answer "Probably" to mean much. On the other hand did he not tell you, in essence, that they probably made binoculars in Beaverton in the early 1990's? I just don't get where you're coming from but the website is pretty clear, and corroborates what Matt apparently told you:
1992
GOLDEN RING BINOCULARS
For the first time in more than 20 years, Leupold binoculars are manufactured in the United States
<insert ancient philosopher quote here>
I don't necessarily disagree with you, Bill - I just read your typically combative remarks, then looked at Leupold's website and copied what is there in black-and-white. I think you should consider too that what your rep told you back when you were the "largest dealer of quality binoculars north of Los Angeles" doesn't amount to proof of anything either. Curious, do you recall what year it was that the rep told you that?
I'll tell you what I would like to see, something more than hearsay - is if anyone has a pair of 1992 vintage Gold Rings that say "Made in USA" on them? I think if they were out there, we'd have already seen them.
-Gene