The Rigby Campfire

For admirers of the British double rifle, Episode 28 of the Rigby Campfire podcast is essential listening. Marc Newton sits down with renowned double rifle authority Graeme Wright for a conversation that spans decades of collecting, shooting, studying and loading some of the world’s finest sporting rifles. A lifelong firearms enthusiast from Australia, Graeme traces his fascination back to the Afr...

Marc Newton continues our SCI Nashville 2026 conversations in Episode 27 of the Rigby Campfire podcast, sitting down with South African artist Yolandi Van Aarde of Calvalry Skulls. Working with real animal skulls as her canvas, Yolandi transforms trophies into deeply personal works of art, carving intricate designs inspired by the stories behind the hunt, the landscapes explored and the individual...

Some friendships begin with a hunting story, getting out of a tight spot thanks to a great rifle. Others begin with lunch - in this case, a burger eaten in the Rigby workshop, wearing a gunmaker’s apron. In Episode 26 of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, Managing Director Marc Newton is joined by Laszlo ‘Laci’ Boross, a long-standing customer friend of the brand who travelled from Hungary to spend time...

Step into a room filled with stories, legacy and no small measure of character. In this special edition of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, recorded live at Safari Outdoors in South Africa, Managing Director Marc Newton sits down with legendary gunmaker Paul Roberts - the original ‘Mr Rigby’ - in front of a packed audience. More than four decades ago, Paul acquired Rigby and, over the following fifteen...

Join Marc Newton and special guests around a black-tie campfire at Royal Thabane Lodge.  In this special edition of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, Managing Director Marc Newton gathers Alex and Danielle McDonald alongside two bona fide hunting legends — Paul Roberts and Buzz Charlton — for a chat under the African night sky. Recorded beside a crackling fire under the iconic silhouette of a baobab tre...

Recorded over breakfast in the stunning surroundings of Royal Thabane Lodge, South Africa, Episode 23 marks a first for the Rigby Campfire Podcast. Danielle McDonald joins Managing Director Marc Newton as our first female guest, bringing insight, perspective and experience from the heart of modern African conservation and safari life. In this conversation, Danielle explains how fenced preserves, u...

In the final episode of our Campfire Podcast for 2025, Managing Director Marc Newton sits down with gunmaker Olivier Leclercq to look back at 12 years of Rigby’s revival.  Olivier and Marc take us back to the earliest days of Rigby at Pensbury Place, when the company was little more than a vision, a box of paperwork and a handful of determined people. He and Marc reflect on the events of December...

In the latest Rigby Campfire podcast, Marc is joined by Martin Levis, Rigby’s Head Stock Maker and a man renowned for his craftsmanship, sommelier-like instinct for exceptional walnut and his lightning-fast reloading skills. With more than a decade in the gun trade, eight of those years with Rigby, Martin offers a rare window into the skill, intuition and patience that define this centuries-old cr...

Rigby’s Head of Communications, Simon K. Barr, is joined by Craig Boddington for an in-depth discussion on all things Rigby. Craig recounts his personal Rigby journey, beginning with his early fascination sparked by reading Jim Corbett’s works during his school years, through to his own expeditions—ranging from pursuing elephants across the African wilderness to stalking roe bucks in the English c...

Join Rigby’s Head of Communications, Simon K. Barr, as he sits down with Professional Hunter Alex McDonald at Royal Thabane, a five-star private safari lodge in Limpopo, South Africa. Recorded in the Rigby Gunroom, the only official Rigby Gunroom at any hunting lodge worldwide, the conversation takes place surrounded by a full complement of Rigby magazine and double rifles.  Alex shares how he and...

Join Rigby’s Managing Director, Marc Newton, as he welcomes long-standing client, trusted advisor, and friend Todd Fry for a conversation in the Rigby safari tent at this year’s SCI convention in Dallas. Todd shares his hunting journey, from adventuring on multiple mountain hunts a year, to eventually trying - albeit initially rather reluctantly - hunting in Africa. A decade on, with over 20 safar...

In the latest edition of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, Rigby Managing Director Marc Newton returns to HMS Victory, one month after our unforgettable 250th anniversary celebrations at Portsmouth’s Royal Naval Dockyard. Seated once again in Nelson’s Cabin, quiet once more after the hustle and bustle of the celebrations, Marc is joined by gunmaker Dan Rivers from Rigby’s finishing team. The pair reflec...

In this special episode of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, Head of Communications Simon K. Barr joins Rigby Managing Director Marc Newton as they drive to Portsmouth’s historic dockyard, the iconic setting for Rigby’s 250th anniversary celebration. Recorded aboard the legendary HMS Warrior, just steps from HMS Victory, this episode dives into the origins of an event three years in the making. Marc and...

Join Rigby’s Managing Director, Marc Newton, as he sits down with Slade Stevens in the very heart of Rigby’s workshop in London. Slade joined the Rigby team as an apprentice gunmaker three years ago and is now head of sales for the Highland Stalker and Big Game rifles, focusing mainly on the U.S. market and walk-in clients in London. The pair discuss Slade’s move from America to come and work for...

In another superb episode of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, Rigby Managing Director Marc Newton sits down with longtime customer and friend Merle Sampson for an entertaining discussion about their shared hunting experiences and Rigby’s journey back to the pinnacle of gunmaking. This episode was recorded in January at the SCI convention in Atlanta, and you can expect to hear evocative stories of hunti...

In this episode, Rigby Managing Director Marc Newton sits down with Julius Fortuna, Rigby customer and SCI Board Director for the Las Vegas Chapter. Join for a fascinating conversation recorded in the Rigby safari tent at the Safari Club International Convention in Nashville.  Julius recounts the heart-stopping moment he was charged by a buffalo, offering a first-hand perspective on how he handled...

Join our Managing Director Marc Newton as he sits down with Director of Operations Steven “Monty” Monteith in the very heart of Rigby’s workshop in London. In this light-hearted conversation, Marc and Monty share their 20-year friendship that was forged through a joint love of fieldsports and hunting before bringing them to work together at Rigby.  They discuss Rigby's upcoming 250-year anniversar...

In the latest episode of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, Marc Newton, managing director of John Rigby & Co., takes a break from hunting in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park to chat with Marco van Nieker of Safari Outdoor, dealer for Rigby in South Africa. Marco talks about his new model with Marc as they agree that a Rigby was meant to be out in the bush, and not stuck in a gun cabinet....

In the latest episode of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, Marc Newton, managing director of John Rigby & Co., takes a break from hunting in South Africa's Greater Kruger to chat with Hancke Hudson of Safari Outdoor, dealer for Rigby in South Africa. With over 30 years of hunting experience, Hancke reflects on his journey and his unique role as custodian of culture at Safari Outdoor, a position he h...

In this episode of the Rigby Campfire podcast, recorded at the Dallas Safari Club Convention, host Marc Newton engages in a candid conversation with Jacob Herman, a devoted Rigby customer. Jacob shares his journey with the brand, beginning with a memorable encounter involving Rigby cufflinks that exemplified the company's exceptional customer service and welcoming approach. The discussion then shi...

Welcome to another episode of The Rigby Campfire podcast. In this month's episode, Rigby's managing director Marc Newton sits down with Larry Leadingham, a longstanding friend and customer of Rigby. Marc and Larry reminisce about the early days of Rigby's revival and Larry's journey to becoming a Rigby owner. They discuss how Larry's dream of owning a Rigby rifle came true, even surprising his wif...

Welcome back to the Rigby Campfire Podcast. In this episode, we're excited to bring you an insightful conversation between Marc Newton, the managing director of John Rigby & Co., and Kent Porter, a pivotal figure in Rigby's recent history and a true enthusiast of the brand. Kent Porter, while well-known in hunting circles for his expertise and passion for the outdoors, has remained an unsung h...

In this month’s episode of the Rigby Campfire podcast, Rigby's managing director, Marc Newton, sits down with close friend and colleague, Kevin Wistner, director of sales and marketing at Blaser USA. Blaser USA is the importer and distributor of Rigby guns in the United States. Together, they delve into the relationship between Rigby and Blaser Group, highlighting Kevin's integral role in supporti...

Welcome to this month's episode of the Rigby Campfire Podcast. Marc Newton, Rigby's managing director sits down with Donald Trump Jr., co-founder of US-based brand, Field Ethos. Join them as they discuss their forthcoming collaboration and a recent visit to the Rigby workshop that included a trip to the historic London Proof House. Following the visit to Rigby HQ, Marc took Don Jr. hunting roebuck...

In this month’s episode of the Rigby Campfire Podcast, Marc Newton, managing director of John Rigby & Co., sits down with Dr. Kevin 'Doctari' Robertson, a distinguished authority in African wildlife management. With over four decades of expertise blending veterinary science and conservation, Dr. Robertson shares the genesis of his seminal work, "The Perfect Shot," and the journey to its second...