It looks like there is a new affordable optic company in town but this one is a little different than most. The market is full of affordable optics that are produced on an OEM basis in Asia to US based resellers’ specs. Swampfox Optics is different in that they are owned by an American that founded an OEM optics factory in China. Marketing director Mike Branson states that, “Swampfox is a separate business [from the optics factory], but has the advantages of a vertical operation, from design & manufacturing through to sales & distribution here in the US.”
The factory direct model is not the only difference. Typically, these OEM factories develop a new optic and shop it around with various resellers. If one passes or needs too many changes, they offer it to the next reseller. The factories themselves are the ones driving the engineering and design. Swampfox, however, has direct control over all of the processes and has a USA based design team that is committed to developing optics for the US market.
Their initial offerings include the Kingslayer and Liberator, an MRDS and red dot sight respectively, along with the Tomahawk series of low power variable magnification optics. The Tomahawk series includes a 1-4x, 1-6x, and 1-8x with Swampfox Optic’s seemingly well designed Guerilla series of reticles and illumination that is supposedly brighter than others in this market space.
There is also a line of precision optics planned for future release. That line will include first focal plane reticle options.
I know nothing of this company beyond what I have read online and have not been in contact with them. I do however find the honesty and transparency of their marketing manager refreshing to include being very candid about how their optics compare to others (and it isn’t always favorable) and their limitations. You can read some of what I am referring to here: Swampfox Optics thread on AR15.com
