Charatan’s Make Lane Era Special 20104DC Smooth Lumberman Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

While Dunhill may be Britain’s most famous pipe brand, Charatan is not only older, but has the honor of being the first to have made its pipes entirely in-house. ‘Charatan’s Make’ referred to the fact that, at a time when other pipe companies were sourcing stummels and stems carved from other companies before assembling them in their factories and workshops, Charatan made every part of their pipes on the Charatan premises. So began a legacy of high-quality pipe-making under the Charatan name, one whose employees, at one time or another, included Joel Sasieni, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall fame.

While Charatan remains famous for its straight grain pipes, there was still a place within the make’s grading schemes for other kinds of beautiful briar patterns. The Special was one such grade which, during the legendary Lane era (to which this pipe belongs), boasted “Perfection in graining in a natural finish.” Sometimes this was superior cross-grain, other times, as in the case of this one, brilliant bird’s-eye could secure a pipe a place among the Specials. This Special takes the form of a classic lumberman shape, with Herman Lane’s proprietary Double Comfort bit.

The condition is good. Some scratches on the rim, chamber slightly over-reamed, and some handling marks.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.60″ / 40.64mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g