History

The riflescope for all hunting

With LPI (Leucht-Parallaxe-Integriert = Illumination Parallax Integrated) and Bullet Drop Compensation II-Ballistic (BDC II-B)

Now with “LPI” (Leucht-Parallaxe Integriert = Illumination Parallax Integrated), new magnification ring and TREMOR5 reticle

Now with ultra flat Double Turn (DT27 and DT35)

The 1-8x24 PM II ShortDot Dual CC wins another tender. The French Army includes it in their FPSA program.

The GR²ID reticle is launched especially for PRS competition.

Another factory plant of the subsidiary in Hungary is being built.

The 60th anniversary of Schmidt & Bender is celebrated.

The riflescopes 1-8x24 PM II ShortDot CC, 1.1-8x24 PM II High Power, 1.5-8x26 PM II ShortDot and the 3-20x50 PM II Ultra Short are launched.

Schmidt & Bender designs the campaign “Color Your Scope” and offers the possibility for customers to choose any colour for a riflescope.

Schmidt & Bender receives research funds for a military project and thus develops the PM II Digital Series. These riflescopes can project external data into the field of view for the first time.

The riflescope 5-25x56 PM II PSR is the winner of the largest and most important US military tender. It is subsequently delivered to the special units of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines.

The riflescopes 3-20x50 PM II and the 1-8x24 Zenith are introduced. Later the decision is made to transfer the 1-8x24 into a new product series called “Exos” because of its high 8x zoom.

The riflescopes 2.5-10x40 Summit, 3-12x42 KK50, 12-50x56 PM II as well as the 1.1-4x20 PM II ShortDot LE (Law Enforcement) are launched.

Sabine Bender-Gerlach, the daughter of the founder Helmut Bender, takes over the management together with Karlheinz Gerlach.

The 50th anniversary of the company is celebrated.

The 5-25x56 PM II is now offered in both First and Second Focal Plane.

The 1.1-4x24 Zenith now completes the Zenith Series.

The logo of Schmidt & Bender now has an additional slogan: “The specialist with the two names.”.

The 1.5-6x42 Zenith is launched and is also available with the light metal Convex rail (LMC).

The first riflescope of the Zenith Series, a 2.5-10x56 is launched.

The logo is slightly redesigned and modernized.

The first FlashDot illumination is installed in the 1¼-4x20.

To meet the special requirements of snipers, a series of riflescopes were launched. The development based on consultation of leading weapon manufacturers and field experiences of special police units. The new models are offered in fixed and variable magnification and with three different reticles (Bryant, Sniper and Mil-dot reticle). Available are: 6x42 P/M, 10x42 P/M, 1.5-6x42 P/M, 3-12x42 P/M, 3-12x50 P/M and 3-12x50 MIL. The riflescopes are made of aluminium with hard anodized surfaces and are designed for distances up to 500 m/546 yd. The 3-12x50 MIL, on the other hand, has a steel tube and is designed for distances up to 900 m/984 yd.

Illuminated reticles can technically be installed from now on. However, at this point in time these are still prohibited items and the government is discussing about legalizing illuminated riflescopes. That is why the riflescopes at that time are still delivered without illumination. However, they are manufactured in such a way that there is a possibility of retrofitting the illumination.

Schmidt & Bender Hungaria Optikai Kft. is founded as a subsidiary based on the round/circular optics department which was bought from the Hungarian company “Mom”. The factory starts its work with 80 employees.

Helmut Schmidt hands over the management to his son-in-law Hans-Albert Bender.

The riflescope 1.25-4x20 with a field of view of 32 m/105 ft is launched.

For the first time Schmidt & Bender exhibits at the most important shooting show in Europe: IWA Show in Nuremberg, Germany.

Schmidt & Bender receives its first government order from the Finnish Army for the 4x36 riflescope. 500 units are delivered in total.

A new logo is developed and represents a new era: OEM products are no longer manufactured and the production focuses only on the own brand name.

The first employee is hired in 1958. Production is still located in a laundry room.

Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Bender founded the company Schmidt & Bender in Biebertal-Fellingshausen. At first, they worked with the most modest means in a laundry room but with a lot of passion and ingenuity. Highest precision and quality was not only a profession but also important for the precision mechanic Helmut Schmidt and the master precision mechanic Helmut Bender.