Ryan Alden Sandblasted Author (King of Clubs) Handmade Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Ryan Alden is an artisan pipe-maker from Texas in the United States. Something of a renaissance man, Alden is not only an extremely talented pipe-maker, but also someone trained in fine arts and other crafts, such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, and leather-working. For us in the pipe world, however, it is his hand made smoking instruments that shine the brightest. Alden’s pipe-making is highly inventive and notable for its unorthodox designs, while also being first rate in technical precision.

Ryan Alden’s pipes aren’t always graded, but when they are they’re graded based on poker hands – specifically, the Ace High Straight (or Royal Flush, to our non-American visitors). The pipes begin at a 10 card, and ascend in quality onward; Jack of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts, King of Clubs, and the Ace of Spaces. This particular Alden is a King of Clubs grade author, though its shaping leans more toward the Danish tradition and its apple, brandy, and tomato shapes than the average Anglo-French rendition. That’s Alden’s bread and butter: stout, muscular—even a little chubby—designs that don’t typically stray too far from the 20th century classics. Continuing that theme, the pipe has a wonderfully craggy ring grain sandblast and a minimalistic stain, echoing the renowned, mid-century Dunhill Tanshell.

This Alden is completely unsmoked.

 

Details:

Length: 5.7″ / 144.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.94 / 23.87mm

Bowl Depth: 1.23″ / 32.76mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g