Ropp: Buis Sandblasted (371) (9mm) Tobacco Pipe

Ropp's "371" straight Billiard presents as a strikingly full-bodied iteration of the classic profile, something that manifests as an impressive thickness throughout the composition. Though the bowl here is a good bit larger than more standard manifestations of the profile, the shank is what stood out first on this pipe, as it maintains an impressively muscular disposition that both melds with, and is distinct from the bowl. Said bowl is stocky and tall, standing atop a rounded heel and growing upward with plenty of roundness to ensure a comfortable fit in hand. Compared to many of the other Billiards found in Ropp's portfolio, the "371" offers an enhanced size that is sure to appeal to enthusiasts of large pipes who appreciate high-quality French craftsmanship.

First released in 2023, the Buis series from Ropp is a fittingly named and distinctive line within the French marque's portfolio, offering elegant accents and 9mm drilling for pipe smokers who appreciate filters. In French, buis translates to "boxwood," and Ropp's eponymous series showcases trim accents of pale boxwood contrasted against the stummel's earthy sandblast for a traditional aesthetic that's elevated by a tasteful accenting touch. Like all of the French marque's fare, these pipes are fashioned from old stummels found at the Chapuis-Comoy factory — turned decades ago but not finished — and they've been fitted to jet-black vulcanite stems for a timeless motif that resurrects French pipe making as it existed decades ago.