What Characterizes English Pipes?

[mso489]

What traits characterize English pipes? I started this with Italian and Danish pipes, but no one joined in,

so I'll pick up the series with English pipes. Here are some traits of English pipes -- we're not just talking

Dunhills here. 1) Love of tradition means that shapes are either in the grand old tradition or refer back to

it. 2)The English tend to be discerning about their briars, and many of their pipes are notably light in weight,

suggesting that the briar is aged more than average. 3) The English seem to favor more conservative colors,

by in large. 4) While Dunhills are among the more expensive lines of pipes, the English do make pipes on

many price levels. What are your observations about English pipes? (Plenty of possibilities to go here, I think.)

 

[sallow]

I have an Orlik Supreme dublin. Beautiful light color and nice grain, classic shape. It was not expensive.
It developed a crack in the shank and I've stopped smoking it, but it really played nice with burleys and english blends. It had a unique taste to it, it was old briar.

 

[papipeguy]

mso489, I thin you pretty much nailed it with your take on English made pipes. I like traditional shapes and the contribution made by British pipe makers and tobacco houses speaks to many of us. I have fair amount of British made pipes though only 1 Dunhill and I treasure all of them.

 

[andrew]

They say made in england on them.

 

[sallow]

Why not get it repaired?

I will, eventually. I wouldn't mind a new stem also. The briar is so damn tasty.
Sorry to hijack the thread.

 

[pitchfork]

I think a more conservative approach to shape and color is a "family feature" of British pipes. Charatan is the exception in regard to shape -- but even Charatan is comparatively restrained in its shaping compared to some of the Danes.
Another family feature of some English or British pipes is a certain sturdiness (for lack of a better word). I think Upshall exemplifies that sense of sturdiness I'm thinking of. So do some Dunhills. And Ashton, too.