I have to say that I was impressed with the alaskan guide binos also. I could be wrong but I think they are made from a company called Light Optical of Japan. At under 600 bucks I was suprised to find them comfotable, attractive and had very good optics. They were not equal to the Zeiss victory FL T II, the nikon premier LX or Swarovski EL. But I would say they were 80% as good and theywere about 35%-45% as expensive.
I was also impressed (though not at all surprised) with the Meopta Meostars. Under a grand, made in europe, and very high quality. Meopta has been making optics in Czech republic for about 70 or 80 years. BTW the cabela's euro binoculars are made in Czech republic so they are made by meopta. There is probably not a better roof prism bino for the money than these.
Still, I would not hesitate to go anywhere in the world with a pair of Cabela's Alaskan Guide 10x42
okcmco