Astleys Les Wood Made Smooth Apple Military Mount Briar Pipe

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 Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood, 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 finest British pipes.

Thanks to our personal connections, we were able to verify that this Astleys was made by none other than Les Wood (in collaboration, of course, with his wife Dolly). It is a magisterial bent apple, with tight, uniform, ‘angel hair’ straight grain around its bowl, dressed in a chestnut stain in the same manner as Ferndown’s Reo grade. The pipe also, unsurprisingly, has a sterling silver military mount crafted by Les himself, and is completed by a jet black vulcanite stem. If you’re into classic English pipes, there isn’t much better that you could do than this one.

The condition is near-mint. Even the Astleys stem stamp has been preserved. I am always so pleased to receive pipes that have been cared for as well as this one.

Details:

Length: 5.4″ / 137.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.74 / 18.79mm

Bowl Depth: 1.28″ / 32.51mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g