The Rigby Campfire

John Rigby and Co.
  • 5.0 (13)
  • EDUCATION

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. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 08/20/2025

    Ep. 19 - Alex McDonald - The Conservation Success Story of Royal Thabane

    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 his team have transformed Royal Thabane from an ecological desert, left barren by years of intensive cattle grazing, back to a thriving wilderness that’s heaven for big game hunters. From careful game reintroduction to the return of native flora and fauna, the long-term goal is to establish the reserve as a protected sanctuary for generations to come.  Simon and Alex also discuss the lodge itself, from its spectacular views and world-class facilities to the complete discretion and extraordinary adventures that guests enjoy during their stay. For Rigby devotees and die-hard Africa fans alike, this episode offers an inspiring glimpse into conservation success, luxury safari life and the enduring relationship between Rigby and Royal Thabane.

    23 min

  7. 07/20/2025

    Ep. 18 - Todd Fry - Why Hunting In Africa Stole My Heart

    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 safari hunts to his name, Todd shares touching anecdotes of quality time spent with his nearest and dearest under the beating sun of the continent. Marc reveals the unofficial advisory role that Todd has taken on over the years, lifts the lid on the “big five” project and discusses how Todd’s new rifles are set to be shipped from the London workshop after they have been personally inspected. This a must-listen for aspirational and seasoned hunters alike.

    25 min

  8. 07/04/2025

    Ep. 17 - Daniel Rivers - Reflecting On Rigby’s Celebrations Aboard HMS Victory

    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 reflect on the extraordinary event in May that saw people from around the world gathering to mark a momentous occasion. Daniel offers an inside view of the many months of preparation that went into the anniversary, from working behind the scenes with Rigby’s master craftsmen and transporting over 50 guns from the London showroom to Portsmouth to helping unveil the extraordinary Victory rifles. Each of these commemorative Rigby rifles features a V-shaped piece of original oak from HMS Victory, ensuring their owners hold a true piece of British history. You can expect tales of the private dinners hosted in Nelson’s Cabin and cannons being fired to mark every Victory rifle order, behind the scenes footage of an event that was three years in the making and the chance to hear Marc's speech given at a private dinner during the celebrations. With country leaders, business greats and legends of the gun trade among those who gathered to celebrate the shared history of Rigby and Victory, this is an episode that transports you to Nelson’s Cabin and the heart of the occasion. It’s unmissable entertainment for anyone who appreciates heritage, craftsmanship and the camaraderie at the heart of the Rigby family.

    28 min
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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
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © John Rigby and Co.
  • Show Website
    The Rigby Campfire

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