Bushnell Corporation
Encyclopedia
Bushnell Corporation, also known as Bushnell and Bushnell Outdoor Products, is an American
company specializing in optics
and imaging
. Its products include binoculars
, spotting scope
s, telescope
s, night vision equipment, GPS devices, laser rangefinder
s, riflescopes
, holographic weapon sight
s, game cameras and other high-end optical equipment. The company also sells Bollé Performance Eyewear ski goggles and sunglasses (which includes the H20 Optix sunglasses brand), and Serengeti Eyewear all-purpose sunglasses. It was founded in 1948 by David P. Bushnell
, during his time in Allied-occupied Japan.
Bushnell's mission statement at their main web site is:
Bushnell also has licensing agreements with Bausch & Lomb
and Browning Arms Company
. Bushnell is owned by MidOcean Partners
, a private equity
firm that acquired the company in a leveraged recapitalization
in 2007. Previously, the company had been owned by Wind Point Partners, another private equity firm, which had acquired Bushnell in 1999. In June 2008, Bushnell acquired the assets of Simmons Outdoor Corporation, a manufacturer of lower-priced optical products.
Two GPS products were created by Bushnell in 2006 that are the first GPS devices to allow the use of aerial and satellite imagery to be integrated into the display. They also have integrated XM radio to provide real-time weather data and can overlay weather maps and weather radar info. In 2007 the Onix 400 GPS unit won the "Best of the Best" award from Field & Stream Magazine.
Bushnell also has a line of simple GPS devices called Backtrack. They allow users to set up to 5 locations (depending on the model), and forget about the device until they have to return. The device then utilizes a digital compass and basic GPS technology to return to the set location. The current line of Backtrack Devices includes the Original Backtrack, the Backtrack Point 3, and the Backtrack Point 5.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company specializing in optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and imaging
Imaging
Imaging is the representation or reproduction of an object's outward form; especially a visual representation .- Imaging methodologies and technologies :...
. Its products include binoculars
Binoculars
Binoculars, field glasses or binocular telescopes are a pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes when viewing distant objects...
, spotting scope
Spotting scope
A spotting scope is a small portable telescope with added optics to present an erect image, optimized for the observation of terrestrial objects...
s, telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s, night vision equipment, GPS devices, laser rangefinder
Rangefinder
A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon. Some devices use active methods to measure ; others measure distance using trigonometry...
s, riflescopes
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
, holographic weapon sight
Holographic weapon sight
A holographic weapon sight or holographic diffraction sight is a non-magnifying gun sight that allows the user to look through a glass optical window and see a reticle image superimposed at a distance on the field of view...
s, game cameras and other high-end optical equipment. The company also sells Bollé Performance Eyewear ski goggles and sunglasses (which includes the H20 Optix sunglasses brand), and Serengeti Eyewear all-purpose sunglasses. It was founded in 1948 by David P. Bushnell
David P. Bushnell
David Pearsall Bushnell was an American entrepreneur. Mr. Bushnell founded his company, Bushnell, in 1948. At that time, binoculars were largely an item of luxury. Through a strategy of importation from foreign manufacturers who provided optics to his specifications, Bushnell made binoculars...
, during his time in Allied-occupied Japan.
Bushnell's mission statement at their main web site is:
"To develop and market superior optical products that enhance the experience of outdoor and sports enthusiasts"
Brands
Bushnell Outdoor Products is the parent company of these brands:- Simmons Optics
- Millett
- Blackwater Gear
- Bollé Performance Eyewear
- Browning Sports Optics
- Bushnell
- Bushnell Golf
- Butler Creek
- Hoppe’s
- SerengetiSerengeti (sunglasses brand)Serengeti is a designer sunglasses brand parented by Bushnell Corporation.-Overview:The eyewear brand Serengeti was initially developed by Corning Incorporated. In 1984, Corning was considering to close down the Serengeti division because of poor performance. However, the entrepreneurial leader...
- Simmons Outdoor Corporation
- Stoney Point
- TascoTascoTasco is one of the major international distributors of telescopes. The company's products mainly target telescope buyers that are amateur astronomers, but has grown to manufacture a large assortment of optical equipment, including terrestrial spotting scopes, microscopes, binoculars, telescopic...
- Uncle Mike’s
- Uncle Mikes Law Enforcement
Bushnell also has licensing agreements with Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb, an American company based in Rochester, New York, is one of the world's leading suppliers of eye health products, such as contact lenses and lens care products today. In addition to this main activity, in recent years the area of medical technology has been developed...
and Browning Arms Company
Browning Arms Company
Browning Arms Company is a maker of firearms, bows and fishing gear. Founded in Utah in 1927, it offers a wide variety of firearms, including shotguns, rifles, pistols, and rimfire firearms and sport bows, as well as fishing rods and reels....
. Bushnell is owned by MidOcean Partners
MidOcean Partners
MidOcean Partners is a private equity firm specializing in leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and growth capital investments in middle-market companies...
, a private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
firm that acquired the company in a leveraged recapitalization
Leveraged recapitalization
In corporate finance, a leveraged recapitalization is a change of the capital structure of a company, a substitution of equity for debt —e.g. by issuing bonds to raise money, and using that money to buy the company's stock or to pay dividends...
in 2007. Previously, the company had been owned by Wind Point Partners, another private equity firm, which had acquired Bushnell in 1999. In June 2008, Bushnell acquired the assets of Simmons Outdoor Corporation, a manufacturer of lower-priced optical products.
Optics
- Rifle scopes: Bushnell has a variety of rifle scopes and won an Editors Choice award in 2007 for their Elite 4200 6-24x40 scope from Outdoor LifeOutdoor LifeOutdoor Life is an outdoors magazine about hunting, fishing, survival and camping. It is a sister magazine of Field & Stream. Together with Sports Afield, they are considered the Big Three of American outdoor publishing. Outdoor Life launched in Denver, Colorado in January 1898. Founder and...
magazine. - BinocularsBinocularsBinoculars, field glasses or binocular telescopes are a pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes when viewing distant objects...
: Bushnell makes a wide variety of binoculars and was awarded the Best Buy award from Outdoor LifeOutdoor LifeOutdoor Life is an outdoors magazine about hunting, fishing, survival and camping. It is a sister magazine of Field & Stream. Together with Sports Afield, they are considered the Big Three of American outdoor publishing. Outdoor Life launched in Denver, Colorado in January 1898. Founder and...
magazine in 2005 for their Browning Sports optics binoculars and in 2006 for their Legend binoculars. - Microscopes
- Telescopes
- Game cameras
- Night vision
- Holosight is a non-magnifying holographic weapon sightHolographic weapon sightA holographic weapon sight or holographic diffraction sight is a non-magnifying gun sight that allows the user to look through a glass optical window and see a reticle image superimposed at a distance on the field of view...
that produces an illuminated crosshair that appears to be in front of the gun in perfect alignment. - Simmons Optics, a line of rifle scopes, binoculars, and other optical products.
Outdoor
Bushnell produces WeatherFX personal weather stations called the FX3, FX5, and FX7 for hikers, campers, and others who can use it to keep informed of potentially hazardous weather issues while away from home.Two GPS products were created by Bushnell in 2006 that are the first GPS devices to allow the use of aerial and satellite imagery to be integrated into the display. They also have integrated XM radio to provide real-time weather data and can overlay weather maps and weather radar info. In 2007 the Onix 400 GPS unit won the "Best of the Best" award from Field & Stream Magazine.
Bushnell also has a line of simple GPS devices called Backtrack. They allow users to set up to 5 locations (depending on the model), and forget about the device until they have to return. The device then utilizes a digital compass and basic GPS technology to return to the set location. The current line of Backtrack Devices includes the Original Backtrack, the Backtrack Point 3, and the Backtrack Point 5.