Jody Davis: Smooth Bent Brandy with American Holly (Saint) (A16) (12) Tobacco Pipe

Take a Danish bent Brandy sporting an Ivarsson tear-drop shank, then tighten it up. Then tighten it up some more — and more, and then maybe a little more. What I'm getting at is that Jody really gave this Brandy a playfully tight sense of curl and proportions. It is, yes, one of those shapes that reminds me of what Lars once told Sykes: that an ideal pipe design to him was one that would make you want to pick it up and cuddle the briar "like a hamster." Fine Jody, you win. If I were ever to pick up and cuddle anything like a hamster, it would be this bent Brandy — and I am for the record including an actual hamster in the possible options there.

He also got some very, very gorgeous grain out this thing too, by the way. Also his use of (very) pale holly for an accent is striking. I am not the least bit surprised this pipe made his "Saint" grade, really, even though I've never thought of saints as particularly cuddly.

- Eric N. Squires