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SHIELD Sights is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of British engineering and compact red dot development.
Founded on Nov. 3, 1986, the company began in competitive shooting before growing into an internationally recognized optics manufacturer. Some of its early designs appeared under names familiar to longtime shooters, including the Firepoint, Tasco Optima, Trijicon RedDot and JPoint.
Arguably SHIELD’s biggest contribution is the compact RMSc mounting footprint. That pattern has since become an industry standard used by numerous handgun and optics manufacturers, particularly on today’s slim, optics-ready carry pistols.
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“Forty years is an incredible milestone, and our commitment to innovation is just as strong today as it was when this journey began,” SHIELD Sights CEO James White said.
SHIELD continues to design, manufacture and assemble its optics at the company’s facility in Crewkerne, England. As it enters its fifth decade, the company says it remains committed to British manufacturing and advancing compact optic technology.
Shooters can explore SHIELD’s current lineup at ShieldSights.com or find a participating U.S. dealer here.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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