The company Schmidt & Bender was founded in 1957 by Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Bender in Biebertal-Fellingshausen. What once began in a laundry room with the most modest of means, developed within a few years into one of the world's leading manufacturers of precision riflescopes for hunting, competition shooting, police and military.
Discover the history of Schmidt & Bender and take a look at the development of the product series as well as the changes of the logo and much more. You will recognize the philosophy that has been in place since the very beginning: Highest quality and precision to meet the ever increasing demands.
New brand promise
![New brand promise](/images/timeline/LS_SuB_4c_PFAD_EN.jpg)
3-18x42
With LPI (Leucht-Parallaxe-Integriert = Illumination Parallax Integrated) and Bullet Drop Compensation II-Ballistic (BDC II-B)
![New 3-18x42 hunting scope](/images/timeline/New_2022_Timeline_3-18.jpg)
6-36x56 PM II High Performance
![New 6-36x56 PM II High Performance with LPI and P5FL](/images/timeline/New_2022_Timeline_6-36.jpg)
5-20x50 PM II Ultra Short
![New 5-20x50 PM II Ultra Short with LPI](/images/timeline/New_2022_Timeline_5-20.jpg)
5-25x56 PM II
![5-25x56 PM II with Double Turn](/images/timeline/New_2022_Timeline_5-25.jpg)
3-27x56 PM II High Power
![3-27x56 PM II High Power with new Double Turn Turrets](/images/timeline/New_2022_Timeline_3-27.jpg)
New turret generation is launched
![Overview graphic of which turrets can be converted with which of the new generation of turrets](/images/timeline/st-ii-b-umbau-en-2.jpg)
FPSA Program France
![PM II ShortDot Dual CC](/images/timeline/1-8x24-pm-ii-shortdot-dual-cc.jpg)
3-21x50 Exos
![3-21x50 Exos with landscape chamois](/images/timeline/3-21x50-exos-en.jpg)
GR²ID reticle
![GR²ID reticle with shooting range](/images/timeline/flyer-grid-en.jpg)
1-8x24 PM II ShortDot Dual CC and winning a German Armed Forces tender
![Winner of the German Armed Forces tender 1-8x24 PM II ShortDot Dual CC with its advantages](/images/timeline/anzeige-1-8x24-pm-ii-shortdot-dual-cc.jpg)
New and modern factory plant in Hungary
![Picture of new plant Schmidt & Bender Hungary](/images/timeline/tank-ungarn.jpg)
LRR-MIL reticle, Throw Lever and MT II turret
![New products 2017 with LRR-MIL reticle, Multi Turn II turret and Throw Lever](/images/timeline/new-products-2017-en.jpg)
60th anniversary
![Celebrating 60 Years Schmidt & Bender Logo](/images/timeline/60-years-schmidt-bender-logo.png)
Polar T96, PM II Ultra Bright and 5-45x56 PM II High Power
In addition, the 5-45x56 PM II High Power now supplements the PM II High Power series.
![New products 2016 with Polar T96, PM II Ultra Bright and 5-45x56 PM II High Power](/images/timeline/new-products-2016-en.jpg)
New PM II models come onto the market
![New products 2015 with 1-8x24 PM II ShortDot CC, 1.1-8x24 PM II High Power, 1.5-8x26 PM II ShortDot and 3-20x50 PM II Ultra Short](/images/timeline/new-products-2015-en.jpg)
Field Target II
![Field Target II image with application details](/images/timeline/field-target-ii.png)
Color Your Scope
![Color Your Scope riflescopes in different colours](/images/timeline/color-your-scope.jpg)
5-20x50 PM II Ultra Short and Stratos Series
![New products 2014 with Stratos, Choose Your Light, PM II Ultra Short and PM II High Power](/images/timeline/new-2014-en.jpg)
PM II Digital
![PM II Digital with reticle and performance details](/images/timeline/pm-ii-digital.jpg)
Development of the 9x zoom
![3-27x56 PM II High Power with military application image](/images/timeline/new-2012-en.jpg)
PSR tender
![5-25x56 PM II PSR with logos of the special units of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines from the USA](/images/timeline/5-25x56-pm-ii-psr.png)
New slogan for the logo
![Logo with new slogan: “Precision makes the difference!”](/images/timeline/logo-slogan-sub-en.png)
3-20x50 PM II and 1-8x24 Zenith (later: Exos)
![New products 2011 with the 1-8x24 Zenith (later: Exos) and 3-20x50 PM II](/images/timeline/new-2011-en.jpg)
1-8x24 PM II ShortDot
![Military and Law Enforcement riflescope 1-8x24 PM II ShortDot](/images/timeline/1-8x24-pm-ii-shortdot.jpg)
2.5-10x40 Summit, 3-12x42 KK50, 12-50x56 PM II and 1.1-4x20 PM II ShortDot LE
![Riflescopes Summit, PM II and PM II ShortDot](/images/timeline/new-2008-en.jpg)
12.5-50x56 Field Target
![Ad winner type: Medal Federation of German Shooters and 12.5-50x56 Field Target](/images/timeline/winner-12.5.50x56-field-target-en.png)
50 years Schmidt & Bender and new management
The 50th anniversary of the company is celebrated.
Tender U.S. Marine Corps
![Ad Protector for the 3-12x50 PM II with logo of the U.S. Marine Corps](/images/timeline/ad-protector-3-12x50-pm-ii-usmc-en.jpg)
5-25x56 PM II in First and Second Focal Plane
![Ad from 2006: The Perfectionist: 5-25x56 PM II](/images/timeline/ad-perfectionist-5-25x56-pm-ii-en.jpg)
5-25x56 PM II and 1.1-4x20 PM II ShortDot
![1.1-4x20 PM II ShortDot](/images/timeline/1.1-4x20-pm-ii-shortdot.png)
1.1-4x24 Zenith and logo extension
The logo of Schmidt & Bender now has an additional slogan: “The specialist with the two names.”.
![Logo with Slogan “The Specialist with the two names.”](/images/timeline/logo-slogan-two-names-en.png)
iF DESIGN AWARD
![1.5-10x56 Zenith wins the iF Design Award](/images/timeline/if-design-award-de.jpg)
1.5-6x42 Zenith und LMC-rail
![1.5-6x42 Zenith with FlashDot illumination](/images/timeline/1.5-6x42-zenith-flashdot-de.png)
3-12x50 Zenith
![Zenith shortest design riflescopes](/images/timeline/3-12x50-zenith-en.jpg)
2.5-10x56 Zenith and logo redesign
The logo is slightly redesigned and modernized.
![New Logo with circle point instead of & character](/images/timeline/logo-sub.png)
PM II Series with Parallax adjustment/side focus
![New product series PM II with the 3-12x50 PM II and parallax adjustment](/images/timeline/3-12x50-pm-ii-lp-lp-parallaxe-de.png)
FlashDot illumination in the 1¼-4x20
![FlashDot illumination for the 1¼-4x20](/images/timeline/114-4x20-flashdot-de.png)
Modernization of the logo
![New Schmidt & Bender Logo](/images/timeline/logo-sub-1998-2000.png)
P/M Sniper riflescopes
![Various Police/Marksman riflescopes](/images/timeline/pm-riflescopes-en.jpg)
ISO 9001 Certification and official launch of illuminated reticles
Illuminated riflescopes can now be delivered and retrofitted after their legalization.
![Various riflescopes with illuminated reticles](/images/timeline/beleuchtete-zfs-de.jpg)
Illuminated reticles
![Wildboar with illuminated reticle](/images/timeline/sub-leuchtabsehen-de.png)
Schmidt & Bender Inc.
Foundation of the subsidiary in Hungary
![Location Schmidt & Bender Hungaria](/images/timeline/sub-hungaria-optikai-kft.jpg)
3-12x50 and change of management
Handover of the management
Expansion of the location
![Expansion of the location in Biebertal-Fellingshausen](/images/timeline/sub-neubau-de.png)
1.25-4x20
![New 1.25-4x20 riflescope for safari and driven hunt](/images/timeline/1.25-4x20-safari-de.jpg)
First SHOT Show participation
First IWA Outdoor Classics Exhibition participation
M-Series
![Centered reticle and M-Series riflescope in 4x25](/images/timeline/4x25-zentriertes-absehen-de.jpg)
First government contract
Riflescope with variable magnification
Production under own brand name
![First own logo with indicated reticle](/images/timeline/sub-logo-1971-1997.png)
Relocation of the company
The first employee
![Place of origin production: laundry room](/images/timeline/sub-waschkueche.jpg)
Production of OEM Products
![Some examples of the OEM products like Geco, Sako, Frankonia, Rottweil, Kettner, RWS, Heym und Akah](/images/timeline/hausmarken.png)
Foundation of the company “Schmidt & Bender”
![The founders of Schmidt & Bender](/images/timeline/sub-beginn.jpg)