Can't find much about this model. Shalom Pipe Factory, yes. A Danish craftsman named Muki Liebermann, yes. I know Shalom used a reproducing machine, which would carve several pipes using a metal model and a pantograph. Some of these I've seen online, including those marked "Freehand" and those with acrylic stems, have the Alpha "A" on the stem. Is the 'Freehand' model really a hand pipe, or is it, too, machine-made?
Mine is sandblast, and wonderfully so. Very dark red, nearly black. Shape gives a nod to bulldog and belge, with flared diamond shank. Plateau on top and shank, both cut at a steep angle, which I adore. Concave conical divot in the shank, so tenon hole is recessed. Deep red-brown stain. Gray pearl stem, with no "A." Smooth side on shank stamped only "Freehand" and "Israel," the latter stamped poorly, only " ael" really readable.
This came from the same lot as the Ben Wade I posted about; I now have that, this, and two Sorens, my four favorites from that lot.
This side shows the steep bowl & shank cutaways:
Other side, these don't show the red/brown well:
Unrelate to the question, but regarding the lot, here are the Soren pipes from it.
This one is roughly a sitter, with the stem touching the table, though it wobbles a bit:
Not a sitter but a stander, 'smoosh' base, has a carved branch or hand shape on one side. Both have these two 'points' on the rear of the bowl:
Mine is sandblast, and wonderfully so. Very dark red, nearly black. Shape gives a nod to bulldog and belge, with flared diamond shank. Plateau on top and shank, both cut at a steep angle, which I adore. Concave conical divot in the shank, so tenon hole is recessed. Deep red-brown stain. Gray pearl stem, with no "A." Smooth side on shank stamped only "Freehand" and "Israel," the latter stamped poorly, only " ael" really readable.
This came from the same lot as the Ben Wade I posted about; I now have that, this, and two Sorens, my four favorites from that lot.
This side shows the steep bowl & shank cutaways:
Other side, these don't show the red/brown well:
Unrelate to the question, but regarding the lot, here are the Soren pipes from it.
This one is roughly a sitter, with the stem touching the table, though it wobbles a bit:
Not a sitter but a stander, 'smoosh' base, has a carved branch or hand shape on one side. Both have these two 'points' on the rear of the bowl:
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