James Longthorne Stewart and family hail originally from Lancashire, England, and have operated precision engineering companies for the past three decades (including ten years in Australia). James is a lifelong engineer and toolmaker and first became involved in engineering gun parts while in Australia. On returning to the UK, a casual conversation with a friend planted a seed subsequently, the idea of designing and producing an innovative English shotgun of uncompromising quality was born.
In his small and somewhat understated workshop to the rear of the family home hidden away in the small Lancastrian village of Hesketh Bank, James installed several million pounds worth of engineering plant and equipment to begin his gun making journey. Several years of development then led to the unveiling of the first Longthorne model in 2010 at the CLA Game Fair at Ragley Hall.
The impetus to create and to pursue perfection runs in the family. Daughter Chloe’s natural artistic talent led to her joining the company part-time in 2008, while still at university. Chloe develops the brand's distinctive engraving designs, initially with mentoring from two of the UK’s most respected engravers. Chloe’s work flourished, and she is now an integral part of the company, responsible for all the engraving, which can include anything from a bespoke design to personalisation of an existing style.
Completing the family involvement in the business, James’s wife Elaine, who has a background in marketing and technical sales, is Marketing Director, overseeing the 'Longthorne' brand and advertising.
The Company launched the 'Longthorne' Deluxe model in 2011 (now renamed 'The Buckingham 2011'), which incorporates a deep acanthus style scroll engraving.
Also In 2011, Longthorne was commissioned by the Duchess of Rutland to make four guns celebrating the heritage of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. Taking inspiration from the castle and what it represents, the Rutland guns incorporate the Manners family crest, ducal coronet and the peacock which symbolises Belvoir Castle itself, combined with florets and scrollwork found
within Belvoir. Longthorne was subsequently mentioned in the Duchess’s book Shooting, A Season of Discovery (2012). Later that year Elaine Stewart accompanied the Duchess on her book launch tour of New York and Dallas.
During 2012 Longthorne’ s owners resigned themselves to the fact that their existing premises were restricting growth and limiting their profile. The search for a new factory took quite some time. Finally, the right premises were discovered in the centre of Northampton, in the heart of England: and in October 2015 the colossal relocation commenced.
In 2015 the Company was granted a UK patent relating to their innovative barrel technology, and subsequently, the United States Patent & Trademark Office granted a corresponding US patent in 2016. Several more patents are pending in Europe and Asia.
The new factory is truly state of the art, and the move has enabled recruitment and training of skilled craftspeople to grow the team. It is here that James, Elaine, Chloe and the growing team now manufacture the Longthorne shotguns: creating a brand that has become synonymous with quality, advanced technology, craftsmanship and luxury.
April 2019 The 'Round Action' launched.
April 2020 The first demonstration model boxlock was completed.
January 2021 The first trigger plate model was born
October 2021 The World's first titanium barrels machined from a single piece of titanium are launched
January 2022 Longthorne launches its first pistols at The Dallas Safari Club Convention, Dallas USA
December 2022 Longthorne introduces a completely integral machined 'fin' onto their barrels to enable the use of a 12g forend onto a sub gauge barrel
And so, the story continues.......
