What's The Rap On The Bulldog Shape?

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Imma big bulldog fan, which I guess is why I was tagged in a post, and called here.
No one has mentioned it's beginnings. So, here is a my reader's digest version. On the old slot and peg fraising machines, this pipe shape was the easiest to crank out, as it left very little clean up to make the shape. Faster production. The double cone lent itself to being capped in the earliest versions. Some of the caps even lending it to look closer to a billiard. But, here is a picture of one that is just ornately capped.
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Most of these making the online trades have had their caps removed, probably because the thin brass is easily dented and damaged.
The name baffles me though, and only two reasons for it come to mind. One being the Englishman's love of this shape and the reference it makes to Churchill. And, the second being the way it looks all chocked up on a workingman's maw, chucked up tight like a bulldog carrying a bone.

I just like them because of their uniqueness in pipeshapes and because of the way the enhance the smoking experience, as mentioned in previous posts here. Thickness for cooling the pipe, tight and chocked up when clenching, the ease of carrying and holding the diamond stem, and durability when tucked into a pocket. Then add in their history in pipemaking production.

I am very finicky about the angles of the double cone and the curl from bowl to stem in the stummel, which makes me not very fond of any of Savinelli's bulldogs nor Peterson's bent in particular. There are a few other pipe companies that disappoint me ion their designs also, but the French and English in particular seem to hit the nail on the head for me. Also, when some of the Danes make one, they really, really appeal to me.

If you don't like the bulldog, then great. Less people getting in my way when I see one that I really want. I have exactly 62 bulldogs of different sizes and proportions. They never cease to amaze me.
 

haebar

Can't Leave
Nov 10, 2014
348
6,245
East Tennessee
Much as I like the bulldog shape, this thread made me realize that I only have one bulldog in my rotation. I hardly ever smoke it because it won't clear a pipe cleaner; it's a Ben Wade second that I bought when I was in college at the University of Georgia back in 1983. I keep it for nostalgic reasons. The bulldog is so different from the other pipe shapes that it is often seen as being ugly by some. Here's my Ben Wade second:

Ben-Wade-Second-002.jpg
 

Kingsley

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 16, 2020
280
1,888
25
PA
I have a Savinelli Tortuga Bulldog in my collection, and it’s easily one of my favorites, not that they all aren’t, though. I adore the angles, bowl is decently sized, and it smokes like a dream. On top of that, the mouth feel is surprisingly fine, so, personally, I’ve never had a bulldog treat me unkindly.
 

meoget

Lurker
Jan 25, 2021
21
51
I have a Wessex 601 that I absolutely love to smoke. Bulldog/Rhodesian is a great shape. I'm sure I'll buy another one, but I think my next pipe purchase is going to be a smooth finish prince.
 
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Some of my favorites...
hilson.jpg
I love the forward tilt of this Hilson Giant. Almost 7" long with a very sizable chamber, it makes for a great smoke for long hikes on the beach, paired with Key Largo and a coconuty beverage.

stefano.jpg
While I am not a fan of rusticated textures, this Stafani has a bowl prominent shape that I love. It is a favorite of mine for latakias and burley blends.

savineli.jpg
I was looking for the perfect Savinelli Capri Root texture when i found this one. I really don't like most of Savinelli's bulldog shapes, but this one, tall and lean, with a long shank hit the spot. It is a favorite of mine for Virginias.

tinsky.jpg
This Tinsky has a long story to it, along with several other threads I posted about my dealings with Mark. I still respect this artisan, and I still love this pipe, even though it caused a lot of stress between Mark, Skip Elliot, and myself. Long story short, it fell apart in my car on the way home with it, brand new from the Briary. Skip noted that the split was in the way he used the ornate wood, without physically attaching the briar and stem fittings. Skip tried to make Mark fix it, and he offered me a coupon on a discount on a new one instead. I wa slike, just send it back, and I will fix it, but no no no, he just had to do it himself, and in the process he removed his stamp on the stummel. Ha ha. Sensitive little artisans. puffy But, I acquaint the ire of Mark probably came more from Skip than me., as he was the one doing the inbetween negotiations. But, it has led up for years now, and I still love the design. It is almost a daily driver for me.

custom.jpg
I made this one from a box of ancient turn of the century French stummels that I bought from Skip. I made the stem and the gold work, also setting a 2 carat sapphire on the other side. Every pipe show I go to when seen smoking this one, it is inevitable that someone will offer to buy this one from me, but when I give them the price for me to let go of it, they usually think me obscenely rude, ha ha. But 18k gold and top quality gemstones comes with a price. If you want it, you have to make it worth my while. $3000, or top bidder... because I'd rather just smoke it than sell it. It is a favorite of mine for smoking aged VaPers, and if we meet at a pipe show, I will probably be smoking this one and fending off people trying to buy it from me, ha ha. Oh, and it is about 7" long also, and dangles nicely as I peruse the pipes for sale. Note my shimmer and glints of striking blues from the stone as I pass by.

I could go on and on... but these just happen to be what I have photographed handy.
Tall ones, skinny ones, short and stocky, squat, large and small, I am a bulldog fan. Just don't try to give me one where the shank meets the bowl without a backslide in the cone design like most Petersons or Savinellis. I am not sure shy this little design flaw repulses me so. It may just be the way I am programed.

One more...
Zach hamric.jpg
Ohhh, just one more. I picked this up from our once moderator Zach Hamric. I believe he told me that Harris (aka Cigrmaster) had rejected this one for one reason or other, which made it appeal to me even more than it being an awesome example of an extended cone bulldog stacker. Ha ha. Yeh, there are some sways in the cones that stand out to me, but I believe that to be just the way the sandblast made the lines of the shape off a bit, but I do love smoking this one, when I want a tall bowl for stoving a Virginia as I smoke. A very yummy Virginia bowl, IMO.

Anyways... I'm needing to get back to work. Maybe I will post some more at a later date.

Keep it smokey.
 

chuckDJeesus

Lurker
Dec 26, 2020
23
47
Got my first bullie for Xmas from my son. A Savenelli Regimental. Nice pipe. Love the shape and the feeling in the hand. It's perfect. Now trying to fix up an old Brebbia from my pops. More of a Rhodesian but also a favorite shape of mine.
 
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telescopes

Pipe Dreamer and Star Gazer
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 :LOL: - Sherm Natman
Did you write all of this before, while, or after smoking your pipe? Quite frankly, I’ve had the same thoughts as of late.