Buckeye Hand Made Tan Sandblasted Brandy 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.

In addition to the more freeform and Danish-style pipes Buckeye is known for, Premal and his team have recently been adding some rather traditional briars to the make’s portfolio. This oval-shanked brandy has a definite English tinge to it, with a form reminiscent of the “long flat” motif seen in family era Barlings, and a finish that is more than a little Tanshell-esque, especially considering its deep, ring grain relief.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.71″ / 43.43mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g