Rigby Land Rover By Stephanie Abbot

By Stephanie Abbot

There are few things so inextricably linked with African safaris as a classic Land Rover Defender. Prompting visions of traversing the dusty African bush or panoramic plains, eyes peeled for the briefest glimpse of game, it’s a vehicle firmly rooted in adventure.

With similarly historic links to the romance of African safaris, London gunmaker John Rigby & Co. is a brand synonymous with wilderness and adventure, thanks to famous customers including safari legends Bell, Corbett, Finch-Hatton, Selby and Hunter.

Born of a desire to celebrate and preserve these links and the brand’s fascinating heritage, a unique partnership between Rigby, Kingsmen Editions Ltd and Traditional English Guncases (TEG) was formed to create something that would allow Rigby enthusiasts the ability to enjoy their own piece of safari grandeur, wherever they may be.

Brought together by a shared passion for quality, adventure and classic British design, the three brands have created a vehicle that is both beautiful and functional. Over six months, independent vehicle modifier Kingsmen Editions transformed a classic Defender 130 into every hunter’s dream 4x4. Finished in Keswick Green, the Rigby Land Rover is kitted out with a bespoke twin drawer system - one for Rigby guns and the other for hospitality where bottles of Rigby gin, whisky and glasses can be stored. The vehicle also boasts a 270° pullout canvas awning, ideal for setting up an alfresco lunch to protect you from the sun or rain whether you’re by river bank, in the bush or high on the hill.

Marc Newton, Rigby’s managing director, said: “We wanted to create something that was both functional and beautiful, just like our best guns. Everyone at Rigby is

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incredibly excited about this collaboration which further bolsters Rigby’s position as an innovative and exciting brand championing British design and style.”

The bespoke Rigby interior is a mixture of canvas and leather with TEG having crafted the inlays for the gun cases, using those same high-quality materials to fabricate the luxurious interiors, including the seats and dashboard, adding an extra layer of elegant continuity and style.

Joe Tomlin, TEG’s managing director, said: “We have wanted to be part of a project like this for some time, so when the opportunity to work with Rigby and Kingsmen came along we jumped at the chance to get our craftsmen thinking about how to bring it to life.”

Other special features include access to 25 liters of pressurized water which can be used for washing equipment or gralloching deer, a safari spotting seat big enough for two, a bespoke fitted rifle rack, and an exterior roll cage with a front light bar and twin rear spotlights.

For those interested in commissioning their own bespoke Rigby Land Rover, the Rigby and Kingsmen partnership offers full customization options according to budget and specifications, meaning each vehicle is truly unique to each customer.

With quality and attention to detail at the core of all three brands, the process of creating a bespoke Rigby Land Rover takes time, something which Tom Waller describes as another part of the experience. “Whether a customer is a keen deer stalker or game shooter, or perhaps both, we can customize and adapt the vehicle according to whatever their needs. We’re all accustomed to a world of instant gratification, but that’s not what you’re getting with this vehicle. Just like the process of buying a Rigby rifle and a TEG gun case, customers are taken on a journey leading them to exactly the product they desire and, hopefully, their expectations are exceeded.” Received with rave reviews during its official launch at The Game Fair 2021 from 23-25 July, which took place in front of 119,000 people in the grounds of Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, England, visitors had the opportunity to see this incredible vehicle, with one person deciding to have their very own Rigby Land Rover commissioned.

Tom Waller, Kingsmen Editions’ managing director, added: “As a brand, Rigby and TEG have always been highly regarded, and we realised that our companies share a lot of the same values. We want to make items that are the highest degree of quality and are also useful. By working together to incorporate the best elements from each brand, we have created something very special in the Rigby Land Rover.”