Charatan’s Make Perfection 342DC Smooth Apple (Estate)

English pipe companies have played an instrumental role in the development of the industry over the last 200 years, but few can be said to have had quite the same impact on pipe making as F. Charatan and Son, the company behind Charatan pipes. Founded by Prussian-born Frederick Charatan in 1866, the company began as a small meerschaum workshop in London, before expanding to into briar pipes. The company would quickly become one of the nation’s leading briar pipe manufacturers, and even Alfred Dunhill sourced pipes from the former before establishing his own factory. So began a legacy of high-quality pipe making under the Charatan name, one whose employees, at one time or another, included Joel Sasieni (later of Dunhill, then Sasieni fame), Stan Haney (later of Ashby Hall), Dennis Marshall (later of Milville), and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones (later of James Upshall).

F. Charatan & Son had used the tagline “Perfection in Pipes” long before the “Perfection” grade was introduced. But, funnily enough, when the Perfection was introduced, it was a little different to what one might imagine. It was not one of the make’s ultra-high-grade pipes, like the Supreme, the Achievement, or the Coronation, and, in fact, it wasn’t even a straight grain pipe, but one whose bowls were cross-cut to and dressed in a golden contrast stain to accentuate their natural bird’s-eye and cross-grain patterning. That’s not to say it was a low-grade pipe—more of a modest, mid-range smoker. So, why was it called the “Perfection”? It has been said that the name was perhaps something of a sly jab at Charatan’s competitors, expressing the sentiment that even the “average” Charatan was perfect, especially next to other makes.

The condition is good. Some rim charring, minor finish fading, minor stem oxidation, and stem slightly over-buffed at the base.

Details:

Length: 5.66″ / 143.7mm

Chamber Width: 0.75″ / 19.05mm

Chamber Depth: 1.51″ / 38.35mm

Bowl Height: 1.73″ / 43.94mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g