Paul Roberts is still active, but has nothing to do with Rigby. He is the "Son" in J. Roberts & Son, the gunmaking firm his father founded. J. Roberts & Son acquired John Rigby & Co. in 1984. Paul operated Rigby until 1997, when he sold it to the current US owner. In 2000, J. Roberts & Son bought the license to use the W. J. Jeffery & Co. name, also owned by an American, and is currently making double and magazine rifles under that name.

I imagine that the rumour has to do with California Rigby, not J. Roberts & Son, or Paul. The "Mexican" Rigbys have never done well, and I'm surprised that they're still operating. It's common knowledge in the trade that they're in trouble.
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