The Pipes Don Carlos: Straight Grain Pipes ("Fiammata")

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Pipe is Graded and Stamped "Fiammata 1 Note"
Pipe Code: DC117 Price: CHF 700.00   Shape: Dublin Weight: 45g / 1-19/32 oz Chamber ø: 23mm  --  Chamber Depth: 41mm  --  Wall Thickness: 11mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes
COMMENT: This pipes represent how impressive the combination of the right shape, the right size and the right grain can be. Usually you find a little lack of balance: The shape would be more special than the grain; the grain and the shape are great, but it's a bit too big or too small, etc. Here, however, all three aspects fall into place with rare balance. You look at the grain, and you can't imagine this pipe to be of a different shape or a different size, and so on. I absolutely love the way the bowl and shank join each other The straight grain is very tight and very fine, sometimes so fine that it gives you the impression that there's no grain, but that's an illusion: The grain is indeed there. Also, there are many but tiny sandpits scattered all over the pipe; I've counted about 20 of them, but you really need to look carefully in order to spot them. The bowl top is all bird's eye. The feather weight of the pipe is impressive, and for some reason, I'm happy that Bruto opted for a tapered mouthpiece. I wonder how many "stars" this pipe would be given if it has the name Dunhill stamped on it!

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Pipe is Graded and Stamped "Fiammata 1 Note"
Pipe Code: DC225 Price: CHF 700.00   Shape: Freeform Billiard Weight: 43g / 1-17/32 oz Chamber ø: 21.5mm  --  Chamber Depth: 35mm  --  Wall Thickness:  12mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes
COMMENT: This was a very close call: Billiard or Pot. After obtaining all kinds of measurements, I settled for the later. Pot it is. The reason behind this is that the bowl diameter is 40 while the height is 44mm. On a Billiard you would expect a more pronounced difference. Why then a "freeform" Pot? Two reasons: (1) I would expect a wider bowl, and (2) I would expect a round shank. As you can see, the shank here is flat, as flat that what you see on a Canadian, but larger in diameter than what you would expect. Apart from all this, the grain is the key here, and I must admit that the pictures don't even get close to portraying the grain on this pipe accurately. With straightforward shape, such as the Billiard and its derivatives, including the Pot, getting good grain is extremely difficult. This pipe would be a treasure if you liked small, straight, classic shapes, with a tobacco chamber comparable to a Dunhill Group 2-3. In fact, I believe this pipe would be a dream come true if you like to smoke pressed tobaccos.

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Pipe is Graded and Stamped "Fiammata 1 Note"  ...  GOLD BAND
Pipe Code: DC226 Price: CHF 800.00   Shape: Billiard Weight: 63g / 2-7/32 oz Chamber ø: 22mm  --  Chamber Depth: 45mm  --  Wall Thickness:  12mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes
COMMENT: Bruto is absolutely head over heels in love with this pipe, and so am I. One of Bruto's ways of showing this is the fact that he personally made a unique GOLD band for the pipe. I, on the other hand, have only words and pictures to show my admiration for the pipe. As you may know, straightforward shapes, and above all the Billiard, are so tough to make with good, consistent grade, let alone Straight Grain as is the case with this pipe. Indeed, the grain is straight all around the bowl, particularly on the two most important sides of the bowl. The bowl top and base show exquisite Bird's Eye. I love the well made tapered mouthpiece which is a key feature of the truly classic Billiard. As for the size of the tobacco chamber, I would easily compare to a Dunhill LB or slightly larger. This pipe, I think, is proof that beauty, elegance, gracefulness, talent, skill, and uniqueness do not necessarily achievable with freehand. This is beauty in its simplest terms, and the effect it creates, I hope, is quite evident and impressive.

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Pipe is Graded and Stamped "Fiammata 1 Note"
Pipe Code: DC227 Price: CHF 700.00   Shape: Freehand Weight: 94g / 3-5/16 oz Chamber ø: 23mm  --  Chamber Depth: 48mm  --  Wall Thickness:  17mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes
COMMENT: This pipe reminds me of the true talent that Bruto has. It indeed reminds me of one of the shapes that ushered Bruto into the world of first-class pipe makers. I happen to have one of those, which Bruto kindly made for me back in the year Don Carlos was launched. Though the pipe is bent, I still smoke it regularly, and I wouldn't give it up for anything. I thought that I wouldn't see a pipe in this shape with better grain that the one I have, but I was wrong. The grain on this pipe beats that on mine, hands down. Sticking with the Don Carlos theme, the Straight Grain on the left-hand side of the bowl is a true symphony (see first picture on the left, first row). The Bird's Eye on the bowl top is simply breathtaking! I love the way the diamond-shaped shank blends in with the rounded bowl base. They join so smoothly and effortlessly I find it difficult to determine visually which of the two flows out of the other!

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Pipe is Graded and Stamped "Fiammata 1 Note"
Pipe Code: DC242 Price: CHF 700.00   Shape: Billiard Weight: 36g / 1-9/32 oz Chamber ø: 20mm  --  Chamber Depth: 38mm  --  Wall Thickness:  9.5mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes
COMMENT: First let me explain the difference in color tones between the first and second row. I took the 4 pictures in the second row without a flash in order to make sure the grain is clear. The true color of the pipe is closer to what you see in the four pictures in the first row. Let me be honest with you. In the case of a pipe in the Fiammata grade, one should concentrate on the grain. However, in the case of this particular pipe, I have to disagree with Bruto on putting this pipe in this grade. I think the Smooth 3-Note grade would have been more accurate. Having said that, the shape is marvellous, and this is what I really love about this pipe. Not only is it a true Don Carlos Billiard, but it is also a relatively small one. I would compare the size of the tobacco chamber to that of a Dunhill Group 4-5. This would make the pipe a true champion for someone who likes straight classic shapes and particularly one who smokes pressed tobaccos. Note also the pipe is quite long for the size of the bowl, and so we could get away with calling it a "Pastime Billiard"; the total length of the pipe is 152mm (a little over 6 inches).

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