Former: Sandblasted Lumberman Tobacco Pipe

Hans "Former" Nielsen has supervised the W.Ø. Larsen workshop, worked with Emil and Jess Chonowitsch, helped develop the marque Bentley, and refined his renowned pipe making skills over the past 60 years, cementing Former as a living legend. Many of Former's shapes are traditionally-inclined and turned on lathes, but he does make a number of imaginative Freehands as well. Furthermore, every Former pipe features impeccable engineering to ensure a superb smoke.

This Lumberman by Former is dressed in a detailed sandblast that highlights cascading ripples of growth rings that surround the bowl. Elsewhere, birdseye freckles abound, especially on the lithe shank, whose elongated, oval form maximizes the horizontal surfaces displaying the craggy birdseye. Said shank joins to an abbreviated saddle stem, a requirement for the Lumberman shape, which is fashioned from jet-black vulcanite. Therefore, this pipe features a comprehensive black dress, creating a distinguished, understated appearance fit for any occasion.

We have seen a handful of Lumbermans from Former, but this is the first one in several years. Compared to his earlier renditions, this Lumberman features a more robust bowl, as its thick, insulating walls give its supple curves a pronounced stoutness. However, the tall bowl is a familiar height for Former's Lumbermans, a prospect sure to excite anyone craving a long smoke. Said bowl is paired to a broad shank-and-stem arrangement, leaving plenty of space to drape a digit. Combined, the sturdy bowl and expansive shank make this pipe a particularly muscular interpretation of the Lumberman.