Late to the Party
EAW has been a well-known name in the scope mounts industry for over a hundred years, and during that time, they have earned a strong reputation for their quality products. The company did, however, take a bit longer to jump into the tactical mounts market compared to other big German players like ERA-TAC, INNOmount, MAK, and Henneberger, who joined the tactical mounts game quite some time back. Our team had the opportunity to visit EAW’s booth at IWA 2023 to learn more about their new tactical mount series.
A World of Options
One of the first indicators of EAW finally joining the tactical race was launching their line of tactical mounts with adjustable inclination. This showed the company’s intention to join the competition and demonstrated its ability to innovate in the field.
Now, they have broadened their offer by creating a basic tactical mount line without inclination adjustment. The mounts are offered in two-piece or one-piece configurations with a possibility of various attachments, such as Picatinny rail or red dot adapters which can be installed on the top or on the sides of the rings for mounting different accessories.
They do come with an integrated bubble level and will be available in both fixed and quick detachable arrangements. Additionally, it is nice from EAW to provide users with the screw torque values which are visibly written above each individual screw as we find this to be quite a rare commodity in the world of scope mounts.
A Steal of a Deal?
What has really caught our attention is the affordability of the new tactical mount series. Taking EAW’s reputation for top-notch quality into account, it is interesting to see them offer a more budget-friendly option. The two-piece versions will be available for approximately 200 € and the one-piece version for around 340 € during the first year of production, after which the prices will most likely be raised.
Considering the prices of other premium products manufactured by EAW this is still a bargain, especially compared to the competition. Design-wise, the mounts do look somewhat crude and basic at the first glance, but without compromises on the built quality, which we are happy to see.
EAW is likely using this competitive pricing to boost initial sales and get a stronger foothold in the market. However, we expect that eventually, the prices will start to look more like what their competitors are charging.
Nonetheless, it is surprising to see EAW take this approach, as one would expect them to stick with the higher, premium price range they are known for. While it may be a strategic decision to make their tactical line cheaper and more appealing to a broader audience in the short term, it could potentially compromise the reputation that they have earned over the past century for providing top-tier, premium-priced mounts.
