Press release – 26 September 2016
London Gunmaker John Rigby & Co. has taken on two new gunsmiths following a substantial increase in orders over the past 12 months.
The expansion comes after a year of significant milestones for Rigby. These included the completion of the first new Rigby Rising Bite double rifle for more than 80 years, the record breaking auction sale of a London Best bolt action rifle commemorating Jim Corbett and the addition of three new models to its best selling Big Game range.
The two new team members are 22-year-old French stocker Martin Levis and 19-year-old French metal worker Gatien Guy, continuing Rigby’s tradition of nurturing young talent from Europe’s finest gunmaking schools. Martin studied at the French gunmaking school of St Etienne and trained with artisan gunmaker Jean-Charles Savin for three years and subsequently spent a year working as a stocker at London’s Watson Brothers. Gatien studied at the Liege School of Gunmaking in Belgium and graduated with multiple prizes.
“We’re delighted to welcome Martin and Gatien on board,” said Rigby’s managing director, Marc Newton. “Everything we produce here is a team effort. I’m confident that our two newest recruits have the skill and potential to make a very positive contribution especially with the guidance they’ll receive from our more experienced craftsmen.”