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Rigby might be the oldest British gunmaker in existence, but anyone expecting a brand obsessed with its past may be surprised. While the team, youthful from management through to its talented gunmakers and engravers, holds Rigby’s heritage in the highest regard, the focus has always been on moving forward. Nowhere is that more evident than in Rigby’s engraving studio.
From the creation of two new signature scrolls to the delivery of truly head-turning commissions that challenge convention, Rigby’s engravers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.
At the heart of Pensbury Place, Managing Director Marc Newton and Head of Engraving Saija Koskialho oversee an engraving department that has become one of the most exciting creative environments in British gunmaking. Rigby has long been admired not only by its customers, but also by peers across the trade, for fostering young talent and encouraging fresh thinking, all without losing sight of craftsmanship and quality.
And the team reflects that philosophy. Rigby now has five in-house engravers, ranging from apprentices through to Liege School of Gunmaking alumni Geoffrey Lignon and Saija. They work alongside established masters such as James Kulczyk and enjoy long-standing relationships with world-renowned engravers including Will Wild and Cécile Flohimont, connections that allow Rigby to draw on exceptional expertise when a project calls for it.
Planning engraving work at this level is complex, but with Rigby’s reputation and extensive network, the team can access the very best talent for each project. With such depth of skill and a genuine ‘try anything’ attitude, the question becomes: how does Rigby approach engraving when a customer commissions a rifle?
“It’s a totally organic process,” says Marc. “The customers who get the best results are those who collaborate with the engravers from the start. Many of our clients are highly successful people who are used to trusting specialists. They recognise that they are not engravers, so they give ownership to the team. These are people who live for engraving and for the art – and the advice is simple: trust the artist.”
Although creative trust is encouraged, the process remains deeply collaborative. Each bespoke gun is built with its owner, not simply for them. A dedicated WhatsApp group is created for every project, bringing together gunmakers, engravers and the customer. Weekly updates, often accompanied by photographs, allow customers to follow progress without demanding their time.
“Our customers are busy,” Marc explains, “and this is an excellent way to keep them informed at every stage.”
Understanding what a customer likes – and just as importantly, what they do not – also plays a crucial role in the creative process. That shared understanding, paired with the type of individual Rigby attracts, gives the brand a distinctly progressive outlook. Rigby customers are typically successful but retain a strong appetite for adventure: travelling to Africa, planning mountain hunts, and seeking new experiences in the wildest places on earth. That mindset aligns naturally with a young, ambitious team willing to explore new ideas.
“We’re prepared to try new things, to take risks and take it to the next level, especially with our engraving,” Marc says. “You can’t progress any craft by doing the same thing. I hire people who share that ethos and want to push boundaries. The elephant gun, for example, could have been a complete disaster in the wrong hands – but it wasn’t. And when you push boundaries like that, the more traditional work often becomes even better.”
Marc draws a parallel with motorsport. Innovations developed at the highest levels of racing eventually filter down into everyday vehicles. In the same way, experimentation at the very top of Rigby’s engraving output influences the quality and confidence of more traditional commissions.
That philosophy is perfectly illustrated by the aforementioned and now-iconic elephant gun: a .600 bore Rising Bite double completed in 2022. Every visible piece of metalwork – including the action, locks, grip cap, barrels, and even hidden areas inside the guard bow – was engraved to resemble the skin of an elephant. Tens of thousands of hand-cut ‘skin’ circles were required to achieve the effect. If the surface is pressed, it almost feels as though it might give and spring back beneath the fingertips.
Despite this willingness to experiment, Rigby’s engravers are equally comfortable working within traditional styles. Engraver Will Wild developed two signature scroll patterns for Rigby: The Pensbury scroll and the St. James scroll. Both are rooted in classic English broad-leaf scrollwork, enhanced with Arts and Crafts influences.
The Pensbury scroll, named after Rigby’s current home, was the first to be introduced and offers a slightly simpler design. The St. James scroll, named for Rigby’s original London premises, builds on that foundation with a deep cut with a stippled background that really stands out. It was popular with Rigby customers from the moment it was unveiled, not least because it’s adaptable across the different rifles – bolt actions, falling blocks and Rising Bites.”
Alongside innovation in design, Rigby is equally committed to investing in the next generation of engravers. Marc is particularly keen that young talent is not confined to repetitive or low-level work for years on end.
“As an industry, we haven’t done enough over the past 50 years to train young people, and that’s made things precarious,” he says. “There are companies pushing for change, and we’re one of them.”
When Saija Koskialho first joined Rigby, shortly after completing engraving school, she was entrusted with engraving a .577 double rifle as her first full project, a responsibility rarely given so early in a career.
“No one usually hands a prestigious gun to an engraver as their first major commission,” Marc explains, “but she knocked it out of the park. It was clear she was hungry, talented, and trustworthy.”
Ultimately, the conversation returns to the belief that progress depends on a willingness to step outside comfort zones.
“Nothing is achieved in life by overthinking,” Marc reflects. “If John Rigby were alive today, he wouldn’t be copying matchlocks and flintlocks. He was a visionary. We want Rigby to be known for that fusion of heritage, outstanding gunmaking and exceptional engraving.”
It is that balance – respect for tradition, combined with a confidence to innovate – that continues to define engraving at Rigby today.
From the creation of two new signature scrolls to the delivery of truly head-turning commissions that challenge convention, Rigby’s engravers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.
At the heart of Pensbury Place, Managing Director Marc Newton and Head of Engraving Saija Koskialho oversee an engraving department that has become one of the most exciting creative environments in British gunmaking. Rigby has long been admired not only by its customers, but also by peers across the trade, for fostering young talent and encouraging fresh thinking, all without losing sight of craftsmanship and quality.
And the team reflects that philosophy. Rigby now has five in-house engravers, ranging from apprentices through to Liege School of Gunmaking alumni Geoffrey Lignon and Saija. They work alongside established masters such as James Kulczyk and enjoy long-standing relationships with world-renowned engravers including Will Wild and Cécile Flohimont, connections that allow Rigby to draw on exceptional expertise when a project calls for it.
Planning engraving work at this level is complex, but with Rigby’s reputation and extensive network, the team can access the very best talent for each project. With such depth of skill and a genuine ‘try anything’ attitude, the question becomes: how does Rigby approach engraving when a customer commissions a rifle?
“It’s a totally organic process,” says Marc. “The customers who get the best results are those who collaborate with the engravers from the start. Many of our clients are highly successful people who are used to trusting specialists. They recognise that they are not engravers, so they give ownership to the team. These are people who live for engraving and for the art – and the advice is simple: trust the artist.”
Although creative trust is encouraged, the process remains deeply collaborative. Each bespoke gun is built with its owner, not simply for them. A dedicated WhatsApp group is created for every project, bringing together gunmakers, engravers and the customer. Weekly updates, often accompanied by photographs, allow customers to follow progress without demanding their time.
“Our customers are busy,” Marc explains, “and this is an excellent way to keep them informed at every stage.”
Understanding what a customer likes – and just as importantly, what they do not – also plays a crucial role in the creative process. That shared understanding, paired with the type of individual Rigby attracts, gives the brand a distinctly progressive outlook. Rigby customers are typically successful but retain a strong appetite for adventure: travelling to Africa, planning mountain hunts, and seeking new experiences in the wildest places on earth. That mindset aligns naturally with a young, ambitious team willing to explore new ideas.
“We’re prepared to try new things, to take risks and take it to the next level, especially with our engraving,” Marc says. “You can’t progress any craft by doing the same thing. I hire people who share that ethos and want to push boundaries. The elephant gun, for example, could have been a complete disaster in the wrong hands – but it wasn’t. And when you push boundaries like that, the more traditional work often becomes even better.”
Marc draws a parallel with motorsport. Innovations developed at the highest levels of racing eventually filter down into everyday vehicles. In the same way, experimentation at the very top of Rigby’s engraving output influences the quality and confidence of more traditional commissions.
That philosophy is perfectly illustrated by the aforementioned and now-iconic elephant gun: a .600 bore Rising Bite double completed in 2022. Every visible piece of metalwork – including the action, locks, grip cap, barrels, and even hidden areas inside the guard bow – was engraved to resemble the skin of an elephant. Tens of thousands of hand-cut ‘skin’ circles were required to achieve the effect. If the surface is pressed, it almost feels as though it might give and spring back beneath the fingertips.
Despite this willingness to experiment, Rigby’s engravers are equally comfortable working within traditional styles. Engraver Will Wild developed two signature scroll patterns for Rigby: The Pensbury scroll and the St. James scroll. Both are rooted in classic English broad-leaf scrollwork, enhanced with Arts and Crafts influences.
The Pensbury scroll, named after Rigby’s current home, was the first to be introduced and offers a slightly simpler design. The St. James scroll, named for Rigby’s original London premises, builds on that foundation with a deep cut with a stippled background that really stands out. It was popular with Rigby customers from the moment it was unveiled, not least because it’s adaptable across the different rifles – bolt actions, falling blocks and Rising Bites.”
Alongside innovation in design, Rigby is equally committed to investing in the next generation of engravers. Marc is particularly keen that young talent is not confined to repetitive or low-level work for years on end.
“As an industry, we haven’t done enough over the past 50 years to train young people, and that’s made things precarious,” he says. “There are companies pushing for change, and we’re one of them.”
When Saija Koskialho first joined Rigby, shortly after completing engraving school, she was entrusted with engraving a .577 double rifle as her first full project, a responsibility rarely given so early in a career.
“No one usually hands a prestigious gun to an engraver as their first major commission,” Marc explains, “but she knocked it out of the park. It was clear she was hungry, talented, and trustworthy.”
Ultimately, the conversation returns to the belief that progress depends on a willingness to step outside comfort zones.
“Nothing is achieved in life by overthinking,” Marc reflects. “If John Rigby were alive today, he wouldn’t be copying matchlocks and flintlocks. He was a visionary. We want Rigby to be known for that fusion of heritage, outstanding gunmaking and exceptional engraving.”
It is that balance – respect for tradition, combined with a confidence to innovate – that continues to define engraving at Rigby today.
