RD Pipes by Ron Powell Partially Sandblasted Brandy w/ Aluminum Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Retiring from the craft just recently, American artisan Ron D. Powell made pipes under the moniker of RD Pipes. The tagline for such was “Just Honest Hand Made Pipes,” which was certainly true, though one might argue it was overly modest. RD Pipes were exceptionally well made and Powell was exceptional pipe maker, with an expansive portfolio demonstrating a great versatility, working with all manner of shapes, styles, and materials to a consistently high quality. This particular pipe takes the form of one of Powell’s staples, a stout, saddle brandy in the modern American artisan vein. To get a handle on “American” here, it’s worth remembering that, while brandy shapes are very traditional in origin, the idea of what a brandy is was fundamentally transformed by Scandinavian pipe makers—especially those in Denmark—in the second half of the 20th century. In subsequent years, the brandy was renewed again by American artisans following the dawn of the millennium, and that third coming was so befitting the shape that one might think the brandy born to be American all along. Eschewing the softer lines of the Anglo-French renditions, as well as much of the bulbous bombast of the Scandinavian ones, brandies like this one from RD Pipes are decidedly stout and sturdy, leaning further into the notion of a “well oiled smoking machine.” But, as can also be seen here, they’re not without care for aesthetic enjoyment, with this one showing off a contrast stained, ring grain sandblast, a perfectly matched, sandy ebonite stem, and an aluminum collar machined and polished by Powell himself. The condition is great. Minor darkening and finish fading on the rim, but the pipe is nonetheless very well preserved.   Details: Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm Bowl Width: 0.89 / 22.60mm Bowl Depth: 1.66″ / 42.16mm Weight: 1.7oz / 50g

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