Bill Shalosky: Rusticated Brow Burner (417) Tobacco Pipe

Until 2019, Bill Shalosky had only ever made one rusticated pipe, and that was back in 2015. What a welcomed surprise it is, then, to put on site not just one but two rusticated Shalosky pieces. Plus, not only do these smokers wear a rarely seen finish from the American carver, they're also fashioned from briar that Bill has had stored in his workshop for over a decade, giving them more than ample time to age and cure. This particular number is one of Shalosky's Brow Burner designs, a playful and hyperbolic riff off of the compact Nosewarmer style. It houses a chamber that's over half as a deep as the entire piece is long, and the trim saddle stem ensures that even with the added height up front, it's still comfortably clenched. The earthy contrast stain is accented by small rusticated dimples all across the stummel, catching the light with striking appeal. It's a signature shape from Shalosky, taking the comfort pipe to a whole new level of abbreviated length, and one that the carver even smokes himself.