Edward’s Smooth Bent Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

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 one strikes as squarely in the middle of the two, being a beautifully supple bent billiard with a touch of the Danish egg to it. As has also been the case for many of the Edward’s pipes we’ve had in, it is both quite large yet not especially heavy—presumably a testament to the superior briar used to make them.

The condition is good. Some inner rim charring and minor residual oxidation.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.84 /21.33mm

Bowl Depth: 1.50″ /38.1mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g