The Truth Behind the One Chinese Red Dot Factory (Ad-Free)
Added 2024-05-19 12:00:01 +0000 UTCAt SHOT Show this year Ian took some time to speak with Mike Branson of Gideon Optics (formerly of Primary Arms and Swampfox). Mike's a friend and a true optics nerd, and I figured he could help give folks an understanding of some of the fundamentals of modern firearms optics. Today the topic of conversation is that one mythical Chinese factory responsible for making all the red dots in the country. You know, the one that will just put your company name on their dot for a few extra bucks and sell it to you. But seriously, what's the deal with the indisputable similarities between elements on so many of these things? Well, let's let Mike explain it...
Comments
Mirrors what I've heard from others in the procurement/production space.
Mrgunsngear
2024-05-19 16:44:32 +0000 UTCYou didn't quite follow Mr. Branson's thoughts. China is a weird mish-mash of communism and capitalism. While it would fit the pattern for a purely capitalistic country to shift production as workers asked for higher pay, that doesn't suit the goal of the Chinese Communist Party. They want world domination. The pathway to that goal is to quite literally 'de-industrialize' every country in the world, making them the only country that still has industries. Then they basically can turn off the spigot whenever they want. They did this with medical supplies during COVID. Unlike in the US, Chinese companies can literally retroactively give you a pay-cut, raid your bank account, and take back part of your salary. They don't care about wage increases.
Rich Parker
2024-05-19 14:55:41 +0000 UTCChinese production isn't altogether different than many models of diversified production Globally. They have many more local options of OEMs to make an appearance of one locality or business vertically integrated. The product engineers (Usually certified EE) in Shanghai I work with get paid more than ones in the US and generally excellent to work with in my experience - very talented and enthusiastic. If you don't pay well, they can move to another company. Japan emerged from WW2 to become a powerhouse of quality manufacturing, and China has emerged. When I first dealt with China manufacturing in the early 90s it was a much different factory environment. Those old assumptions of poor quality and workmanship are kind of gone. I assume soon they will outsource things there to poorer countries in Africa and the like when labor prices in China are more higher than now.
Kenneth Marshall
2024-05-19 13:54:10 +0000 UTCVery useful! Always been puzzled by Chinese production systems.
Oliver Gilkes
2024-05-19 13:33:33 +0000 UTCdon't do dots. those are booming here too though. I like rather the type of handguns that would look and feel just lousy with one. I was always curious about LER handgun scopes rather than dots. don't have the right handgun for one either. -- I'm NOT fond of chinese governments. tell you that. yet I am sure just about as fond of the one that rules where I live.
Guido Schriewer
2024-05-19 12:37:58 +0000 UTCVery interesting. Reminiscent of the ol' "there's only like 5 forges, bro" for the AR guys 🤣
CertifiedTiddyBoy
2024-05-19 12:13:00 +0000 UTC
