Astleys Smooth Oval Shank Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

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 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.

Another elegant, lightweight billiard rendition from Astleys, though this time with an oval shank. One could argue it a lumberman, though to my eye the stem would need to be shorter for that. On a related note, given the pipe’s golden contrast stain and longer than average mouthpiece (proportional to the shank), I would presume this was made either by Charatan or James Upshall. That, and the finishing is curiously reminiscent of the Charatan Perfection and the James Upshall P grade, which was modeled after the former.

The condition is good. Some scratches around the bowl and light rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.83 / 21.08mm

Bowl Depth: 1.68″ / 42.67mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g