Edward’s Magnum Smooth Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

While it has, at times, contracted other parties to produce pipes under its name, Edward’s used to manufacture both pipes and tobacco of its own, with a view to becoming the “American Charatan” for the former. The brand was a pioneer for American freehand pipes in this way, with its employed carvers including the great Randy Wiley. This particular pipe looks to be from around the 1960s-1970s, back when Edward’s prided itself on using choice Algerian briar (which the Algerian war of independence later interrupted the supply of) which was specially oil-cured and very lightly finished.

We’ve had a few of these beloved Algerian Briar-era Edward’s pipes in. Some have been quite traditional, others have been modern renditions of traditional shapes, and others have been more bombastic freehands in the early American, Danish-inspired vein. This would be an example of the latter, though thus far it is the largest and most freehand of the Edward’s freehands I’ve seen. “Big and beautiful in equal measure” would be a good way to describe it, as it is an enormous, prodigiously-carved piece, with its distinctive, fabric-like folds and furrows rippling over copious straight grain and bird’s-eye. The paneling of the bowl was an especially good choice for capturing the latter, though the expression of the former is no less remarkable. One last thing of note is that the pipe is a sturdy sitter, which is good because it also weighs almost 6 ounces.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

Details:

Length: 8.4″ / 213.36mm

Bowl Width: 0.96 / 24.38mm

Bowl Depth: 2.04″ / 51.81mm

Weight: 5.8oz / 166g