Schulte’s Hand Made Smooth Bullmoose Rhodesian (Estate)

Schulte’s was an American pipe tobacconist, located in New Jersey in the second half of the 20th century. Like many pipe stores, Schulte’s sold house brand pipes, but unlike most pipe stores, many of these house brand pipes were made by the store’s owner, Max Schulte, as well as Max’s son and nephew, Barry and Howard Schulte.

This pipe, however, is not one of the many Schulte’s carved by the Schulte family. Instead of being made in America, on the Schulte’s premises, it was made in France. Which begs the question: who among the French might have made pipes for Schulte’s? I have a hunch, one that I imagine many a connoisseur of fine, Anglo-French briars will share. The shaping and proportions are, after all, 1-1 for a GBD, and more specifically a GBD “9438” bullmoose Rhodesian. If my hunch is correct, that would mean that this pipe is a pre-Cadogan GBD in Schulte’s clothing, too, as I don’t think GBDs continued to be made in France after the Cadogan Investments merger of the 1980s.
It’s a lot to think about, though it should also be noted that the pipe is simply very beautiful and well made on its own merits, with a light, natural finish that showcases excellent graining across the bowl.

The condition is good. Some inner rim darkening, chamber slightly over-reamed, and a couple of small, superficial scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.24″ / 31.49mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 68g