Michel Smooth Liverpool Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Michel pipes were store-brand pipes made for Maison Michel, a North Carolina (USA) tobacconist run by Michel J. Mitchell between 1951 and 1980. Over the years, several prominent pipe-makers made pipes for Maison Michel, such as Barling, Charatan, GBD, and others.

With many of the Michel pipes we’ve had in, a good bit of research allowed me to identify precisely who made them, with a surprising number coming from GBD. This one gives fewer clues as to its provenance, though that doesn’t stop it from being a great little pipe. I’d consider it a Liverpool in shape, though it’s a slightly shorter rendition than the shape as we know it today. It definitely has a real old world charm to it in that way, while still having a good sized chamber. Another upside is that this Michel, like so many we’ve had, is a genuine featherweight, making it an easy clencher and perfect pocket pipe.

This pipe is also completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. The finish is ever so slightly tarnished at the shank end, but nothing major by any means.

 

Details:

Length: 5.4″ / 137.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.74 / 18.79mm

Bowl Depth: 1.33″ / 33.78mm

Weight: 0.9oz / 28g