James Upshall (c.1990s) B Grade Smooth Mini-Magnum Bent Billiard (Estate)

James Upshall was, along with Ferndown and Ashton, part of a new wave of British hand-made, high-grade pipes in the late 20th century, with their founders largely coming from previous positions in the factories of companies such as Dunhill and Charatan. James Upshall was founded in 1978 by Barry Jones and Ken Barnes, both of whom had previously worked for Charatan and who had worked their way up to being carvers Charatan’s higher-end, non-standard shapes. Jones and Barnes’ pipes quickly grew to being something of a status symbol, and were enjoyed by King Hussein of Jordan, Anwar Sadat, Bing Crosby, Yul Brynner, Robert Wagner and Tom Selleck. The company also made house-brand pipes for Astleys in London. James Upshall pipes are no longer made, but their reputation as some of the finest hand-turned British pipes continues to endure.

During the workshop’s lifetime, most James Upshall pipes were either Tilsheads (which functioned as an “entry level” pipe), or they were “S,” “A,” or “P” grades (which were the workshop’s “standard” grades). But, if a pipe was extraordinarily well grained, it had a chance to become one of James Upshall’s “high-grades.” Given that a “standard” James Upshall was already quite exceptional, these high grades were very special indeed. The “B” was the first rung on the high-grades ladder, one which the late Ken Barnes considered roughly equivalent to a Charatan Executive grade. Presumably Barnes was referring to Lane era examples as he left Charatan during its acquisition by Dunhill, though he was certainly familiar with the excellence of the make’s Reuben era as well, during which the Executive first debuted.

This particular B grade looks to have been made around the 1990s, prior to the introduction of the size group system that became standard for James Upshall pipes during their last decades. I’d be inclined to call it a “magnum,” though as James Upshall pipes were—much like their contemporaries in the late English workshop scene—generally rather large, I suppose one could settle for deeming it a “mini-magnum,” or a “house pipe” at the very least. Either way, it’s a big, beautiful pipe.

The condition is very good. Some inner rim charring, finish fading, and minor handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 7.29″ / 185.1mm

Chamber Width: 0.86″ / 21.84mm

Chamber Depth: 2.12″ / 53.84mm

Bowl Height: 2.42″ / 61.46mm

Weight: 3.2oz / 92g