The yin and yang and the whole shebang.
What's The Rap On The Bulldog Shape?
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I own one. It was my dads . A old Comoys from the 30s. I only smoked it a few times. It’s usually a special occasion pipe . I love the look of them however, I find short pots more to my liking.
I like almost all shapes, but I have a special fondness for Bulldogs and Rhodesian shapes, specially the quarter bent Squat Bulldog. My first pipe in my modern pipe journey is a Rhodesian although I always call it a Bulldog. I am currently smoking some Samuel Gawith Brown #4 twist in my first pipe and my wife took a artistic portrait
Then there's the Sav 673KS which has its diamond shank rounded off and looks a lot like a Peterson, but is a beautifully balanced and flowing design. Nothing quite like it.
How about this one, not really a bulldog, but has some of the same style. Lord Davenport from the late 40s or very early 50s. Sorry about the bad lighting.
I just don't like them much for me. Fine for others but just doesn't feel right for me. Though I mainly like snifters, billards, and dublins.
All bulldogs and Rhodesian shapes are terrible smokers and ugly as sin. Just send them to me for disposal. I know I'm taking on a terrible task that may ruin me in the end but I'm willing to do it. 
I'm doing my part to get rid of them all. Here is a thread I posted a while ago with some of the bulldogs/rhodesians that have been taken off of the market.
Very nice. You must really like the Peterson 2019 POTY. I love chubby Rhodesians. Don't have that pipe but lucky to have an older Dublin and London John Bull from Peterson.
I don't own any Danish Bulldogs, but Soren Refbjberg Rasmussn's squat, "flying saucer" bowls and slim tapered diamond-shanked iterations are the ones that might make me reconsider
I like them, well, some of them anyway. I currently own two straight bulldogs and one bent rhodesian, all good smokers and essily clenched.
Frankly I'm more of Billiard /Canadian shape man myself, but nevetheles I must say Bulldog shape is timeless and quintessential one as well, I have specially be opting for those lighterweight classic ones with small to moderate conical chamber , which I do find as a perfect option for those stronger Dark Firded flake tobaccies
here are some examples of mine
here are some examples of mine
Tom - You must be psychic! I have been intensely puzzling over the whole "Bulldog Issue" all week; as I consider if I will ever be adding one to my line-up; or not.
I would really love to add one to line-up, if for no other reason than having at least one specimen of the common/popular shapes in my collection, but...
Aesthetically, to me anyway, the straight stem Bulldog design is one of the two singular pipe shapes which "call" to me the least; and yet, it is such a prevalent shape - and smoked and loved by so many - looks so sturdy and functional, could probably be used as a hammer, looks like it is just begging to be carried naturally in the front jacket/coat pocket; and yet...
I think for me, what I am resisting is the diamond-shaped stem, not the bowl shape itself , which leaves me - a person who is used to the comfort of round/ovoid stems, round cigars, round/ovoid cigarettellos, round cigarettes - thinking that the diamond-shaped stem - with it's hard looking, sharp corners, would feel uncomfortable in the hand; and certainly between the fingers... and yet, look at how many people love this shape as their shape-of-choice.
I think the other thing which causes me not to desire a Bulldog, is the classic archetypes who come into my mind when I think about this pipe shape - e.g.: What kind of man smokes this shape? What does it say about him, and his sensibilities? What image does he project with this pipe shape, versus some other shape?; etc.
Rightly or wrongly - in my mind - the classic straight diamond stem Bulldog is associated with men who are gruff, terse, non-nonsense, hard-boiled Detective-types; or, that one judgemental Uncle, who, eternally sitting in his recliner, huffing, puffing, and grunting away disapprovingly, while all the time making criticisms of everything which comes out of your mouth whenever you engage him in conversation.
Oh, and he bangs his pipe into his heavy glass ashtray too loudly... but it's okay, his tough "Bully" can certainly take it.
The alternative bowl/stem shape is the bent round Rhoddy, which would certainly solve the imagined discomfiture issue with the stem; but then, to accommodate the bent stem, often the bowls on many of these pipes take on sort of this mushroom-top shaped look; and to me, that looks like something the Leprechaun from the Lucky Charms cereal box might smoke his "magically delicious" tabaks in.
Again, not an archetype nor image I prefer to identify with, nor project.
So, I guess the bigger question really expands beyond just the Bulldog/Rhodesian question, and, as you stated so brilliantly: "Shapes are kind of an inkblot test."; becomes one of: "What does this shape tell you about that man you are, or wish you were, or, would like to identify with; or, is it simply a pratical choice of form, function, and comfort?".
In the event some of our more sensitive Brothers of the Briar, may have taken offense/insult that I do not share their deep passionate attraction to this bowl and stem shape; I do not mean to demean the Bully/Rhoddy; as I am at this time wrestling intently with the notion of adding one to my line-up; with one thing sure, if I ever do, it will need to have a step-down saddle bit.
That's for sure.
So if any of you Bully-Lovers feel personally slighted, understand, I am just sharing my honest thoughts as I answer Tom's great question.
Any complainers who wish to express their outrage after reading my answer should contact Tom directly
- Sherm Natman
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I think Bulldogs have the most "intentional" aesthetic of all pipe shapes, ideally all surfaces are shaped to be flat on at least one angle.
The only bad thing about a Bulldog is you need a ridiculously large piece of Briar to make a good stack.
The only bad thing about a Bulldog is you need a ridiculously large piece of Briar to make a good stack.
I love my bulldogs, and I have them in a variety of shapes and sizes. I only traded on bulldog I owned, for Gerog Jensen, and while I love the Jensen (which completed a travel kit for me, with another Jensen twin) I regret the trade to this day.
I’m pretty sure someone is overthinking this