scopesoftraditionalEuropeanflavor– with
30mmtubes,1-cmclicks,first-planereticles
- continuedtosellbrisklyacrosstheAtlantic.
A trend to more powerful rifle-scopes
with wider magnification ranges prompted
Swarovski to add features like illuminated
reticles, eventually laser-ranging capability
andtrajectory-matcheddials.Tomydismay,
4x and 6x fixed-powersights fell from the
catalogs. “Those two scopes accounted for
onlyonepercentofsalesin1997,”explained
Morey,whenI whined.“Wesoldfivetimesas
many6-24x50PVs,a veryexpensivesight!”
By that time I was guiding hunters,using
mySwarovskiSLC10x50binoculartofind
elkinruggedUtahhills.It boastedthefully
multi-coatedlensesofallSwarovskis,butalso
“phasecorrection”orP-coatingthatcounters
thesplittingoflightintocolorbandsinroof-
prism binoculars. The SLC’s crisp, bright
images helped me spot patches of elk in
thickets,andassessantlersondistantbulls.
Three years ago at this writing I made
mythird visittoSwarovski’sAbsamfactory,
whichnow supplies opticsto 47 countries.
My objective: an update on design and
productiontechniques,andonthecompany’s
direction.Anobviousadditiontothecampus,
I sawonarrival,wasa childnursery.Swarovski
nowofferson-sitecareforyoungstersupto
agesix.
MyhostthistimewasDanielMuhlmann,
whosecareeratSwarovskihadbeguninthe
company’sapprenticeprogram.“Itcomprises
bothopticalandmechanicaltracks,”hesaid.
“For mechanical training, students build
grandfather clocks!Youlearn to work with
very close tolerances.”
Wewoundourwaydownspotlesscorridors,
intoandoutofmachiningcentersand“clean
rooms” that required donning slippers and
headnets.Opticsproductionstartswithraw
materials.“Swarovskibuysabout 100 typesof
glass,”Muhlmannsaid.“Eachis task-specific.
Suppliersmustsatisfystrictdemandsofour
qualitycontrolpeople.”
ThefirstHabichtbinocularsin 1949 had
fivelensesandtwoprisms;itsprogenyhave
moreglass,morecomplexity.Theyalsoyield
brighter images. “Early Habichts brought
about 70 percent ofincident lightto your
eye,” said Daniel. “Our newest binoculars
deliver over 90 percent!” He added that
at such levels, even incremental hikes in
lighttransmission are hard toachieve, and
“manufacturerswho claimexceedingly high
figures maynotbe ableto backthemup.”
Muhlmann explained that brilliant images
canreducecolorperceptionat theextremesof
the spectrum (UV and IR), and that the best-trainedeyes“havea toughtimedetectinga
threepercentdifferenceinbrightness!”
Besides bringing you bright, colorful
images,Swarovskiopticsboasttheresolution
thathelpsyoudistinguishdetail.“Youwant
tack-sharpdefinitionacrossa full,flatfieldof
view,”saidmyhost.Tothatend,Swarovski
hewsto impossiblytighttolerances,gauged
bylasers.“Prismflatnessis heldto1/100,000
of a millimeter.Angletolerance isjust1½
seconds.” Roof-prism binoculars, in which
a mirrorreflects theimage,“mustget99.9
percentof incident lightfrom themirror.”
(Swarovskistilllists 7x42,8x30and 10x40
HabichtPorro-prism binoculars with offset
barrels, but roof-prisms dominate the
market.)
Answering my question about frames,
Muhlmann said magnesium is used in the
best binoculars. “It’s 30 percent lighter
than aluminum.” He added, however, that
aluminum better withstands shock.South African outfitter Andrew Pringle
useshisSwarovskibinocular to find game
(Crusader Safaris).
A Hunter speaks out