MBSD Meerschaum Silver XL Rusticated Rhodesian Reverse Calabash Block Meerschaum Pipe, New

Description

The MBSD Meerschaum Silver is our line of silver mounted meerschaum pipes. Using the same high-grade, fast-coloring Turkish meerschaum found on our Deluxe series, these pipes exclusively feature either silver ferrules, army mounts or spigot mounts.

So-called “reverse calabash” systems are a rather ingenious addition to modern pipe making. The traditional calabash employs a two-piece bowl, with a chamber “cap” sitting atop a large, hollowed out body. This increased space within the pipe allows the smoke to cool and dry as it passes from the chamber to the mouthpiece, which is good, but it also means that the body of the pipe has to be rather large, or that the chamber has to be rather small, so that there’s space in the hollowed section of the bowl for the desired effect. Reverse calabashes get around this by housing the hollow chamber in their shanks, which are thickened just enough to let heat and moisture dissipate as smoke passes through them. While reverse calabashes have historically been used in briar pipes, especially artisan briars such as those of Michail Revyagin and Tom Eltang, such systems are arguably even more suited to the medium of meerschaum, due to its porous, absorptive properties.

In this instance, a reverse calabash has been integrated into a design that isn’t too far from the calabash itself, that being the Rhodesian. It’s a large, rather stacked take on the classic shape, though one that also shows off just how lightweight and comfortable reverse calabashes—especially meerschaum ones—can be. This one has been dressed in a very light rustication, one which will work very nicely with the patina the pipe will develop over time, as well as an amber-toned acrylic mouthpiece for that extra, old-world feel.

Details:

Length: 6.9″ / 175.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.95″ / 49.53mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g