Comoy’s (Pre-1980s) London Pride 185 Smooth Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Comoy’s is a historic brand in pipe making, and possibly the most historic brand in the making of briar pipes. Though originally founded in 1825 by a French family from Saint Claude, France, production of Comoy’s pipes was soon moved to London, England, where it established itself as one of the quintessential English pipe companies.

The London Pride was something of a high-end line in Comoy’s midcentury output. It was not only distinguished by its beautiful grain patterns and the select briar used to achieve such, but also by its natural finish. Natural finishes are quite typical for high-end pipes, as they are the most transparent when it comes to showing off the inherent beauty of a pipe’s briar, but this was not the only reason Comoy’s chose to keep things light for the London Pride. Instead, the company was quite explicit that the London Pride was designed that way so that, over time, a given bowl would darken slightly as it absorbed the various residues of the tobacco that had burned inside it, taking on a lovely golden patina. This one is a classic billiard rendition, with the bowl’s flame grain patterns already having begun to take on a nice golden glow. Judging by the nomenclature and the three-part “C” stem inlay, the pipe will have furthermore been made some time between 1950 and approximately 1980, after which the manufacture of Comoy’s pipes was merged via the make’s holding company, Cadogan Investments.

The condition is fair. Some rim charring, minor handling marks, and chamber slightly over-reamed.

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.86 / 21.84mm

Bowl Depth: 1.64″ / 41.65mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g