Schmidt & Bender (often abbreviated as S&B) is a German company specialized in producing high-end telescopic sights for hunting, sports, law enforcement and military arms.
The company was founded in 1957 by instrument maker Helmut Schmidt and master instrument maker Helmut Bender. The company started with producing telescopic sights for large German (mail order) hunting equipment sales chains under various brand names and gradually started to produce telescopic sights under their own brand name. Currently (2008) the company is still a family enterprise.
Schmidt & Bender is an ISO 9001 certified company.
Schmidt & Bender Hungaria Optik
In 1992 Schmidt & Bender Hungaria Optik GmbH in Budapest, Hungary was founded as an independent company by Schmidt & Bender GmbH & Co. KG, Biebertal, Germany. The process of privatisation in Hungary made it possible for Schmidt & Bender to buy the production of precision optics and fibre optics from the government-owned enterprise of the Hungarian Opticai Works (MOM). Schmidt & Bender bought Hungarian Opticai Works since this company produced and still produces the optical components Schmidt & Bender uses in their rifle scopes. In 2008 Schmidt & Bender Hungaria Optik employed 80 people.[1] The fixed magnification models of the Schmidt & Bender Classic product line can be either "Made in Germany" or "Made in Hungary".