BST (Todd Bannard) 1 Foot Grade Large Sandblasted Dublin w/ Antler Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

To call Canada’s Todd Bannard, the artisan behind Briar, Sweat and Tears (BST) pipes, a “cult favorite” would be a profound understatement. Like his fellow countrymen Michael Parks and Julius Vesz, Bannard’s work has demonstrated that, though Canada may have far fewer pipe-makers than its neighbors in the US, Canadian handmades truly are a matter of quality over quantity. Similarly to Parks especially, BST pipes are very difficult to get hold of, as they are snapped up as soon as—and, indeed, often long before—they are available for purchase.

I was fortunate enough to be able to ask Bannard himself about this particular BST. From what he recalls, the idea behind it was that of a “big Dunhill style Dublin,” as specified by the person who originally commissioned it. If you’re familiar with Bannard’s work, you’ll know that emulating the style and quality of a Dunhill—and, in the case of the latter, surpassing it—is hardly a challenge for him. True to the request, the pipe is an excellent Dunhill-esque Dublin, fitting the shaping and proportions of a group 5 example very nicely. The finishing and “extras” take it to another level, however. Dressed in a dark, Shell Briar-style sandblast, if this one had been a Dunhill, it would have certainly attained a Ring Grain designation, owing to the crisp and consistent briar patterns it proudly showcases. The stem is hand-cut ebonite, giving it an edge over contemporary Dunhills at the very least, and it also features a striking shank accent cut from antler, lending the pipe a black and white dress aesthetic of a kind not seen on Dunhills since the midcentury (back when a rather different material was still in the company’s portfolio). Comparisons aside, it’s an excellent pipe on its own merits, and was of a standard high enough to attain an extra “Foot” grade within Bannard’s own system.

This pipe is completely unsmoked and comes with its original sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.86 / 21.84mm

Bowl Depth: 1.77″ / 44.95mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g