Gresham Giant (by Comoy’s; c.1930s-40s) 498B Smooth Rhodesian Estate Briar Pipe

Description

Comoy’s is a historic brand in pipe making, and possibly the most historic brand in the making of briar pipes. Though originally founded in 1825 by a French family from Saint Claude, France, production of Comoy’s pipes was soon moved to London, England, where it established itself as one of the quintessential English pipe companies.

Just like its 20th century contemporaries, such as Dunhill or Sasieni, Comoy’s had exacting standards for their pipes, meaning that they had a number of sub-brands for pipes with even the slightest cosmetic imperfections. Like Sasieni and its Old England or Mayfair pipes, Comoy’s sub-brands have since become famous in their own right for being excellent pipes in their own right. Pipes such as the Academy Award, or even the distinctly affordable Everyman, are capable of putting many of today’s main-brand pipes to shame.
“Gresham Giant”—or, elsewhere, “Gresham Giants”—appears to have been a sub-brand for Comoy’s pipes that would otherwise have made it into the Extraordinaire line, the latter being used for pipes of superior graining and/or inordinate size. I would imagine that this Rhodesian is an example of the former, as it is a very classical, compact rendition, albeit with a bullcap-esque stoutness to it. Interestingly, the country of manufacture stamp on this one is the same as one Comoy’s used in the early 20th century, which was superseded by the famous “Made in London” (circled) over “England” stamp used from the 1950s onward. Presumably that makes this one pre-1950s, too.

The condition is good. Some inner rim darkening, a worn out fill on the front of the bowl, and minor handling marks.

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.30″ / 33.02mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g