Ben Wade Smooth Calabash Estate Briar Pipe, French Estates [SOLD OUT]

Description

Ben Wade was founded, as might be expected, by Leeds-based English pipe merchant Benjamin Wade in 1860. Soon after, Wade opened his own workshop to produce quintessentially British pipes. As one of the first makes to create pipes from briar, Ben Wade has a special place in pipe history, one only made more special by the famously high-quality of their output.

This Ben Wade is certainly something. If you know anything about pipe-making, you’ll know just what an achievement it is to make a pipe with a bend of such a steep angle in its shank. In fact, with a traditional drill bit, it’s actually impossible to drill the draught-hole of a shape like this, requiring highly specialized tools to ensure a smooth flow of air from the bottom of the chamber to the end of the shank. As such, pipes of this shape are incredibly rare.

The condition is very good. The finish is a tad faded on the rim, and there are a few fills that have fallen out over the years, but these are only superficial imperfections. The chance to own something like this is not something passed upon lightly.

 

Details:

Length: 7″

Bowl Width: 20.3mm

Bowl Depth: 2″

Weight: 2.8oz / 80g