Barling’s Make Pre-Transition 1616 EL Smooth Lumberman Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

B. Barling and Sons was originally founded in 1812 by Benjamin Barling and began as a family business making silver-adorned meerschaum pipes. In the late 19th century, however, the Barling family began to produce what the brand is today most famous for—expertly made briar pipes.

If one was to list the most esteemed and prized British pipe brands ever produced, it’s pretty certain that Barling would be in the top five. More specifically, it would be “pre-transition,” “family era” Barling pipes that held this stature, i.e., pipes made by the Barling family during their ownership and management of the B. Barling and Sons company. Thanks to Barling historians such as Jonathan Guss, Tad Gage, and Jesse Silver, collectors have a relatively simple time of separating these pipes from the ones that came later (see our guide on the MBSD Pipes main hub for a quick and easy rundown of these findings). For example, as this one is stamped “BARLING’S” in an arch over “MAKE,” and as it is specified as a shape 1616, it falls well within the “family era” having been manufactured prior to the transition in ownership in 1960 and the transition in management in 1962, after which the Barling family were dismissed from the company entirely.

This design of this one is a quintessential family era, pre-transition Barling, being an example of one of the many long, oval-shanked shapes the family produced. An “Extra Large” (by early to mid-20th century standards), featherweight lumberman, it’s a beautiful and very elegant piece, with plenty bird’s-eye grain shining through its light brown finish.

The condition is good. Chamber slightly over-reamed and a few small scratches on the bowl.

You can also read our comprehensive Barlings dating guide here:

https://www.mbsdpipes.com/dating-barling-pipes-a-three-step-guide/

Details:

Length: 6.1″ / 154.9mm

Bowl Width: 0.77 / 19.55mm

Bowl Depth: 1.59″ / 40.38mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 32g