Riton Optics was founded in 2013 in Tucson, Ariz.—where it remains to this day—by Brady Speth, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former Capitol Police Officer. The business moved slowly and methodically as the team fine-tuned designs to ensure they met and exceeded enthusiast expectations. The approach was a sound one, because demand for the scopes and red-dot optics grew steadily, the company expanded and this year, it is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Operations began modestly from the home of Speth and his wife, with testing aided by his relationships in the military and law enforcement. Commercial offerings didn’t appear until 2016, but sales that year were brisk enough that the company moved to its first commercial site in the southern Arizona city, doubling its workspace. Another move to a building twice that size followed two years later.
By late 2020, it had once again outgrown the plant and to ensure operations kept up with orders, Riton moved into a 10,000 sq.-ft. property on the city’s east side. The new facility featured a front lobby, studio area for media and enough space to accommodate the firm’s operations and warehousing needs.
“There’s an indescribable sense of pride and gratitude when reflecting on where we started in the garage of a house to now multiple expansions in a few short years,” Riton’s Director of Product Development Jerimiah Alexander said at the time. “The expansion allows us to continue our goal of providing consumers with the best value and service in the optics industry.”
One month later, the company products entered the international market, with distribution on five continents. “We feel that the global market will help support our brand for future growth and global brand recognition,” Todd Niece, Riton director of sales said in the announcement.
Early last year an American family investment group provided an influx of capital to the company to help continue its growth. Speth is no longer with the firm, but Riton Optics today continues its tradition of offering a variety of cutting-edge riflescopes, red-dot optics and a complete line of accessories.