Savinelli Nonpareil 9408 Smooth Pickaxe w/ Horn Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

It is probably fair to say that Savinelli is Italy’s most famous pipe brand. Founded in Milan in 1876 by Achille Savinelli, the brand has continuously offered high quality pipes for nearly 150 years. Though various Savinelli lines have come and gone over the years, the brand has always been notable for putting out classically styled pipes with a distinctly Italian twist.

Taking its name from an archaic term for “without equal,” Savinelli’s Nonpareil was one of its top-of-the-line series from the mid- to late 20th century. These pipes were distinguished by their exceptional grain, horn (or imitation horn) ferrules, and flared ebonite stems, along with two gold dots on the latter. Like the Estella and Punto Oro Corallo, Savinelli’s Nonpareil series has become a cult-favorite over the years but, alas, it also shows no signs of returning.

This one is a nice representation of why the Nonpareil remains so beloved. The shaping is interesting, being something of a hybrid of the Dublin, pickaxe, and oval shank shapes of traditional pipe making; the briar shows consistent flame grain around the bowl; and the color composition works really nicely, with the pipe’s off-white ferrule softening the transition between the light brown hues of the bowl and the jet-black of the ebonite mouthpiece. Will Savinelli revive the Nonpareil, just as the company recently did with the (albeit limited edition) Capri Root Briar? Perhaps. If not, well, that’s what the estates market is for.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. Some very minor finish fading.

Details:

Length: 6.4″ / 162.56mm

Bowl Width: 0.81 / 20.57mm

Bowl Depth: 1.83″ / 46.48mm

Weight: 2.0oz / 58g