Ferndown Vintage Magnum Smooth Bulldog Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

Les Wood and Dolly Wood began their careers in pipes working for Dunhill, with Les working in the silver mounting department, and Dolly working in the finishing department. While at Dunhill, both learned the fundamentals of making pipes, and after marrying and leaving the company, the two began to create pipes of their own. This ultimately led to the creation of L&JS Briars and the Ferndown make, widely considered to be the pinnacle of English handmade pipes. Ferndown pipes are highly coveted by pipe-smokers due to their superlative craftsman(and woman!)ship, whose bowls are oil-cured and which typically feature beautiful silverwork. Sadly, Les and Dolly retired from pipe-making in 2016, making Ferndown pipes rather scarce – especially given how difficult it is to get their owners to part with them.

The “Vintage” is not a common line within the Ferndown portfolio. In fact, this is only the second I’ve seen, and the first in person. I had to ask Les what the pipe was, to which he explained that he thought it might have been an experiment with a “dark” version of the more established Ferndown “Root” smooth finish. As so few of them were made, he simply couldn’t precisely recall what the motivation behind them was. This is rare Ferndown, then, which is saying something considering how difficult it is to acquire one of the standard finish L&JS Briars pipes these days. The shape is a classic bulldog—exactly the kind of traditional staple we’ve come to expect from Ferndown pipes—but it is also extra large, just about making the cut for what I’d call magnum proportions. To put it in a broader context, by the standards of the Dunhill OD shapes, it would be classified as a “semi-giant.” The stain, as indicated, is a darker, walnut hue variation on the Root finish, and still has plenty of the glassy sheen that Dolly Wood was so good at creating.

-J.M.

The condition is good. Some inner rim darkening, some small, minor scratches around the bowl, and slight residual oxidation on the cumberland stem. Nothing major though.

For more information on Les & Dolly’s life in pipes, check out our recent interview with Mr Wood himself: https://www.mbsdpipes.com/from-dunhill-to-ferndown-an-interview-with-les-wood/

Details:

Length: 6.8″ / 172.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 1.8″ / 45.72mm

Weight: 2.8oz / 80g