Rattray's: Dark Ale (105) (9mm) Tobacco Pipe

Rattray's "105" is a stout, full-bodied Rhodesian, displaying a strong sense of muscularity that likens it to the classic Bullmoose shape. The "105" offers a more substantial presence in hand compared to the Nosewarmer dimensions of the Scottish marque's "131" and "140" Rhodesians, while serving as a bent alternative to the "120." The heel on this piece is forward-urging and well rounded, while the rim tapers upward from the pair of crisp beadlines circling the bowl's waist. The robust shank seamlessly continues the bowl's heartiness before meeting the tapered stem, which ends in a gentle downturn to allow for a comfortably balanced, hands-free smoking posture.

Inspired by the brown ales that originated in England and Scotland, Rattray's Dark Ale series presents pipes in a color palette similar to those dark beers. The smoky, dark walnut stain remains just light enough to still expose the briar's grain pattern, reminiscent of the namesake imbibement and not as dark as, say, a stout or porter beer. Complementing the smooth stain, then, is a cumberland-hued acrylic stem, the similarly dark hues separated by a flashy chrome band for handsome, accenting flash.