My French pipe at the moment, from top to bottom:
Christmas 1992, The Sanctuary San Luis Obispo, CA
Old Ropp Cherrywood, silver repair band
Wessex, Hand Made
Christmas 1992, The Sanctuary San Luis Obispo, CA
Old Ropp Cherrywood, silver repair band
Wessex, Hand Made
I gifted my one and only Ropp cherrywood a few years ago as it was a bit small.
Aromatics used to sing in it (or maybe nostalgia is playing a trick with my memory) ?
I've been on the lookout for a slightly larger NOS or lightly smoked estate.
Aromatics used to sing in it (or maybe nostalgia is playing a trick with my memory) ?
I've been on the lookout for a slightly larger NOS or lightly smoked estate.
This one? Don't know the style name, but the shape number is 730-S
Jean Lacroix Diamant pipes have always smoked well for me, at least as well as Dunhills or whatever. (Diamant is a grade, I think.) They might have a fill or two, but tend to have quite attractive grain otherwise. My best smoking pipe ever was a Jean Lacroix. I have four, but inherent sloth prevents me from taking photos of them. Are Edward's pipes French? In that case, here's a huge Edward's billiard of mine. Smokes great. (Has a heart stamped on the bottom, which I also think is a grade designator.)
I have 3 Nuttens, one Bing and two Cutty. This one just arrived and has a funky sandblast grain with great hand feel and is rapidly becoming a favorite. All of them are superb smokers.
After nearly three years of being exclusive to Savinelli, I was gifted a Foyard Beechwood Rhodesian from circa 1959. Lots of firsts for me here; first straight stem pipe, first time dealing with a stinger, first time with a completely bare chamber wall etc. It's quite wonderful...small bowl, super light weight, and about as free and clear a draw as a pipe can have. Took it on the maiden voyage this afternoon, by way of a bowl of Tilbury. Bliss, even in high winds. Going to designate this one as both an aromatic and latakia-free zone. Here she is:
I am almost certain that my Rattray is basically this model blinged out. With silver accents. In fact I'd love to compare them hand in hand. First question is the draw tight but not overly so?
Rattray cuttys do look similar, but are not French made.
Most of my vintage pipes have somewhat restricted draws esp the ones with bone tenons.
I have become accustomed to tight draws. I smoked cigars for 15 years exclusively. You would not believe the bad draw issues with Habanos, - Cohibas included !
I've seen a few sources that say some of their pipes are french made. And the thing is every detail of it screams french. Including the qualities of the briar. (Could be in my head but the grain on French pipes often looks tighter and the lines of grain thinner then on Italian or British pipes for example). And this one has a similar nature to the grain.
Nothing more then a hunch on my part, but honestly it feels so right. Also some people insist it's Peterson, however many Rattray's scream Peterson like to me, this one is about as far from that as possible.
I personally can deal with very open draws like my vauen or Brebbia. I can deal with very middle of the road draws like the Petersons. And I adore tighter draws as well like the rattrays.
You could well be correct in your assumption.
All I know of Rattray pipes is that they are owned by Kopp of Germany, and that their pipes are made for them by different manufacturers in the EU.
I stand corrected.
Now that you have pointed it out, those cuttys look decidely more French than Italian ?
yeah the more you look at them the more obvious it is that they go to several different makers in different parts of the world.
Rattray's head offices are located in Germany but pipes themselves are manufactured in St Claude reg,France
I am 90 percent sure mine is French. Although I've heard too many their pipes are made here and by these people to say anything with certainty.
Two Butz Choquins on top and a Major Black at the bottom.
I love those older French pipes very elegant.
I have a new Chacom Flumen pipe that I like they have a good marketing strategy.It was sold to me as an unfiltered pipe with a stinger insert which happens to be 9mm so once removed you can use a 9mm charcoal filter if you wish.
I have a new Chacom Flumen pipe that I like they have a good marketing strategy.It was sold to me as an unfiltered pipe with a stinger insert which happens to be 9mm so once removed you can use a 9mm charcoal filter if you wish.
