London gunmaker John Rigby & Co., Britain’s oldest gunmaker is set to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2025. This momentous occasion will be marked by a series of spectacular events and the launch of exclusive special edition rifles. The anniversary promises to be a tribute to British craftsmanship, showcasing Rigby as a quintessential British icon alongside other national treasures.
Rigby will host exclusive celebrations aboard HMS Victory and HMS Warrior at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, England in May 2025. These renowned British vessels provide a fitting backdrop, as HMS Victory was ordered in 1758, the same year John Rigby, the founder of the company was born, along with British naval hero, Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.
HMS Victory, Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, will be transformed into a Rigby workshop, allowing guests to experience the craftsmanship that has defined Rigby for centuries. The wooden structure of HMS Victory offers an immersive experience where guests can explore, see and smell 250 years of history embedded within its timbers.
HMS Warrior, launched in 1860 as Britain’s first iron-hulled battleship and the pride of Queen Victoria’s fleet, embodies the advancements of the Victorian era and mirrors Rigby’s own history of pioneering design and innovation.
The celebrations will feature speeches detailing Rigby’s storied past, live demonstrations by master craftsmen, and exclusive tours of HMS Victory’s gun deck. A cannon salute will dramatically signal the transition between ships. Guests will enjoy a gala dinner on HMS Warrior’s upper gun deck, with notable speakers including The Earl of Yarmouth, who shares a familial connection to Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.
To commemorate this milestone, Rigby will unveil special London Best rifles incorporating wood from HMS Victory, forever linking the two British icons. Additionally, Rigby will release 250 limited editions of their award-winning Big Game and Highland Stalker rifles each specially engraved to celebrate this significant moment in Rigby’s heritage.
Marc Newton, the managing director of Rigby, commented: “As we celebrate Rigby’s 250th anniversary, we’re not just honouring our past but fuelling the spirit of adventure for generations to come. Our guns are crafted for those who dare to explore, to push boundaries and to write their own chapters in the history books. For two and a half centuries, Rigby has been synonymous with craftsmanship. As we look to the future, we’re committed to upholding our legacy as a Best London gunmaker while inspiring new tales of daring and discovery. Here’s to the next 250 years of Rigby – may they be filled with as many thrilling adventures and remarkable stories as the last.”
