Ben Wade (Peter Wilson) XL Sandblasted Stack Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

As is the case for so many of the historic makes of 19th and 20th century briar pipes, Ben Wade has had numerous different owners since its founding. As such, Ben Wade pipes have been manufactured in many different styles by many different people, and have served different purposes within the broader scheme of those responsible for them.

For example, when the make was founded by Leeds-based English pipe merchant Benjamin Wade in 1860, Ben Wade pipes were classical in style (reflecting the design trends of the time), manufactured in a family-owned, Northern English factory, and were renowned for their high-quality. After the make was purchased with Lane Ltd. in the mid-20th century, however, Ben Wade became a sub-brand for Charatan (which Lane also owned), meaning the pipes were made in London in accordance with the latter’s shaping conventions, as they were now essentially Charatan pipes that didn’t quite make the grade to become Charatans proper.

Later still, Lane Ltd. used the Ben Wade make to market Danish Fancy freehands. The quality of Ben Wade pipes became significantly higher, as they were now made in the workshop of Preben Holm, but they were stylistically completely different from their origins, or indeed anything typically “English.”

To many pipe enthusiasts, the story of Ben Wade ends with its acquisition by Alfred Dunhill Ltd., which came as part of a large buyout by the latter of Lane Ltd.’s assets. Under Dunhill’s watch, Ben Wade pipes became even more affordable than they had under Charatan, sometimes bordering on budget briars. But there was a short period where Ben Wade pipes underwent something of a revival—and in an “English” style, no less, albeit a more modern one.

In the late 1990s, the rights to the Ben Wade name were purchased by a man named Peter Wilson. Wilson had been a pipe maker and production manager at another historic English pipe firm, Duncan Briars, a combination of hands-on and organizational experience that are no doubt useful if one wishes to embark on such a project. Using his connections to Alfred Dunhill Ltd., Duncan was able to utilize parts of the former’s factories in the manufacturing of the new Ben Wade make, though unlike the majority of Dunhill pipes, these new Ben Wades were handmade and, for the most part, exceptionally large. They were closer in style to Dunhill’s Collector series, though a more adequate comparison might be to the great, late 20th century English workshop makes, like Ashton, or James Upshall.

We acquired a fair few Wilson-era Ben Wade pipes recently. All are new old stock, rather than estate pipes as traditionally understood. They are beautifully shaped, exquisitely finished (typically with remarkable, ring grain sandblasting), and sizeable, to say the least. Some are extra large, and some are full-on magnums. All in all, we’re very pleased to be able to offer them to our customers once more.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. It comes with its original box and sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6.4″ / 162.5mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.92″ / 48.76mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g