Why two Carved Rings on Bulldogs and Rhodesians?

[Briar Lee]

Standard pipe shapes are older than any of us, and we’ve come to expect certain styling cues on Billiards, Apples, Pots, Bulldogs, Rhodesians, etc.

The difference between a Bulldog and a Rhodesian might be a square shank and a round or oval shank, but often both have two carved rings on the outside of the bowl.

If there were more than two the original purpose might have been a sort of radiator that would help cool the bowl.

But the style seems settled on two, not three or one, rings and it seems they serve no real function, except for style.

But carving those rings adds to the time it takes to fashion a Bulldog or Rhodesian, there’s always the chance of messing up the pipe carving the rings, and there had to be the first pipes sold that established the styling,

My guess is the rings were part of the first machine fraized Bulldog and Rhodesian shaped pipes and were placed there to hold the briar in the machines. After that other makers had to copy the rings to sell their pipes.

Maybe there’s a Bulldog or Rhodesian expert that can shed more light on this mystery.

 

[Sonorisis]

I always assumed that the lines were to improve the purchase on the pipe with one's fingers and to help cool the spot where the smoker holds the pipe. I know the lines work that way for me, but I have no expertise in the matter.

 

[telescopes]

Of course, not all Bulldog or Rhodesian pipes have these rings. My Hardcastle and Kristiansen bulldog pipes do not. But most of mine in that style do have the rings. The bulldog is such a stated classic, isn’t it?

 

[craig61a]

Nothing more than a style element. The block would have been chucked at the bottom, or the chamber. Cutting the rings would be similar to using parting bit on a lathe.

Pipes are mounted in a fraising machine at the shank or the chamber, and not held in place by "rings" cut at the periphery of the bowl...

 

[Aomalley27]

I’ve always followed the rule “If it’s taller than it is wide; it’s a bulldog. If it’s wider than it’s tall; then a Rhodesian.”

*This, despite the fact that I’m a Peterson fan; and they differentiate by shank.... round v diamond.

 

[anotherbob]

because it was really an impressive feature when they started making them. Really set them apart.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Paul Huber of Larrysson pipes told me a Bulldog was defined by the angles of the top and bottom halves of the bowl equal 90 degrees and a square shank. Two of my favorite shapes regardless.

 

[anotherbob]

another answer. It makes it look faster when you go running with the pipe. People call them bead lines, but they're racing stripes. That bowl shape is an attempt at aerodynamics.

 

[username]

another answer. It makes it look faster when you go running with the pipe. People call them bead lines, but they're racing stripes. That bowl shape is an attempt at aerodynamics.

Do red tone stained pipes smoke faster?

 

[anotherbob]

Do red tone stained pipes smoke faster?

nope, but they look faster.

 

[OzPiper]

The original name is a "bead line"

You can find Peterson Bulldogs with a line of beads instead of the 2 parallel grooves.

I think they are a style" rather than a functional element
They look rather cool, even if they don't result in a cooler smoke.

 

[rdpowell]

That's like asking why does a Bulldog have a Diamond shank?

 

[mso489]

I think those are called bead lines. I have always assumed they are to accentuate the shape of the bowl. Several brands have made a style out of leaving them off. I have always held in high esteem the shaping of the Dr. Grabow Royalton which I believe was made by a resident senior carver, who I suspect has retired, because the shape no longer is offered as a new pipe. It was an extraordinary shaping job.

Likewise, one of the standard GBD shapes is a bulldog without bead lines. I like both bulldogs with and without, but I think it takes more chops to carve a bulldog without bead lines and have it look sharp. Likewise, I greatly admire carvers who vary the finish above and below the bead lines. Bob Hayes, the late award winning N.C. carver did some great examples of those.

 

[kcghost]

Nowadays it seems that Bulldog or Rhodesian is defined as none, one or two rings.

 

[Streeper541]

Because three wouldn't fit and four would've just been considered showing off.

 

[mortonbriar]

There was a similiar thread a while back, I think this is it...maybe I am remembering more than one.

bull

 

[didimauw]

Those lines are actually just there to catch all the lint and dust in your pockets.

 

[rmpeeps]

They define the “dog collar”.

 

[jpberg]

For heavens sake. Welcome to Pipe 101.
A bead is is a ring that has a larger diameter than the rest of the bowl.
Rings that are carved into a bowl are called “rings that are carved into a bowl”.
Beads are rare. Mass producers won’t take the time, and most “artisans” think they’re too tough/time consuming to bother with.