Marc Newton is the managing director of London gunmaker John Rigby & Co. Before assuming this role, Marc served as an apprentice under the legendary gunmaker Paul Roberts of J. Roberts & Son, a previous owner of Rigby before the company moved to the United States. The six years working under Paul’s mentorship provided Marc with invaluable knowledge and experience, fostering a deep understanding of gunmaking.
In 2013, when Rigby was acquired by the German Luke & Ortmeier Gruppe (L&O Group), they recruited Marc to lead the company. With L&O’s backing, Marc re-established Rigby in London, setting up a new workshop and showroom in Vauxhall, marking the beginning of Rigby’s resurgence.
Under Marc’s leadership, Rigby has experienced a remarkable revival, placing the company firmly as a premier gunmaker of bespoke sporting rifles and shotguns. Marc has been instrumental in instilling traditional gunmaking techniques and has overseen the reintroduction of iconic models such as the Rising Bite double rifle, which hadn’t been produced by the company for over 80 years, as well as the launch of the Rigby Big Game bolt-action rifle, which has won awards on both sides of the Atlantic.
In his role, Marc is committed to preserving gunmaking heritage through the Rigby Academy, an apprenticeship programme designed to train the next generation of gunmakers. He has assembled a largely younger team to help keep traditional gunmaking skills alive. A respected figure in the hunting community, Marc regularly contributes to industry publications and participates in international hunting expeditions.
His expertise and dedication to the art of gunmaking make him a valuable addition to The Gunmakers Trust for safeguarding and promoting the rich tradition of British gunmaking for future generations.
THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GUNMAKERS
The Gunmakers Company Charitable Trust is the charitable arm of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers which was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1637 to promote and regulate gunmaking, a role it still fulfils today.