Pulvers' Prior Briar
P.O. Box 61146
Palo Alto, CA  94306

Phone/Fax:
(650) 965-7403
Email:
mpulvers@aol.com
Pipe
Categories:
Joura Infinity A #530036JJ
Just another example of purity of form.  This is Karlo Joura's
metier.  He is a pipe maker, and as much as he can sculpt in
briar, he refuses to let the creative process dictate what he
creates.  Rather, he lets the function, the requirements of a
perfect smoking instrument, do the dictating.  Very, very few
adhere to that rule today, getting swept up in trends and
popularity.  If you knew Joura, you'd know he isn't easily swept.
5.5" long, bowl 2" tall. Weight: 2 oz., 55 grams. Price: $1320
Frank Axmacher Grade C #5102799
Pretty pipe, huh?  What you can't see is that it is slightly
asymmetrical, with the right side (as you're holding the pipe)
effecting a slight concave curve.  It still sits up.  It is as well
proportioned as it looks.  New. Price: $375
5.6" long, bowl 1.98" high. Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 45 grams.
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Rainer Barbi #1225059EM
this Barbi is graded BA, which I mention only because I think it's
a convenient way to make it look as though I'm doing my job of
describing the pipe.  In fact, Barbi's grading system was not
only Byzantine, as if that weren't enough of a deterrent, but he,
by his own frequent admissions, graded pipes based on current
market forces and how much money he needed at a given time.
Well, I hate grading systems as I'm more than comfortable with
letting the pipe speak for itself.  This one is new, and it says:
5.1" long, bowl 1.45" tall.  Weight: 1 3/8 oz., 39 grams. $850.
Tom Richard #308141
The grain doesn't make a perfectly horizontal ring, but as it
goes all the way around, from top to bottom, I think it's very
reasonable to call this a ring grain.  Great size for an Apple as
it fits so comfortably in the hand.  It is both new and unsmoked.
5.6" long, bowl 1.7" tall.  Weight: 1.5 oz., 43 grams. $265.
Rainer Barbi #308091 (SOLD 5/15/12)
I haven't tested it, but I would not be surprised if Barbi used real
amber for this stem.  It has that nice warm amber feel to it and it
sure looks like it, including the black spots under the surface
(no flies, alas) that do not come in lucite, I am sure.  The rest of
the pipe is just great straight grain, no bowl coating and open
draw.  The bowl is big enough for my thumb to fit inside.
6" long, bowl 2.2" tall.  Weight: 2 oz,, 56 grams. price: $1450
Moritz #5225388   
From the long of it to the short of it.  A true nose warmer.  The
blast reveals a subtle, but quite true, ring grain from the top to
the bottom of the bowl.  And it is not too short to enjoy the bowl.
4.15" long, bowl 1.3" high.  Weight: 1 oz., 30 grams. New. $325
Rainer Barbi #308081
I did not intentionally hoard Barbi pipes, but there were some in
that collection I purchased in italy a few hears back and as I
went through the bag of pipes, I noticed the three that will soon
be posted here.  This one is given a very high AA grade, and it
is clearly a beautifully sculpted briar, with a tall, capacious bowl
and fine straight and flame grains.  The draw is wide open.
5.65" long, bowl 2.55" tall.  Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 60 grams. $2000
Cornelius Maenz Collector for  Rattray's #421139JJ
This Maenz design also can take a 9mm filter.  It is a new pipe and
part of a series that a German company produces to support
individual German artisan pipe makers.  We have no company in this
country doing anything so clever.  the band is European sterling.
5.35" long, bowl 2.2" tall.  Weight: 2.5 oz., 72 grams. $145.
Rainer Barbi #6270031PC
What we have here is a piece of pipe history; this is the pipe
that appears in the book "Pfeifen" by Rolf Rutzen as
representative of Barbi's finer work, and was chosen by Rainer
as a pipe he wanted shown.  The condition here is excellent,
with just a little black carbon showing on the rim.  I'm sure it can
be easily removed, but 1) I ain't touching it, and b) why bother.  
The pipe is very comfortable and meant to be smoked.  For
those who can't tell a good pipe from a bad one, it is graded AA.
6" long, bowl 2.2" tall.  Weight: 1 7/8 oz., 54 grams. Price: $750.
Bertram Safferling #1225049
Bertram produces about as few pipes a year as any full-time
pipe maker.  It is his only job, yet he refuses to speed up
production with machines.  I doubt that any pipe maker does
anywhere near as much hand work as does Bertram, although I
do believe Wolfgang Becker may do as much hand sanding.
6" long, bowl 2.15" tall.  Weight: 2 5/8 oz., 76 oz.  New. $450.
Joura Free Hand #1149523JJ
You have no idea how difficult it was to get Joura to make
sandblasts for us.  We begged, pleaded, cajoled and even
offered to have the stems done for him.  Finally, he succumbed.
Here is one of them.  Why he calls this grade "Free Hand"
(actually, it's written FreiHand, which is, of course, in German) I
have no idea.  All of his pipes are made free hand, and he is
remarkably adept at it; I don't think you can believe the level of
his skill until you see him make a pipe.  
5.35" long, bowl 1.65" tall.  Weight: 1 3/4 oz., 50 grams. $880.
Barbi A1 #1149544JJ
Has this shape actually been named the Cobra or am I
deceiving myself?  it is a little bit like the Elephant's Foot, but I
would save that description for a flatter front.  Nonetheless, it's
a shape that shows off a lot of Bird's Eye at the front.  This is a
large pipe with a deep bowl.
6.45" long, bowl 2.5" tall.  Weight: 2.5 oz., 70 grams. $2450
Rainer Barbi #1123130JC  (SOLD)
There's a lot of Barbi in this pipe, most pointedly in the way the
bottom of the pipe has that boat-like bottom that comes to a
point.  You can sort of see it best in the top photo.  The
condition is excellent and the draw is wide open.  Both the blast
and the stain are top notch.  The red highlights under the black
stain are what Dunhill used to do...back when they were able.
This pipe can take, if you so choose, a 9 mm filter.  
5.3" long, bowl 1.9" tall.  Weight: 1.5 oz., 43 grams. $425.
Joura King #1149504
Long periods go by when the wood simply does not exist to
produce a King grade.  The bonus on this is the shape and
style, making it a great pipe to hold and smoke.  I would guess
most King's get put away as collectors.  Still, that's very few.
5.35" long, bowl 1.8" tall.  Weight: 2 oz., 58 grams. $7200
R. Wallenstein Chieftan Balance #913114 (SOLD 3/9/12)
This might be one of the more conventional shapes designed
by Wallenstein.  He just happens to be a very whimsical pipe
maker who loves having fun with the medium of briar.  This
piece is new and can take a 9mm filter, if you so desire.
It's medium sized with a good capacity tobacco chamber.
5.4" long, bowl 1.8" tall.  Weight: 2 oz., 57 grams. Price: $105.
Joura A #530040JJ
This pipe is a bit small; maybe a Grp. 3 in size, or more
accurately a 3.5.  The bottom of the shank is flat, so yes the
pipe sits up, but more than that, it displays Bird's Eye grain
along its entire length.  For those who like a narrow stem, this
one will win your heart with its comfort.  After having just
returned from the Chicago show and looking at a lot of pipes by
a lot of pipe makers, I am more and more a Joura devotee.
5.2" long, bowl 1.85" tall.  Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 45 grams. $880.
Tom Richard #308131
It looks like Tom brought some of his training as an architect (I
can think of at least 3 top level pipe makers who were
architects in previous careers) to the design of this pipe.  the
shank treatment is particularly creative and I'm always a sucker
for the two-tone approach.  The draw is, of course, open and
the hand feel good.  This is a new "name" pipe for a great price.
6.15" long, bowl 1.5" tall.  Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 61 grams. $295
C. Manz for Rattray's #1123192JJ (RESERVED)
Designed for Rattray's by Cornelius Manz, this pipe, as with
about 95% of all German made pipes, can take a 9mm filter.  If
you simply ignore that aspect of the pipe, you'll be fine.  I have
a Barbi that can take a 9mm filter and I always forget about that
aspect of the pipe until I start cleaning it.  Notice the clean wood.
5.4" long, bowl 2" tall.  Weight: 2 3/8 oz., 68 grams. Price: $195.
Rainer Barbi #6270278JJ
Two aspects of the master at work here.  Perhaps most
importantly, we have what appears to be his porous, absorbent
Ligurian briar.  I think this was Barbi's favorite wood.  I often
heard him inveigh against the heavier, denser, but prettier
grained pieces from more southerly regions.  Secondly, despite
the 3/4 bend, the pipe takes a cleaner to the bottom of the
bowl, with perhaps, a minimal twist of the cleaner.  I'd call it a
Grp. 5 in size.  It's certainly at least that large.  
5" long, bowl 1.95" tall.  Weight: 1 3/4 oz., 51 grams. $1135.
Rainer Barbi #6270267JJ (RESERVED)
A wide open draw and pipe that takes a cleaner straight
through to the bottom of the bowl (I gave it a little twist, but that
was it) is a fair representation of Barbi's work.  The bottom of
the bowl shows nothing but Bird's Eye grain from the straight,
Ligurian grain that surrounds the bowl.  There's a subtle stone
trim and a marvelously flat, comfortable stem.  
6.1" long, bowl 2" tall.  Weight: 1 7/8 oz., 54 grams. Price: $2080
Rainer Barbi #6270262JJ
I don't know if Barbi would have called this a Blowfish bowl, but
it certainly contains elements of that shape.  The pipe is much
more comfortable in the hand than the majority of Blowfish
pipes I've held and the stain is a bit darker than it shows here.  
Not much, but a bit more towards the walnut.  It's also pretty
large, with the bowl able to accomodate my thumb.  The trim is
bone.  I don't think Barbi would use plastic.  I've never seen it.
5.85" long, bowl 1.9" tall.  Weight: 2 oz., 55 grams. Price: $1130
Rainer Barbi #6270253JJ
If you look carefully at the top picture, you'll be able to discern
that the bowl is nearly flat over the shank, making this a tricorn.
The pipe has a delicate, refined feel.  Looking at the data, I can
see that it's quite light.  In size, it's approx. a Grp. 4 and the
draw is wide open.  Again, the wood appears to be the very
hygroscopic, absorbent Ligurian briar, Barbi's favorite.
5.4" long, bowl 1.75" tall.  Weight: 1 1/4 oz., 37 grams. $1135.
Tom Richard #308138
This is a wonderfully sized little pipe.  it's not that small, and I
should perhaps have used the word "compact."  The description,
or thought, that comes to mind is that it's just right, in size &
weight,  for grabbing and running and shoving in a jacket or coat
pocket and having handy.  the bowl grain is good, and the
plateau top let you know that it was taken from the best part of
the burl.  The stem color is worth discussion, but it is different.
5" long, bowl 1.8" tall.  Weight: 1 1/4 oz., 35 grams. $265.
C. Manz  for Rattray's #913119
One of the designer pipes made for a series honoring the great
German pipe makers.  The pipe is new and can take a 9mm
filter is the smoker so desires, although i can't imagine why
anyone would want to do that to the draw of a good pipe.
the bowl here is large, but the shape and thick walls keep the
tobacco chamber from being overly large.  
5.4" long, bowl 2.1" tall.  Weight: 2 7/8 oz., 57 grams.  $175.
Joura A #308235
Another example of near perfection in a smoking machine by
perhaps the best purist still extant, Karlo Joura.  The open draw
and the size and shape conspire to provide as good a smoke
as you are likely to get, plus his hand picked Sardinian briar is
perhaps the sweetest wood of them all.  I think so.
5.25" long, bowl 1.9" tall.  Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 45 grams. $880.
Roger Wallenstein Design by Chieftan #308291JJ
The wit and whimsy of Roger Wallenstein (a pen name) comes
blasting through in this handsomely designed piece which, by
the way, sits up on the bowl bottom. It is extremely well
balanced.  For those of you who like to use the 9mm filter, this
pipe takes one.  Almost all German pipes do.
5.5" long, bowl 1.95" tall.  Weight: 1 7/8 oz., 54 grams. $150.
Joura Grade 9 #421048
As testimony to their superb smoking properties, we see very
few Joura pipes in the secondary market.  This delightfully
sculpted cross grain is in near-new condition.  The draw is
near-perfect (maybe it's perfect...at that level, it's hard to know)
and it's balanced so that it sits up on the bottom of the bowl.
5.95" long, bowl 1.9" tall.  Weight: 1.5 oz., 42 grams. $520