I spotted this pipe on eBay a while back and was immediately intrigued by it, I find the shape very appealing. But it’s a little strange in the sense that there is nearly zero indication who made it. There are some clues in what little stamping it has, but not many.
It’s what I would describe as a square shank Bulldog. It’s a fairly chunky pipe with pretty robust proportions but not quite what I’d call chubby. It was pretty filthy when I got it.
Starting with the button, it’s what I generally describe as transitional button. It’s still very rounded like an orific button but it’s got a very well formed slot. These are mostly seen during the 1920’s and are fairly common on WDC pipes.
The only stamping on the pipe is
IMPORTED BRIAR
On the left shank face
And
3185/V 2
On the bottom shank face.
The four digit shape code immediately made my think KB&B, and the prefix 31 does indeed indicate a push tenon black vulcanite stemmed pipe.
But 85 does not align with a square shank BD at all. And what’s with the /V 2?
The IMPORTED BRIAR stamp does match a stamp KB&B used in the late 20’s and early 30’s and I had to dig pretty deep into my collection to find one but I did. A four digit Kaywoodie Shellcraft from the late 20’s
Anyway, my best guess is that it’s an either a KB&B or Riese Premier pipe and I’m fairly certain it dates to the late 1920’s or early 1930’s.
Maybe @sablebrush52 or @jguss might know more but that’s all I got.
It’s what I would describe as a square shank Bulldog. It’s a fairly chunky pipe with pretty robust proportions but not quite what I’d call chubby. It was pretty filthy when I got it.
Starting with the button, it’s what I generally describe as transitional button. It’s still very rounded like an orific button but it’s got a very well formed slot. These are mostly seen during the 1920’s and are fairly common on WDC pipes.
The only stamping on the pipe is
IMPORTED BRIAR
On the left shank face
And
3185/V 2
On the bottom shank face.
The four digit shape code immediately made my think KB&B, and the prefix 31 does indeed indicate a push tenon black vulcanite stemmed pipe.
But 85 does not align with a square shank BD at all. And what’s with the /V 2?
The IMPORTED BRIAR stamp does match a stamp KB&B used in the late 20’s and early 30’s and I had to dig pretty deep into my collection to find one but I did. A four digit Kaywoodie Shellcraft from the late 20’s
Anyway, my best guess is that it’s an either a KB&B or Riese Premier pipe and I’m fairly certain it dates to the late 1920’s or early 1930’s.
Maybe @sablebrush52 or @jguss might know more but that’s all I got.
