Astleys Sandblasted Large Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates, 9mm

Description

Astleys was one of London’s most historic pipe and tobacco shops. Like many pipe tobacconists, its owners had pipes made specially to be sold under the shop’s name. Astleys pipes, however, were made by some of the premier pipe manufacturers and artisans in the UK, such as Ashton, Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood & Dolly Wood of Ferndown, and Ken Barnes & Barry Jones of James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very finest British pipes.

We don’t get many Astleys pipes chambered for 9mm filters come through, and as far as I’m aware, not that many were made. Based on the shaping of this one—not entirely dissimilar from the saddle LB variant from Dunhill, the 6LB—I’d wonder whether this one might have been fashioned by Bill Taylor, or at least by Barry Jones, who Taylor did sandblasting for. Either way, it’s a nice, muscular billiard, and a chance for filter users to enjoy a historic piece from one of England’s greatest pipe houses.

The condition is fair. Rim wear, including darkening, and general finish fading.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.89 / 22.60mm

Bowl Depth: 1.88″ / 47.75mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 68g