Dunhill: Shell Briar (4106F) (2018) (9mm) Tobacco Pipe

This "06" Pot from Dunhill perches a stout, Group 4-sized bowl at the fore of an arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement. The bowl and shank are well-balanced and share a similarly muscular build, resulting in a pipe that's at once comfortable and firm in hand. It's dressed in the crisp, shadowy Shell Briar sandblast, which here accentuates the natural grain orientation of the briar and harmonizes well in color with the jet-black vulcanite mouthpiece that trails out back. This piece has been drilled to accommodate 9mm filters, enabling modification based on smoking preference.

The Shell Briar's addition to the Dunhill catalog was a pivotal moment in pipe-smoking history. Before 1917, pipes with sandblasted finishes had never been made, and Alfred Dunhill's innovative mind created arguably the most popular finish for pipes today when he unveiled the Shell Briar. With its dark, reserved color palette and delightful texture, it's no surprise that it's still wildly popular over a century later.