Digby by GBD 9447 Smooth Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

GBD was one of several prominent examples of a French pipe brand that, due to certain circumstances, became a maker most associated with classic ‘British’ pipes. Founded in 1850 by the French trio Ganneval, Bondier & Donninger, the brand was bought by English company Oppenheimer at the beginning of the 20th century, who opened factories in London and Paris to meet an increasing demand for the make’s high-quality and highly desirable pipes. Partly owing to the make’s inventive, yet traditional shapes, and partly due to the high standards of their production, GBD pipes are particularly coveted by collectors, as well as those who simply appreciate classic, well-made smoking instruments.

As is tradition in pipe making, Digby was a sub-brand utilized by GBD to market GBD-made pipes that didn’t quite make the cut to be GBD-brand, but which were still good quality smokers. As such, Digby pipes follow the same shape chart as GBD and are stamped accordingly. This one, for example, is a very classic, group 4 size saddle billiard, the 9447. Based on the nomenclature, it looks as though this Digby was made by GBD before the 1980s, after which the company’s pipe production was subject to a merger (along with many a storied, Anglo-French make) through Cadogan Investments.

The condition is fair. Some wear to the rim and a couple of small, superficial scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 5.9″ / 149.8mm

Bowl Width: 0.83 / 21.08mm

Bowl Depth: 1.54″ / 39.11mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g