1993
THE CRANE DIVISION OF THE NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER
sent out a solicitation contract for a 10x sniper scope with very specific mil-spec features. Several companies (including Tasco, B&L and Leupold) submitted scopes specially built to the contract specifications. The Navy bought a large number of the Tasco product under the contract #N00164-93-C-205.
Many people did not take the scopes seriously because of the Tasco name. But you have to understand that Tasco is and was just a name, they own no factories. Normally Tasco would just buy off the shelf products from several factories in the orient and have them branded with their name. The SS scope was built from the ground up to the United States Navy's very specific specifications. All the specs are extreme in regards to durability, resolution, adjustment travel, etc.
1995
TASCO FULFILLED THE CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS
and had some over runs that we agreed to buy as Tasco had no easy way to move an un-catalogued scope. Prior to the contract fulfillment SS scopes were sold to those lucky enough to stumble across one for $800 and up.
We marketed and sold the over runs at gun shows across the U.S. and via print ads in ShotGun News and The GunList. We had such great success that we worked a deal with Tasco to keep making the scopes exclusively for us with the stipulation we had to be able to market them at the close-out price of $299.95 and $399.95 for the side focus version. Keep in mind the military paid considerably more for them in 1993. They countered with what quantity it would take to seal the deal and we signed a contract.
1996
ABOUT THE TIME WE ENTERED THE AGE OF THE INTERNET WITH SWFA.COM
we started getting some complaints concerning quality control issues. The scopes have never changed and legally couldn't change without permission from the Department of Defense (DOD) due to the fact that they were issued a NSN #, so we knew Tasco was not skimping on the product.
Tasco was going out of business and no one knew it at the time and their control of the factory where they were made, was slipping in the QC department. Once Tasco filed bankruptcy, Bushnell bought them and by this time we had worked our own deal direct with the factory. We sent examples of the QC issues to them with solutions and implemented a double inspection process, and then we obtained permission from The DOD to alter and update the scopes internally, bringing them into the 21st century.
2004
AS WE WERE NEVER TOO FOND OF THE NAME, “SUPER SNIPER”
we started working on our own branding to separate us from tasco and Super Sniper. The scopes were commonly referred to by our customers by the acronym SS, so it was logical to rename the line SS as it would be easy to transition to without causing much confusion.
PRESENT
WE CURRENTLY OFFER 30 DIFFERENT SWFA SS SCOPES
with various reticles and features that are consistent with current market needs and desires. Some of the new scopes being offered are higher tier under the "HD” umbrella and are produced in a different factory in Japan than the original line up that we now call, SWFA SS.
We have also expanded the product line into various other accessories as well as scope mounts. The latest addition to the SWFA SS line up of products are our SWFA SS AR’s. Offering 6 different variations the SWFA SS AR line offers the best of the best parts and components.