Wilke Smooth Bulldog Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Wilke is one of America’s oldest surviving specialty pipe and tobacco houses, and one that has been associated with many a famous name in pipe making. Founded in 1872 by Edwin Wilke, Wilke Tobacco was originally based in New York, where it remained until the 1980s (though a second shop was opened in Philadelphia in the 1970s), before being relocated to Vermont under the ownership of Elliot Nachwalter and Carole Burns in the 1990s.

This particular pipe comes from the New York era, back when the shop was selling pipes that were expressly natural in finish and without fills in the briar. The design is a very interesting one, taking the form of a slender bulldog rendition, whose length and featherweight stature are slightly reminiscent of the old Merchant Service “Bing” billiards. One might even call it a “Bing-dog.”

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. Some minor handling marks.

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.70 / 17.78mm

Bowl Depth: 1.36″ / 34.54mm

Weight: 0.7oz / 22g