The Rigby Campfire

John Rigby and Co.

Welcome to the Rigby Campfire Podcast, your exclusive invitation to the heart of the world of Rigby. Join us as your host, Marc Newton, MD of John Rigby & Co, founded in 1775, talks to luminaries, experts, and adventurers in the realm of best gunmaking and hunting. From legendary PH’s to master-craftsmen, listen to captivating stories, insightful discussions, and the passion that drives those who share a deep love for the art of handmade guns and hunting. The Rigby Campfire Podcast is your source of inspiration in the pursuit of gunmaking excellence and unforgettable adventures in the field.

  1. 1H AGO

    Ep. 27 - Yolandi Van Aarde - Nature’s Canvas: Turning Skulls Into Art

    Join Yolandie Van Aarde and Marc Newton as they sit down in the Rigby booth at SCI Nashville.  Yolandie shares how she transforms natural skulls into stunning art, blending tradition with modern techniques. She discusses her unique approach to carving and metal coating, celebrating stories and heritage - especially when explaining the reason behind her company’s name - Calvary Skulls. Marc discusses how the craftsmanship and attention to detail Yolandie extols is also shared by his team at Rigby, and how every rifle is build for a purpose - but is beautiful as well. Explore the cultural significance of skull art, the process of engraving with rotary tools, and the integration of personal stories into custom designs.

    14 min

  2. APR 16

    Ep. 26 - László Boross - From Pensbury Place to the Campfire - a Rigby Friendship

    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 with the Rigby team at the SCI Convention in Nashville.Their story goes back more than a decade, to Laci’s first visit to Rigby’s Pensbury Place workshop. What began as research to help a friend choose a big game rifle quickly became something more. Pressed for time, lunch was a burger, eaten alongside gunmakers and a Rigby apron was produced to save his shirt. Somewhere between the first bite and receiving his Rigby, a lasting connection was made.From that day on, the relationship grew beyond rifles. Marc and Laci reflect on the years since - time spent hunting together in Hungary and Scotland, the differences in culture and tradition and the shared understanding that sits at the heart of it all.Recorded at SCI, where the global hunting community comes together under one roof, the conversation also touches on the importance of personal connection in the field and why the right people matter as much as the place itself.What began in a workshop over a simple meal has become a friendship carried across countries, cultures and continents, with the next chapter already being planned.

    24 min

  3. APR 2

    Ep. 25 - Paul Roberts - In Conversation with the Original ‘Mr Rigby’

    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 years, helped shape its modern identity, guiding the brand to new heights and securing its place in the contemporary hunting world. Now, at 84, and on what he insists may be his ‘last’ trip to Africa (though not for the first time), he joins Marc for a conversation that reflects on a life deeply intertwined with rifles, adventure and the continent that defined so much of it. Together, they revisit the pivotal moments: the decision to buy Rigby in 1982, the challenges and triumphs that followed, and the influence Paul has had not only on the brand, but on Marc’s own journey within it. Woven throughout are the stories only a lifetime in the field can offer, from charging buffalo taken head-on to the unexpected encounters that make safari what it is. Told with warmth, humour and a candour earned over decades, this is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the most influential figures in Rigby’s history.

    51 min

  4. MAR 17

    Ep. 24 - Buzz Charlton, Paul Roberts, & The McDonalds - South Africa’s Great Wildlife Comeback

    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 tree, this conversation is rooted in experience, stewardship and history earned the proper way. Together, they explore one of Africa’s most compelling conservation stories: the transformation of former cattle land into thriving wildlife habitat through private custodianship, ethical hunting and long-term vision. South Africa now holds more game than at any point in recent memory — a remarkable resurgence shaped not by chance, but by careful management and responsibility. Paul reflects on a lifetime spent in Africa, sharing stories that span continents and generations, including the enduring legacy of his iconic .416 Rigby. Buzz offers the perspective of a seasoned international hunter, observing the evolution of modern South African safaris with clarity and candour. Alex and Danielle share the realities of land stewardship today, where conservation and hunting are inextricably linked. With humour, depth and hard-won insight, this episode is an evening spent in distinguished company around the fire, where the best stories are shared and the future of wildlife is shaped.

    21 min

  5. MAR 3

    Ep. 23 - Danielle McDonald - Women In Hunting

    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, under private custodianship, have evolved into thriving ecosystems through careful land management, rewilding initiatives and responsible, sustainable hunting. She discusses the remarkable growth of game populations across South Africa and what this resurgence means for wildlife, habitat and rural communities. The discussion also turns personal. Danielle shares the story of how she and her husband met, offering a glimpse into the life behind the safari operation. Marc asks for her perspective on the hunting industry as a woman working within it, and together they explore the traditional roles within a hunt, and how they continue to evolve in the modern world. This episode lifts the lid on the people behind the safaris - those for whom hunting is not simply a pursuit, but a way of life.

    21 min

  6. 12/19/2025

    Ep. 22 – Olivier Leclercq: Being Part of a Team That’s Building a Legacy

    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 of 2013, when Marc and his mentor Patty Pugh were moving boxes into the workshop on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, wondering what on earth they had taken on - and hoping they were doing the right thing.  Twelve years on, with Rigby firmly re-established as one of the world’s most respected gunmakers, Olivier shares stories from those early days in the workshop and the moments that shaped the company into what it is today. He speaks about the camaraderie of the early team, the pride taken in every rifle that leaves the bench and the responsibility of being custodians of a historic brand with a future to protect.  The conversation also explores the balance that defines Rigby: traditional tools and time-honoured methods, paired with an innovative, forward-looking ethos. From engineering and artistry to training the next generation, this is an honest and personal look at what it takes to build and sustain a legacy.  Warm, reflective and fitting for the run-up to Christmas, this episode is a reminder that Rigby’s success today is rooted in shared belief, hard work and the people who have stood by the brand from day one.

    24 min

  7. 12/03/2025

    Ep. 21 - Martin Levis - The Art of Stockmaking

    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 craft. Together, Marc and Martin explore the journey of a Rigby stock: from the moment a raw walnut blank is first selected, through the tactile stages of shaping, balancing and finishing, to the point where wood and steel finally become a rifle with its own character and life story. During the conversation, the pair examine several remarkable pieces of rare French walnut and discuss what sets a great stock blank apart from the ordinary.  They also delve into the significance for Martin of working with a natural material: how each blank carries its own history, how subtle variations influence the rifle’s feel, and why the personality of the wood is central to what makes a Rigby unique.  The episode closes with Martin’s reflections on building a career in the gun trade and his thoughtful advice for aspiring stockmakers, a reminder that great rifles begin not only with fine materials, but with people who understand how to bring them to life.

    16 min

  8. 09/19/2025

    Ep. 20 - Craig Boddington - From Roe Bucks to Elephants: Why Rigby Is My Go-To

    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 countryside, and everything in between.Together, they examine in detail the wide array of cartridge calibres offered by Rigby, reflecting on their respective merits. Both highlight the .416 as the definitive choice for the serious big-game hunter embarking on safari. What unfolds is a conversation between two passionate enthusiasts, delving deeply into the intricacies of ammunition, ballistics, and the traditions of the hunt.

    1h 1m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Rigby Campfire Podcast, your exclusive invitation to the heart of the world of Rigby. Join us as your host, Marc Newton, MD of John Rigby & Co, founded in 1775, talks to luminaries, experts, and adventurers in the realm of best gunmaking and hunting. From legendary PH’s to master-craftsmen, listen to captivating stories, insightful discussions, and the passion that drives those who share a deep love for the art of handmade guns and hunting. The Rigby Campfire Podcast is your source of inspiration in the pursuit of gunmaking excellence and unforgettable adventures in the field.

Information

  • Creator
    John Rigby and Co.
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © John Rigby and Co.
  • Show Website
    The Rigby Campfire

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