GBD Autumn Gold 1260 Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

About this pipe:

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 many will know, ‘autumn’ is what the Brits call our ‘fall’ season. GBD’s Autumn Gold line was notable for its autumnal theme, with a stain and stem color evoking the leaves that fall with each summer’s close. The line has gone through several iterations, but this one is my favorite, owing to the addition of an ornate briar band, sandwiched between two silver rings, at the end of its shank – one which is not present on other versions.

This Autumn Gold is completely unsmoked, but I must clarify something to avoid any undue cofnusion. The pipe has an original bowl coating – to help with the break in process – but whoever applied it at the GBD factory was a little overzealous. There is, therefore, a little of the coating on the inner, beveled lip of the rim. While this might be mistaken for carbon deposits from prior smoking, this is not the case.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.61″ / 40.89mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g