Brandon Brooks Sandblasted Bamboo Stack Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

Some pipe makers come to the craft from a background in carpentry. Some are former machinists. And a surprisingly large number of today’s greats in the North American artisan scene were once—or, indeed, still are—professional musicians. These include, for example, Jody Davis, Jack Howell, Steve Morrisette, Scott Thile, and, of course, Brandon Brooks.

Among other things, Brooks has been a percussionist, music instructor, and drum builder since his graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1993, and, since 2007, he’s also been the man behind Brandon Brooks Pipes. Brooks draws on an eclectic mix of influences in the world of pipes, such as Italy’s Carlo Volpe, America’s Bruce Weaver, and the globetrotting Trever Talbert, and his work is further informed by his other employments. If you’ve encountered Brooks’ pipes, it is easy to see his work as a musical technician reflected in their precision and attention to detail; if you’ve encountered Brooks himself (especially alongside his pipes), it should come as no surprise that his résumé includes several years working as a high-end tailor.

If you’ve followed Brandon Brooks’ career thus far, you’ll likely know of his penchant for using bamboo in his designs. You may also have noticed that, while he does produce pipes incorporating long, sweeping shank extensions cut from this material, one recurring, signature theme in his work involves stubbier designs, centered around a short, single-knuckled bamboo rod. This is one of those pipes. Mixing a light, leather-like sandblast and smooth rim finish, this compact stack is expertly cut, with grooves sculpted into the pipe’s briar and ebonite sections to seamlessly transition into its bamboo shank. For this pipe, the bowl has been left almost entirely natural, with just a simple coat of oil and wax applied and, as a last touch, a pearl of matched-finish briar has been inlaid as a node in its bamboo mid-section.

All Brandon Brooks pipes come with a leather sleeve made by the Kraken Leather Company, as well as one of Brooks’ signature, “drumstick” tampers.

 

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.76 / 19.30mm

Bowl Depth: 1.84″ / 46.73mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g