Charatans Make Executive 4, Cavalier Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates [SOLD OUT]

Description

While Dunhill may be Britain’s most famous pipe brand, Charatan is not only older, but has the honor of being the first to have made its pipes entirely in-house. ‘Charatan’s Make’ referred to the fact that, at a time when other pipe companies were sourcing stummels and stems carved from other companies before assembling them in their factories and workshops, Charatan made every part of their pipes on the Charatan premises. So began a legacy of high-quality pipe-making under the Charatan name, one whose employees, at one time or another, included Joel Sasieni, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall fame.

This particular Charatan is from the Lane era, during which Charatan was acquired by Herman Lane and produced what are considered to have been Charatan’s best pipes. From the nomenclature, it can also be determined that this pipe is from what is sometimes known as the ‘first Lane era,’ between 1961-1965. The exact nomenclature will be detailed below.

The pipe itself is a beautiful, freehand cavalier shape. It is also a ‘true’ cavalier, having a removable vulcanite stopper at its foot for removing any excess moisture and other cleaning purposes. The bowl is surrounded by 360 degrees of natural, straight grain and the bowl is covered in bird’s-eyes. The shank is similarly lovely, with some interesting figural elements, such as the appearance of ‘folds’ at its base. It’s a large pipe – as cavaliers typically are – but one whose design lends to easy holding and sipping during the long smokes it promises. While there are some very minor scratches and a tiny bit of rim darkening, the pipe is in great shape, especially as it’s over five decades old at this point.

The nomenclature, though a little faint due to age, reads as following:

CHARATAN’S MAKE

(L) LONDON ENGLAND

EXECUTIVE

and

MADE BY HAND

 

Details:

Length: 7.5″

Bowl Width: 25.8mm

Bowl Depth: 1.5″

Weight: 3.2oz / 93g