Astleys was one of London’s most historic pipe and tobacco shops. Like many pipe tobacconists, its owners had pipes made specially to be sold under the shop’s name. Astleys pipes, however, were made by some of the premier pipe manufacturers and artisans in the UK, such as Dunhill, Charatan, Les Wood, and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones of James Upshall. As a result, Astleys pipes are prized for their quality, and as examples of the very finest British pipes.

This Astleys is a large Dublin shape, though one with a distinct forward cant, giving it an almost Zulu-like appearance. There’s a health amount of straight grain around the bowl, but the rim is most impressive, being covered in tightly-knit bird’s-eye swirls. I would wager on this one being either Upshall or Les Wood made, but I can’t say for certain.

The condition is great. There’s some minor handling marks, and what appears to be either a small nick, or natural briar flaw, on the rim, but these are superficial.

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.92 / 23.36mm

Bowl Depth: 1.7″ / 43.18mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 60g