Personal Reserve by Ashton Sandblasted Straight Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Personal Reserve pipes were made by William Ashton Taylor of Ashton Pipes (those Made in England) and Luigi Radice of Radice (those made in Italy), but their origin is a fascinating story in itself. These pipes were commissioned by Barry Levin, whose venture, Levin Pipes International (LPI), arguably first kicked off the modern estate pipes industry. In the 1980s, and together with the then-unknown J.T. Cooke, Levin would purchase pipes from estates that were being liquidated, restore them, and sell them on for others to enjoy. Eventually, Levin became so successful that he was able to commission new pipes from some of the best makers around. Out of these agreements, the Levin Pipes International and Personal Reserve makes were born.

Barry Levin was a fascinating and extremely influential figure in the modern smoking pipes scene, and he also had impeccable taste in pipes and tobacco. This Personal Reserve, crafted some time in the 1990s, is one of the pipes that Levin commissioned William Taylor of Ashton to create for him. Those familiar with Ashton pipes will likely recognize the red-burgundy, pebble grain finish, along with the craggy, ring grain blast that Taylor was famous for. The stem is likely Ashtonite, Ashton’s proprietary hard rubber alternative to vulcanite.

The condition is very good. There is some rim darkening, but it will not impact the pipe’s smoking properties.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″

Bowl Width: 21.7mm

Bowl Depth: 1.6″

Weight: 1.1oz / 32g