Astleys Smooth Canadian Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

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 Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very finest British pipes.

Given how many renowned pipe-makers were contracted to manufacture under Astleys house brand, it is often a guessing game as to who might have made which pipe. Unlike some of the Ferndown-made Astleys we’ve had in recently, I can’t say with 100% certainty who made this one, either. But I would be very surprised if this one wasn’t made by Barry and Ken at James Upshall. The stain alone is a dead ringer for Upshall’s “A” grade light tan finish, and the shaping and stem-work have me thinking I’d bet money on where this pipe came from. The other possibility would be Bill Taylor’s Ashton and his earlier, Sovereign grade pipes, but I’m still leaning closer to Upshall. It’s a great pipe, that’s for definite. It’s a very traditional Canadian shape, with good grain and a distinct lightness that should make it an easy clencher.

Unlike most Astleys pipes that have survived from the venerable London tobacconist, this one is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

 

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.55″ / 39.37mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g