Nate King 2023 Smooth Liberty Bell w/ Horn Estate Briar Pipe

Description

It is very likely that Indiana’s Nate King had something of a “head start,” or at least an advantage, when he first took up pipe making, by virtue of his previous careers. First employed as a transmission specialist in an IndyCar pit crew, before moving on to work as an aeronautical engineer, King came to pipes already having a wealth of experience working with industrial machinery, as well as a honed sense of precision. On the side, King enjoyed restoring estate pipes and, in the 2000s, he began making pipes of his own, after being taken under the wing (no pun intended) of fellow Indiana artisan Wayne Teipen. In the years since, King has emerged as one of North America’s premier artisans and has received numerous awards for his work. He is also a frequent collaborator with GL Pease, with whom he designs yearly, limited runs of novel pipe shapes.

If I was to purchase a pipe like this one, I’d want a solid guarantee that it was carefully and precisely put together—but this is Nate King we’re talking about, i.e., someone who’s spent nearly two decades working on aircraft. Needless to say, you’re in safe hands. It’s a beautiful, fascinating pipe, with a long, slender frame and a bell-like bowl, hence the name given to it. Whether it was inspired by the famous “bell Dublin” shapes of Charatan or one of our nation’s monuments, I’m not entirely sure, but whatever the reasoning behind it, it looks fantastic. In addition, the fact that the pipe is nearly 7 inches long, has a sizeable bowl, and yet is under one and a half ounces in weight is a genuine achievement.

The condition is excellent.

 

Details:

Length: 6.8″ / 172.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.77 / 19.55mm

Bowl Depth: 1.76″ / 44.70mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g