Ben Wade Chesham 101 Smooth Panel Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Ben Wade was founded, as might be expected, by Leeds-based English pipe merchant Benjamin Wade in 1860. Soon after, Wade opened his own workshop to produce quintessentially British pipes. As one of the first makes to create pipes from briar, Ben Wade has a special place in pipe history, one only made more special by the famously high-quality of their output.

One of the makes acquired by Herman Lane during his mid-century conquest of the Anglo-French pipes scene was Ben Wade. Another, and likely the most famous example, was Charatan. Thus, between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, Ben Wade became a sub-brand of sorts for Charatan, with production handled within the latter’s London factory. This is undoubtedly a Ben Wade from the Charatan years, evinced by its shape and shape code. One of Charatan’s most iconic designs (outside of the freehand workshop) was their “101” “Diamond Billiard,” so-named because it was, as the name implies, a billiard with a diamond shank. This particular rendition leans closer to a Canadian, though the reason for that is likely due to its having a more or less conventional tapered stem, rather than the longer, Double Comfort stems fitted as standard on Charatans during the Lane era (and shortly after). It’s a beautiful pipe, with copious bird’s-eye grain. If you like Charatan pipes but aren’t a fan of the Double Comfort, this might just be perfect for you.

The condition is very good. Some minor wear to the rim and slight finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.47″ / 37.33mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g