Buckeye Hand Made Sandblasted Blowfish Briar Pipe, New

Premal Chheda’s Buckeye Pipes have undergone several significant changes since their debut in the mid-2000s. Chheda himself was one of the first major players in 21st century American artisan briars, having been taught the fundamentals of high-grade pipe making by Mike Butera, and having had plenty of students of his own in the time since. Though Buckeye started out as an sub-brand for pipes that did not quite meet the standard of a pipe stamped with the Chheda name, the two would ultimately become different projects entirely. Today’s Buckeye Pipes are, instead, high-quality briars produced by Premal Chheda and his apprentices. The difference between a Chheda Pipe, or one of the pipes made by Chheda’s apprentices under their own name, and a Buckeye pipe boils down to the level of detailing involved: Buckeye Pipes are precision engineered and expertly finished, while being more minimalist in design and less labor-intensive in execution than their counterparts.

While the blowfish has its origins in Danish pipe making, the shape has gone through phases of national identity in the decades since its conception. Japan is famous for its blowfish and fugu renditions, for example, as is the United States, where today such shapes are arguably most at home. The blowfish is certainly a staple of Premal Chheda’s Buckeye workshop, whose stout and crisply sandblasted variations have been among its most popular wares for over a decade. This one adds something of a “dress” aesthetic to the shape, pairing a near-black blast with an ivory-toned acrylic mouthpiece.

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.72 / 18.28mm

Bowl Depth: 1.65″ / 41.91mm

Weight: 2.5oz / 72g