Smokin' Barrel Briars Pipes

For Ryan McCawley of Smokin' Barrel Briars, an interest in pipes started long before he ever considered making them. As a child, summer visits to his grandmother's house were often accompanied by the smell of pipe smoke drifting over from a neighbor's yard. Ryan purchased his first pipe shortly after turning 18, and and it was on that very same pipe that he began practicing the art of restoration years later. That first restoration opened the door to a much deeper interest in the craft. He began watching restoration videos, working on estate pipes from eBay and antique stores, and sharing his projects online. Before long, friends were sending him their own pipes to restore, and the experience he gained working with briar and other materials eventually led him to try his hand at making his own.

Ryan began carving pipes as a hobby in 2020 and has spent the past two years making them full-time. Much of his development has come through experimentation and self-teaching, though other makers have played an important role along the way. Sean Reum, Premal Chheda, Paul Lucas, and Jonathan Lavezzo offered advice on the tools he needed early on, while time spent with Trey Rice and Robert Amundson introduced him to bamboo and freehand drilling. Drawing from both Danish and English traditions, Ryan has gradually developed an approach that combines elements of each without being tied strictly to either.

His appreciation for makers such as Jess Chonowitsch, Ernie Markle, Tom Eltang, Alex Florov, the Ivarsson family, Jeff Gracik, Former, Micah Cryder, Chris Asteriou, Abe Herbaugh, and Mike Bay reflects the wide range of influences behind his work. He primarily works with briar and ebonite, while also incorporating modern stem materials and natural accents such as wood, mammoth ivory, ox horn, and Ivorite.

When he isn't at his workshop bench, Ryan spends his time traveling, attending concerts, exploring the outdoors, hunting, and fishing. He has also served as an ABKC conformation judge for more than a decade. Each Smokin' Barrel Briars pipe reflects a craft that began with restoring old pipes and grew into a self-driven pursuit of making something entirely his own.