**DISCONTINUED** Hardcastle Supergrain British Made Briar Pipe 101

Unfortunately, this pipe is no longer available. We have left the listing on here for historical reference and interest.

• Overall Length: 145mm
• Overall Height: 45mm
• Bowl Height: 45mm
• Bowl Diameter: 38mm
• Bore: 19mm
• Weight: 42g
• Cloth Pipe Bag
• Gift Boxed

Hardcastle British Made Briar Pipes: Are Hardcastle the beginning of the British revolution in pipe making? We sure do hope so as UK pipemaking has dwindled over the last decade and The black Swan Shoppe is behind them all the way. The Hardcastle brand was founded in 1908 by Edmund Hardcastle before Alfred Dunhill fell in love with the brand and bought it in 1936. This gives the brand a priceless heritage which the company is using to their advantage by reviving the traditional British methods, techniques and shapes. The pipes are made on the original 1900's Lathes that were custom built for the world famous Duncan Briar pipe factory. Only three of the original 6 lathes remain as the others were lost in a bombing raid. Unfortunately the original craftsmen of the 1900's are no longer with us but they do have a Master Craftsman at the helm with over 20 years experience working his apprenticeship under the legendary John Duncan himself followed by periods in Murray frame and love and Ben Wade factories.

Hardcastle Supergrain British Made Pipes: Hardcastles flagship range providing nearly as much pride to a British pipe smokers as the Union Jack itself! We can’t stress how exceptional these pipes are and in our opinion could easily be demanding a price tag of double the current figures. But hey they are made by a British company out of Pride not to line their wallets! Compare the quality of grain pattern on these beautiful pipes to any pipe of twice the price and you will still pick a Supergrain out every time. They use only the most exceptional grades of Spanish Briar which have been hand selected after shaping for superior grain pattern. They are almost flawless with no visible filler or significant inclusions. There are no flamboyant finishes as Hardcastle didn’t want to detract from the stunning beauty of the Briar and they have chosen a rich brown stain which really enhances the grain. The bowls are stained not sprayed like many modern pipes which is more labour intensive but ensures they will never bubble with heat. The mouthpieces are made from a premium Italian Vulcanite stem which is softer on the teeth and is the stem of choice for Alfred Dunhill pipes.

Vulcanite stems: Vulcanite was the material of choice for pipes at the 1900's and still is on premium pipes such as Alfred Dunhill who solely use Vulcanite. Vulcanite is a hard rubber rather than plastic which is softer on the teeth, and easier to make an impression in, making it more comfortable to grip. It can be made thinner and is generally more versatile. In the modern pipe smoking era it has lost favour as it oxidizes so require polishing more regularly to keep looking new and is generally only available in Black which doesn't follow the modern trends of colourful and flamboyant stems.

Unfiltered: The British are renowned for smoking unfiltered pipes when you get the full flavour from the tobacco and the Hardcastle have been designed for the true British traditionalist without a filter in sight.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a generic image that we have taken from a random selection of this pipe model from our stocks. It is unlikely to be the exact pipe you will receive. Due to the nature of the raw material used and this being a handmade product there will be some variation in grain, colour and finish. There could also be a slight variation in the dimensions provided.