Rattray’s Old Perth 33 Smooth Contrast Cutty Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

The House of Rattray was originally a tobacconist, opening in Perth, Scotland, in 1903, under the oversight of Charles Rattray. House of Rattray soon became a blending house (whose blends are still sold to this day under the Rattray’s name) and a purveyor of Rattray-brand pipes, made for the tobacconist by established English pipe makers. Over the years, the name changed hands, with contemporary Rattray’s pipes and tobaccos being produced under the umbrella of German’s Kopp company (formerly Kolhase & Kopp). Today, Rattray’s pipes are manufactured by various major European makers, such as Chacom and Butz-Choquin in France and Brebbia and L’anatra in Italy.

With this particular pipe, Rattray’s looks to have been be returning to its roots—as perhaps gestured by its namesake honoring the Scottish town where the make was born. The design is a thoroughly traditional cutty, sporting a long, slender, featherweight frame, a silver collar, and the shape’s signature “foot” (though this one is also capped with silver). More modern is the pipe’s contrast stain, which highlights some extraordinary flame grain. As far as I was able to determine, this is not a model that Rattray’s produces anymore (though please do correct me if I’m wrong), which would be a great shame.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, too.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.68 / 17.27mm

Bowl Depth: 1.44″ / 36.57mm

Weight: 0.7oz / 22g