Gilbert Henry Krisor / GHK Smooth Volcano Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Gilbert Henry Krisor, who made pipes under the GHK moniker, was an American artisan based in California. Though Krisor began making pipes only after his retirement, Krisor’s pipes would ultimately achieve significant acclaim and would even feature in the personal collections of celebrity pipe-smokers, such as Jack Lemmon and Anwar Sadat. Krisor died in 1984.

I was very curious about this pipe after it landed on my desk. At first I thought it might be one of the “Traditional” series Preben Holm pipes, or perhaps one of the German artisans, such as Klaus Hahn. But no, it’s a GHK by Gilbert Henry Krisor, made during America’s first golden age in freehand pipe-making. I think this might be the first time I’ve seen one in person. Anyway, it’s a great, freehand volcano shape, with plenty of straight grain lining its bowl and paneled shank. One particularly novel thing about this pipe – as with all Krisor pipes as far as I know – is that the weight (in grams) is stamped onto the shank, which in this case is 62 grams (hence 62G).

This Krisor is also completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.67″ / 42.41mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g