Walt Cannoy Cardinal House Munn Rusticated Pencil Shank Prince Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Walt Cannoy first emerged as a major figure in the the North American pipe making renaissance around the turn of the millennium. Originally an R&D mechanic, Cannoy carved and sold his first pipe in 1999, having been inspired by artisan pipe makers as diverse as Preben Holm, Robert “Micoli” Burns, and Joe Mariner. Cannoy would soon rise in the ranks of the North American artisan scene, becoming one of its premier high-grade carvers.

Named after various landmarks in Cannoy’s native Florida, “Cardinal House” began as a side-project of sorts, whereby Cannoy could offer relatively inexpensive pipes alongside his high-grade, high-demand Signature works. While the first Cardinal House pipes were akin to “seconds,” Cannoy soon became dissatisfied with this approach, leading him to rethink what it would mean to make high-quality, artisan pipes that were comparable in price to reputable factory makes. Instead of reducing costs by using cheaper materials, or utilizing pre-fabricated components (such as stummels and stems), Cannoy focused instead on streamlining his manufacturing process, leading to Cardinal House as it is known today. Handmade from the same briar blocks, ebonite rods, and various ornaments as the Walt Cannoy Signature series, Cardinal House’s enduring affordability represents simply the culmination of decades spent isolating and refining all of the essential techniques involved in one’s craft.

There are few artisans who take “pencil shank” designs quite as far as Walt Cannoy. Thanks to a specialized technique involving a stainless steel inner tube, Cannoy’s pipes are able to take on impossibly slender forms and still remain sturdy smokers. This one is a long, pencil shank prince, for example, and though it stretches nearly 8 inches in length, its slight frame has kept it at just over an ounce in total weight. The pipe is further distinguished by Cannoy’s signature “ring blast” manual rustication and fitted with a hand-cut, brindled blue ebonite mouthpiece.

Details:

Length: 7.8″ / 198.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.71 / 18.03mm

Bowl Depth: 1.21″ / 30.73mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 34g