The Art of Stockmaking - Martin Levis - Rigby Campfire Podcast

In the latest Rigby Campfire podcast, Marc is joined by Martin Levis, Rigby’s Head Stock Maker and a man renowned for his craftsmanship, sommelier-like instinct for exceptional walnut and his lightning-fast reloading skills.

With more than a decade in the gun trade, eight of those years with Rigby, Martin offers a rare window into the skill, intuition and patience that define this centuries-old craft. Together, Marc and Martin explore the journey of a Rigby stock: from the moment a raw walnut blank is first selected, through the tactile stages of shaping, balancing and finishing, to the point where wood and steel finally become a rifle with its own character and life story.
During the conversation, the pair examine several remarkable pieces of rare French walnut and discuss what sets a great stock blank apart from the ordinary. 

They also delve into the significance for Martin of working with a natural material: how each blank carries its own history, how subtle variations influence the rifle’s feel, and why the personality of the wood is central to what makes a Rigby unique. 
The episode closes with Martin’s reflections on building a career in the gun trade and his thoughtful advice for aspiring stockmakers, a reminder that great rifles begin not only with fine materials, but with people who understand how to bring them to life.