David Marx of J. Roberts & Son Passes Away

It is with great sadness that I report on the sudden and unexpected death of David Marx, my dear friend and business partner. After a long and distinguished career, David retired from the Gun Trade in January 2010. He jointly owned and was the major shareholder of John Rigby & Co. from 1968 to 1984, when I bought into the company and we became partners. In 1997 we sold the intellectual rights to Rigby’s to a US-based company, but we continued in business together under the J. Roberts & Son banner.

David was a great favourite amongst the many “old school” Rigby customers, and in his case a host of them actually were his old-school friends. He left the new-wave “big game” hunter clients to me, but his tremendous depth of knowledge on Rigby shotguns and rifles was a constant source of support. Name a gun and serial number and David was ready with an anecdote about HRH so & so or Dennis Finch-Hattons’ exploits or Karamojo Bell’s .275 prowess.

David hunted big game in Africa and shot birds, but in the latter years driven boar became his favourite sport and we shall feel his absence on our annual French trip.

All at J. Roberts & Son will miss him greatly, and we can’t believe we shall not hear any of those old anecdotes again, albeit for the umpteenth time but always very amusing and relayed in David’s own inimitable style. His recent visits to the premises at Wyvil Road were most welcome, even if he did only pop in to check whether we had gone bust yet or not.

Our heartfelt condolences go to his ever-supportive and loving wife, Jill, and to his sons, Francis and Julian, the great pride of his life.

Paul Roberts
J. Roberts & Son (Gunmakers) Ltd.
www.jroberts-gunmakers.co.uk