Astleys by Ashton XL Sandblasted Panel Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Astleys was one of London’s most historic pipe and tobacco shops. Like many pipe tobacconists, its owners had pipes made specially to be sold under the shop’s name. Astleys pipes, however, were made by some of the premier pipe manufacturers and artisans in the UK, such as Ashton, Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood and Dolly Wood of Ferndown, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very best of British pipes.

Astleys pipes tend to be quite difficult as far as identifying their maker goes. But, every once in a while, one comes through whose style is unmistakable. If an Astleys pipe features rustication just like a Ferndown Bark, for example, you can be confident in considering it a Ferndown make. Similarly, if an Astleys pipe wears a burgundy sandblast finish, in all likelihood you’re looking at an Ashton. It also helps if the pipe is a common Ashton shape and features exceptional ring grain in its finish, as this one does. Based on the timeline of Astleys and the ostensible merger of Astleys and James Upshall pipes in the early 2000s, it’s also safe to presume that this Ashton-made Astleys was produced under the stewardship of Bill Taylor, during his workshop’s golden decades.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

 

Details:

Length: 6.7″ / 170.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.98 / 24.89mm

Bowl Depth: 2.02″ / 51.30mm

Weight: 2.6oz / 74g