Lighted Military and Hunting Sites & Scopes
Tritium Illumination Technology Lights Up Optics Reticles
Mar 6, 2009
A native South African, Glyn A. J. Bindon (1937 - 2003) immigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s and received a degree in aeronautical engineering in the States.
Carrier and Lunar Lander Innovations from Bindon
Bindon displayed his talents early on in his career when he designed a powerful shock absorber that satisfied the stress in carrier landings so the rejected Navy F-8U Crusader could be utilized.
Bindon also contributed to improvements of underground nuclear missile suspension systems to help protect the missiles from enemy attack.
During his tenure as a cognizant engineer with Grumman Aerospace in the ‘60’s, Bindon also influenced the quadruple redundant engine control design of the Lunar Lander descent and ascent engines that powered the command module in and out of the moon’s orbit.
Tritium Illuminating Technology in South Africa
When the space race drastically slowed, Bindon relocated to Michigan to work with the Ford Motor Company. In 1980, while still at Ford, a friend introduced Bindon to the tritium illuminating technology during a visit to South Africa.
Tritium Sites and Scopes for Hunting Applications
As an avid big-game hunter and firearms enthusiast, Bindon immediately recognized the U.S. market potential for the tritium-based products. However, due to the nature of tritium as a radioactive material, during the Cold War Era, required Bindon to seek the approval of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) before he could move forward.
He eventually received a NRC license to use tritium, formed the company Trijicon, Inc., and, in 1983, became the first tritium-illuminated gun sight manufacturer to legally sell to the general public.
The company’s sighting systems are illuminated by a combination of an isotope of hydrogen (gas), called tritium, and phosphors. Housed in a glass capsule, the tritium reacts with the phosphors to create the luminescence.
Bindon operated Trijicon as a sideline business from his home for a number of years before a breakthrough caused the company to grow quickly and outgrow his home.
FBI Use of Trijicon Iron Sites Brings Credence to Tritium Technology
The breakthrough came at the hands of the FBI when the Bureau adopted Trijicon irons sites on its SIG automatic pistols in 1988. That acceptance, by a major law enforcement agency, cranked up Trijicon’s reputation and brought credence to the technology.
Even with the success of Trijicon, Bindon remained at Ford until retirement, maintaining both positions as engineer and company leader. He also involved his family in Trijicon’s operations.
Bindon also developed the Bindon Aiming Concept, which is the substitution of a bright red dot for the usual cross-hairs in a scope. The dot allows shooter to keep both eyes open more easily for improved accuracy.
Trijicon Continues Product Innovation
Unfortunately, the firearms industry lost Glyn Bindon. He died in a plane crash in 2003.
Today, Bindon’s son Steven is the company president and Trijicon sights, scopes and sighting innovations are found on the firearms of the best shooters in the world as well as on the firearms that protect American homes.
 |
 |
 |
