3 Legged Thing, the Bedfordshire-based tripod manufacturer, has long been a recognised name in the photography and videography world. Founded on a commitment to engineering excellence, the company has built a reputation for stability, durability and innovation. Now, under the leadership of founder Danny Lenihan, the brand is entering new territory: the hunting and shooting sector.
The first signals of this transition came not from within, but from customers. “We were contacted a couple of years ago by the GB rifle team to say they were already using our tripods,” explains Danny. “Over the years we’d had emails from people saying our products were being used for field sports, but this was the first tangible evidence from a credible source that our products would hold up to the rigours of persistent recoil and energy transfer from shooting.”
That outside validation led to a closer look at how the company’s designs might cross over. In photography, the demand is for absolute stability, particularly in disciplines such as astrophotography where even fractional vibrations can spoil a shot. Tripods are built to endure freezing winds, heavy loads and extreme temperatures. Danny notes that the same qualities translate to shooting, where reliability and rigidity support both safety and accuracy.
Innovation in support systems
According to Danny, while firearms and accessories have advanced significantly, the support side of the market has lagged. “Most of the ‘shooting’ tripods we see in the market are just repurposed photographic products. There are some dedicated solutions, but there’s a massive lack of innovation,” he says.
To address this, 3 Legged Thing has leaned into its modular approach. Its tripods feature three detachable legs, allowing shooters to move quickly from a standing shot to a bench or prone position. They can convert from tripod to monopod or bipod in seconds. “And that’s just the beginning,” Danny adds. “We’ve got saddles, scope mounts, moderators and lots of other products in development, all being sanity checked by people who have been involved in the industry for decades.”
Building credibility
Rather than rely solely on design theory, Danny has immersed himself directly in the sport. He joined Oundle Rifle and Pistol Club, purchased a rifle and learned to shoot. Combined with input from the GB rifle team and contacts in the US and Nordics, this hands-on approach has shaped the company’s understanding of what shooters require. “Getting my hands dirty with the products and the way they’re used has highlighted to me the astounding lack of progression in key hardware, and that’s where I believe 3 Legged Thing can be most valuable,” he says.
Differentiation in the market
The company is aware that established shooting brands already offer tripods and support systems. Its pitch to retailers lies in both design and service. Aesthetically, the brand offers something different, moving away from the industry’s reliance on black finishes. Functionally, its products provide multi-use solutions that reduce the need for multiple pieces of equipment.
Danny also emphasises the company’s British identity. “We are a born-and-bred, made in Great Britain brand with global pedigree and any number of awards for innovation,” he says. Combined with a global warranty, strong margins and a customer service team that handles trade and consumer support, the package is designed to appeal to dealers.
Field testing has supported this positioning. Highland Defence, for example, tested 3 Legged Thing tripods with .50 calibre rifles such as Barretts and AW50s, reporting strong energy dissipation with minimal recoil. Retail demonstrations at events like GBSS earlier this year have also produced positive responses.
Engineering focus
The company continues to highlight engineering as its unique selling point. Materials include Japanese and Korean carbon fibre, aerospace-grade aluminium, stainless steel fixings and glass-filled nylon. All products are tested to withstand temperatures down to -60°C, with hardware also undergoing saltwater exposure tests. Even the most accessible tripods in the range are rated for 14–40kg loads, compared with an industry average of 4–6kg.
Shifting some production to the UK has further strengthened quality control. The move allows the company to oversee machining, assembly, testing and prototyping directly. While Danny admits it is unclear whether a “Made in Great Britain” badge is decisive for customers, he sees it as an important milestone in the brand’s development.
Positioning in retail
When it comes to retail, the company’s strategy is to offer solutions across price brackets. Its flagship 3 Legged Thing range delivers premium, high-functionality products, while its Stagsden line provides value-engineered accessories such as shooting sticks, rifle bags and scope mounts. “We know guns are expensive,” Danny notes. “We want accessories to be affordable and practical.”
This two-tier approach is designed to widen appeal without compromising the brand’s reputation for quality. For retailers, the offer includes comprehensive training, demonstrations, bespoke display solutions, no minimum order values, next-day free shipping and trade terms on invoice. Danny also points to the brand’s exceptionally low returns rate in 2024 of just 0.0026 per cent as evidence of reliability.
Future plans
Looking ahead, 3 Legged Thing is focusing on steady integration into the shooting world. The company already has stronger recognition in the US, where hunting and shooting are more widespread, but in the UK the challenge is building awareness. Danny sees this as a process of forming relationships, innovating, and introducing new aesthetics to the market.
He believes that products designed in natural earth tones will offer hunters an advantage over standard black tripods, while target shooters may be drawn to more creative colour options. The company also plans to expand further into birding and outdoor accessories, building on experience in producing mounts and clamps for binoculars and scopes.
For Danny, the opportunity lies in transferring a proven model of innovation from photography into shooting. “Most of this industry doesn’t know us yet, so we’re taking it slowly,” he concludes. “But our focus remains the same: engineering products that work, that improve safety and accuracy, and that give shooters reliable tools they can trust.”
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