Edward’s XL Smooth Dublin w/ Acrylic Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

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.

If I was in charge of Edward’s and wanted to position the company as truly being the “American Charatan,” I would probably use a pipe like this one to justify such a claim. It’s an extraordinary piece, being a very large bent Dublin shape with the kind of tight-consistent straight grain and bird’s-eye that would have earned a Selected, or even a Supreme grade had it been turned at the English make. The stem work is more characteristically American in vein of its then-nascent freehands, though this doesn’t diminish the pipe’s quality by any means. If anything, the smoky, faceted mouthpiece, along with the ivory-like acrylic accent at its base, only adds to its distinction.

The condition is also great, with just some very minor, inner rim darkening and a couple of very small scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.96 / 24.38mm

Bowl Depth: 1.85″ / 46.99mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 56g