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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steve C" data-source="post: 1316600" data-attributes="member: 56622">Not real sure you can call these (the Promaster/Hawke) the Razor II.  These are Chinese, the Razors Japanese (but I do take your point).  I happen to agree with Kevin that it depends on the OEM/ODM agreement.  Another thing to consider is the evolving state of the Chinese Optics ability.  At some point one of the Chinese manufacturers is going to say that they will just do it all themselves and will begin marketing their own.  Right now there are all sorts of agreements.  For instance Promaster says the binocular was designed by them to their specifications and manufactured in China.  So what constitutes design?  On one end the alphas do it all in house.  Some labels are strictly an existing model with their name on it.  In US companies like Leupold and Vortex have varying capabilities to really do more of the design.  Leupold designed the GR, but how much they had to rely on OEM agreements to get the glass and coatings they needed is anybody’s guess.  As far as I know the Gold Rings are assembled in the USA with parts made wherever. The Green Ring Wind Rivers are imported. Vortex has some design/construction ability as well and pretty well does the design work on their glass at least from the Fury up.  They don’t have the ability to assemble so they have the whole deal made in wherever the factory they dealt with is.  Who does how much OEM for whom?  Who does how much of their own original design?  Doubt we’ll ever know.</blockquote>

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