BriarWorks: Classic Brown Sandblasted with Black Stem (C111F) (9mm) Tobacco Pipe

BriarWorks' "C111" and "C52" shapes are both stout Rhodesian renditions inspired by vintage Comoy's designs, with this "C111" representing the bent variety. Such a robust bent Rhodesian has become known as the Bullmoose shape, and it exudes a hearty disposition through the bowl and shank alike — specifically calling to mind Comoy's "499" offering. Set just above the transition, the bowl's characteristic beadlines delineate the rim's diminutive taper while the rest of the bowl remains plump and rounded, the muscularity of the stummel continued through the base of the tapered stem. It's a pipe that's hearty in-hand and substantial in demeanor but still conveniently compact, and this particular "C111F" example has also been drilled to accommodate a 9mm filter in the mortise.

As the name suggests, BriarWorks' Classic series comprises iconic, shape-chart standards and represents the workshop's standard-production lineup. While every BriarWorks stummel is carved on CNC (computer numerical control) machines based on pre-established templates for consistent shaping across renditions, the stem-fitting and finishing processes are entirely hand-applied by the American workshop's team of artisans: Pete Prevost, Bill Shalosky, Micah Redmond, and Sam Adebayo. All four men are artisan pipe makers in their own rights, and BriarWorks' production model of combining mass-production processes with hand-applied, artisanal techniques results in modestly priced pipes with the engineering and aesthetic quality of handmade work. This particular example wears the workshop's Brown sandblasted finish, offering rugged texture and a rustic persona.