COPIED
4 mins

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE MEETS SHOOTING INNOVATION

Last month Gun Trade Insider interviewed Danny Lenihan, chief executive of British tripod manufacturer 3 Legged Thing, about the company’s decision to enter the shooting and hunting market. This month, we take a closer look at the company’s design ethos and the engineering processes that have made it one of the most respected names in camera support hardware and how those same principles are now being applied to products for the shooting sector.

When asked what drives his design philosophy, Danny is quick to point out that performance in the field has always been the company’s guiding principle.

“At 3 Legged Thing, our design philosophy has always been about solving real-world problems through clever engineering. We don’t just build products that look good on paper, we build tools that perform flawlessly in the field. That mindset translates perfectly into the shooting and hunting sector, where reliability, precision, and ergonomics are non-negotiable. Our aim is to take everything we’ve learned from years of developing professional-grade camera supports and reimagine it for shooters, delivering products that are strong, stable, and intuitive to use in any environment.”

The company’s focus on durability and engineering consistency has long been its hallmark, something Danny believes will also appeal strongly to shooters who rely on equipment that can withstand tough conditions.

“Our engineering ethos is rooted in obsessive attention to detail. We’ve built a reputation around the world of manufacturing to a standard where the repeated abuse of our products yields identical results, time and again. It’s not enough to make a product work for the occasional user. We make a product work for daily punishment, and to do that we have to consistently adhere to precision engineering, low tolerances and strength in our quality control processes, from materials and components to final product assembly. This is why we barely get any returns. Our dealers around the world almost never have to worry that they’ll get a product back, because we work so hard to ensure they don’t.”

That philosophy extends to how each new product is conceived, tested and refined.

“Every product starts with a conversation, usually with the people who’ll use it. We gather input from field professionals, hunters, and tactical shooters to identify pain points that they believe are overlooked. Once we’ve defined the problem, we look for ways to solve it without compromising the functionality or capability of the core product. We’re actually working on a range of air-rifle moderators right now and I’ve just spent a couple of days up in Ellesmere Port at Wirral Guns & Outdoors with Jason and Nik, talking through the various challenges and getting their feedback on the products available to them. We’re still very new to this industry so it’s vitally important that we listen to those who have spent decades working with these products.”

The process, he explains, is straightforward but disciplined. The team begins by defining the product, identifying challenges, engaging with industry professionals, and developing a basic construct. Then comes what Danny describes as “the fun part” - improving, adding functionality, and refining the design.

"GBSS 2026 REALLY EXCITING FOR US... WE ARE HOPING TO INTRODUCE A RANGE OF TRIPODS AND BIPODS"

“I have an open-door policy at the office. Any ideas or suggestions will be listened to, especially if they’ve come from customers or pros that we have relationships with. Listening to our customers has been a huge part of our growth journey and I truly believe it’s what separates us from our competition.”

Next year’s Great British Shooting Show will see 3 Legged Thing make its most significant appearance yet.

“GBSS 2026 is really exciting for us. We exhibited this year, but only in a little 3m square, tucked away in a corner. It was more about us gauging the industry than the customer base, but it was eye-opening. Next year we have a huge booth and we’re hoping to introduce a range of shooting tripods and bipods, as well as five or six moderators for air-rifles that we’ve been building over the summer. We’ve got new innovations in gun clamps, some very sexy looking modular tripods and some quite outrageous rifle hardware. For us, this is our true introduction to the market. We’ll be out in Vegas in January for the SHOT Show, as we were this year, but our home market is the one that we’re most amped up about.”

For Danny, entering the shooting sector is as much about alignment as it is about innovation.

“British shooting has a deep heritage of craftsmanship, and that resonates strongly with us. Our products aren’t mass-produced commodities, they’re the result of careful design, testing, and iteration, much like a finely tuned rifle. We share the same respect for precision, tradition, and the pursuit of excellence. 3 Legged Thing’s entry into this space isn’t about disruption, it’s about contribution. We want to bring British engineering back to the forefront, blending tradition with innovation to create tools worthy of the people who use them.”

As 3 Legged Thing prepares to unveil its first dedicated shooting range of products next year, one thing is clear, the company’s creative spirit and precision engineering ethos are firmly rooted in the same qualities that define the very best of British shooting craftsmanship.

GET IN TOUCH

01234 828834

www.3leggedthing.com

This article appears in November 2025

Go to Page View
This article appears in...
November 2025
Go to Page View
GUN TRADE AND OFCOM FORM WORKING GROUP ON ONLINE SAFETY ACT
A new Firearm Trade Working Group (OFTWG) has been formally established to help ensure that the legitimate gun trade is properly represented as Ofcom develops its regulatory approach to the Online Safety Act (OSA).
£3.3 BILLION VALUE OF SHOOTING REPORT PRESENTED TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
FULL STORY: PAGE 4 BASC has presented the
CAMBRIDGESHIRE POLICE FIREARMS DELAYS SPARK CONCERN
FULL STORY: PAGE 4 Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed
OLYMPIC CHAMPION SUPPORTS SUSSEX SHOOTING GROUND AMID PLANNING DISPUTE
FULL STORY: PAGE 8 Olympic trap shooting champion
STANDING UP FOR SHOOTING
The UK’s shooting organisations are working harder than
THE NEWS IN NUMBERS
The value shooting contributes in Gross Value Added
BASC PRESENTS £3.3 BILLION VALUE OF SHOOTING REPORT TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
BASC has presented the findings of the UK’s
LICENSING DELAYS CONTINUE ACROSS BEDFORDSHIRE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND HERTFORDSHIRE POLICE FORCES
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police have confirmed that
ED JACKSON APPOINTED GROUP REVIEWS EDITOR AT TIME WELL SPENT GROUP
Time Well Spent Group has announced the appointment
GTA RENEWS CALL FOR TRADE SURVEY RESPONSES
The Gun Trade Association (GTA) is urging more
JOHN FORSEY GUNS SET TO CLOSE AFTER 66 YEARS IN BUSINESS
After 66 years in the gun trade, John
MOORLAND ASSOCIATION WARNS NATURAL ENGLAND CONSULTATION COULD IMPACT RURAL SHOOTING BUSINESSES
The Moorland Association (MA) has warned that Natural
BLANK FIRING PISTOL BAN SET TO AFFECT UK GUNDOG TRAINERS
Gundog trainers are being reminded that certain blank
OLYMPIC CHAMPION SUPPORTS SUSSEX SHOOTING GROUND AMID PLANNING DISPUTE
Olympic trap shooting champion Nathan Hales and world
INDUSTRY WARNS SCOTTISH DEER BILL COULD HALVE STALKER NUMBERS
The Scottish Parliament’s proposed Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill
SCOTT COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL TO HOST ANNUAL DEMONSTRATOR EVENT IN DUMFRIES
Scott Country International has announced details of its
BREWDOG’S REWILDING RETREAT RAISES QUESTIONS OVER CORPORATE LAND USE AND RURAL INVESTMENT
BrewDog has sold its 3,764-hectare Kinrara estate in
GTA ANNOUNCES UPCOMING RFD TRAINING COURSES
The Gun Trade Association (GTA) has announced the
JOHN ROTHERY WHOLESALE EXPANDS WITH NEW RIFLE RANGE, CO2 CAPSULES AND HERITAGE PRODUCTS
John Rothery Wholesale has announced a series of
GUN TRADE JOBS
MEA OPUS -SECURE YOUR PERFECT FUTURE POSITION -REGISTER AT MEAOPUS.CO.UK
IWA OUTDOORCLASSICS 2026 REMAINS THE HOME OF SPECIALIST RETAIL
One of the world’s leading exhibitions for the shooting, hunting and outdoor trade will once again take place in Nuremberg from February 26 to March 1, 2026. With its new campaign, Made for Trade , IWA OutdoorClassics reinforces its position as a strategic partner to the global specialist retail community.
THE A.I. CHALLENGE TOUR SETS NEW STANDARD FOR UK TRADE EVENTS
This October, The Sportsman Gun Centre (SGC) , Benelli and Eaton Hall joined forces to deliver what many are calling the most spectacular trade-only shooting event the UK has ever seen, and it did not disappoint.
IWA OUTDOOR CLASSICS
WWW.IWA.INFO/TRADE
CHANGES TO THE FIREARMS APPEALS PROCEDURE
Firearms barrister Nick Doherty examines a significant change to the firearms appeals process introduced in the latest Statutory Guidance, which now allows police to present undisclosed evidence under a ‘Closed Material Procedure’
GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW 2026: THE TRADE’S ESSENTIAL SHOWCASE
The Great British Shooting Show (BSS) returns to the NEC Birmingham from 13–15 February 2026, reaffirming its status as the UK’s largest and most commercially important event for the shooting industry.
GLOBAL CONFLICT AND THE SPORTING AMMUNITION MARKET
Ballistician Paul Bradley explains how component shortages, rising material and logistics costs, and constrained propellant supplies are driving prices up for sporting shooters and why reloaders should consider buying ahead.
A VISION OF THE FUTURE
Paul Stewart, sales director at Scott Country International, discusses the transformative role of high-tech optics in the airgun market, explaining why thermal and night-vision technology are no longer just for professional users, but are now essential tools for the modern airgunner.
SECURING THE FUTURE OF LICENSED SHOOTING IN THE UK
Jeremy Hinde, secretary of the British Shooting Sports Council, sets out the priorities for safeguarding the future of lawful shooting amid major policy and regulatory change.
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE MEETS SHOOTING INNOVATION
Last month Gun Trade Insider interviewed Danny Lenihan, chief executive of British tripod manufacturer 3 Legged Thing, about the company’s decision to enter the shooting and hunting market. This month, we take a closer look at the company’s design ethos and the engineering processes that have made it one of the most respected names in camera support hardware and how those same principles are now being applied to products for the shooting sector.
JOHN ROTHERY WHOLESALE
THE PRECISION OF GROWTH MARKETING
In part one, we defined growth marketing as a discipline that runs across short, medium and long horizons, measurable, scalable and relentlessly data-led. In part two, we focused on brand: slower, costlier, harder to measure, but the face of growth and the source of pricing power. Now we turn to growth itself, the engine that drives results.
BENELLI RAFFAELLO: LIMITED-EDITION LEAP IN SHOTGUN BALLISTICS
Bruce Potts tests Benelli’s Raffaello A.I. limited edition, a 12-gauge inertia semi that pairs hand-figured walnut and tasteful engraving with the new Advanced Impact barrel system to deliver higher velocity, greater down-range energy and outstanding patterns with lead or steel shot.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Gun Trade Insider offers a detailed examination of the latest developments across various international markets.
ACROSS THE POND
SWAROVSKI OPTIK N.A. NAMES NEW CEO FOR THE
Looking for back issues?
Browse the Archive >

Previous Article Next Article
November 2025
CONTENTS
Page 31
PAGE VIEW