LHS Cavalier: Questions for the Wise

[Lost Somnambulist]

This is my latest project, an LHS French Briar cavalier. It's disassembled in the first photo and mostly together in the second. There is still some work to do on the wind cap so the nails haven't been replaced yet. One of the surprises I received when arrived was to discover that both the stem and endcap are dark horn with bone-screw tenons. The other surprise is that it looks to have not been smoked. If it was, maybe once or twice lightly a long time ago. The insides are absolutely clean.
I've been searching to find where horn stem pipes fit in the LHS timeline but haven't had luck finding examples. Information on where this cavalier fits into the LHS world would be greatly appreciated, I've been stumped so far.
My second question is about the French Briar labeling. When this is seen on pipes, is it that just the briar was sourced from France (Algeria maybe) and carved elsewhere, or does it indicate a French made stummel branded by a seller such as LHS in this case?

 

[FurCoat]

I can't answer your questions, but the pipe is stunning.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

I can't answer your questions, but the pipe is stunning.

Thanks, I've been trying to take my time to restore the old luster without changing the pipe.

 

[FurCoat]

Thanks, I've been trying to take my time to restore the old luster without changing the pipe.

Definitely the best route and it turned out looking fantastic.

 

[OzPiper]

That looks French made
Someone stamped it with the LHS logo and claimed credit for it

 

[sablebrush52]

The construction is interesting, suggesting that this pipe dates from pretty early in the company's history, since screw in stems were pretty much history by the 1920's It could very well have been turned in France and finished by LHS, as that was pretty common at the time. If the briar was from Algeria, ti would likely have been stamped as Algerian briar. The stem looks like Vulcanite in the photos, not horn, but horn has been in use since the mid 19th century and at various periods, like during WW2. I have a 1907 Barling bulldog with a horn stem.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

The construction is interesting, suggesting that this pipe dates from pretty early in the company's history, since screw in stems were pretty much history by the 1920's It could very well have been turned in France and finished by LHS, as that was pretty common at the time. If the briar was from Algeria, ti would likely have been stamped as Algerian briar. The stem looks like Vulcanite in the photos, not horn, but horn has been in use since the mid 19th century and at various periods, like during WW2. I have a 1907 Barling bulldog with a horn stem.

Sablebrush,
Thanks for the information! Your posts on this forum are always enlightening! Learning about the history of these old pipes is getting addictive. The stem material is very dark, nearly black, so it is hard to see patterns in the material, it easily looks like Vulcanite even at a near distance. The layers and fine lines of horn are visible when you get close. Here is a closer photo, hopefully it reveals the details better, I have a Vauen with a nearly black horn stem showing the same patterns in the material. Vauen helpfully engraved "horn" in the base of the stem on that one to make it easy for me.

 

[Kirklands]

screw in stems were pretty much history by the 1920's

Thanks for this info. It's very helpful.

horn has been in use since the mid 19th century and at various periods, like during WW2

More helpful info! I've been curious about this because I bought some pipes recently that have horn stems and I wondered if that could help me date them.

 

[Kirklands]

I have a Vauen with a nearly black horn stem showing the same patterns in the material.

Horn seems to vary quite a bit in color. I have a Vauen with what I think is a horn stem, that is quite light, cream-colored.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Sablebrush,
Thanks for the information! Your posts on this forum are always enlightening! Learning about the history of these old pipes is getting addictive. The stem material is very dark, nearly black, so it is hard to see patterns in the material, it easily looks like Vulcanite even at a near distance. The layers and fine lines of horn are visible when you get close. Here is a closer photo, hopefully it reveals the details better, I have a Vauen with a nearly black horn stem showing the same patterns in the material. Vauen helpfully engraved "horn" in the base of the stem on that one to make it easy for me.

View attachment 242989

Stunning beautiful pipe.
I'm quite certain the stem is bovine horn ; wonderful.
It shows better when you look at it under a strong light, or a blue light lamp.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Stunning beautiful pipe.
I'm quite certain the stem is bovine horn ; wonderful.
It shows better when you look at it under a strong light, or a blue light lamp.

I haven't looked at horn stems under a blue light, I'll have to give it a try!

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Horn seems to vary quite a bit in color. I have a Vauen with what I think is a horn stem, that is quite light, cream-colored.View attachment 246718

That's a good looking Vauen! It was a Vauen that got my attention on horn pipe stems. Mine below shows just what you're talking about with how much they can vary in color.