Stellar Edward's Freehand

[atwageman]

This showed up on ebay in the middle of the night. I just had to have it. Now for the wait for it to arrive. It's got some size to it as well.

 

[spartan]

Holy Sweet Sexy Lucious Mother of God...
Rim burn aside, she's gorgeous. Good eye Sir.

 

[deleon]

Thats a good looking pipe! Very unique congrats!

 

[photoman13]

wow that's cool. Looks like the smooth finish dripped down it.

 

[cigrmaster]

That should be a great smoker with those thick walls. Nice score.

 

[atwageman]

@spartan

I'm not too worried about the rim burn. Ive had to clean up/restore a lot worse.

 

[atwageman]

@herbinedave

Not sure who carved it. Randy Wiley worked at Edward's for a few years back in the 1970's, but so did others. I had a conversation once with Randy he said it can be almost impossible to tell who carved it because the carvers at the time were all basically carving in the same styles at the factory.
In later years it is believed Edward's would ship plateux briar out to artisan carvers to make pipes for Edward's. So not all handmades were made in house. Pinning down a concrete timeline with them is difficult. Ive talked to numrous folks that work and have worked for Edward's and all the stories and answers are different. I've got Edward's produced literature that contradicts itself in terms of history. One of these days I will get around to uploading it all on my website.

 

[ck12]

I saw this pipe last night and contemplated getting it but decided to look around a little bit more by the time i went back it was sold. Glad it went to a good owner!! Love edwards!!

 

[atwageman]

@herbinedave
The initials you see are a grade stamp (EF1). EF1's were the lowest grade of the Edward's handmades.

 

[atwageman]

For those interested here is a 1999 dealer cost chart that shows what some of the different pipes cost the dealers back then.
http://www.otcpipes.com/images/edwardsnomenclature1999_1_.jpg

 

[tbradsim1]

I have 12 Edwards and love them all the old cajun

 

[atwageman]

How about posting some pics of your Edward's pipes? I like seeing Edward's from others collections.

 

[tbradsim1]

Sure, later , I just learned how to post pics today , my favorite is a large bent smooth with 2 raised panels, I call it my Bingo pipe, when I go with my wife who likes to play , I bring this one and sip , it lasts about 2 hrs. The old cajun

 

[rigmedic1]

My Edwards Freehand:

I have about a dozen Edwards pipes as well.

 

[rigmedic1]

And a couple of my favorite Edwards pipes:

 

[atwageman]

Nice pipes. I especially like that coachman with the skipper finish.