I'm not specifically a French pipe guy, since my rack has various nation stamps, which we have learned to only sometimes believe. In any case, I often preach the sermon about the refined pipe culture of St. Claude and other pipe making communities in France, how they are the original home or at least launching pad for briar as a pipe material, and how the shapes that are associated with the finest British pipes mostly originated in France. Plus, for factory pipes, it is difficult to beat the dollar for dollar, or franc for franc, or Euro for Euro quality. Welcome aboard.