The Pipes Spanu Pipes: Cork-Coated Briar Pipes

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• Over twenty years ago, Tom Spanu came from his hometown, Sardinia, to Gavirate in northern Italy to learn the secrets of pipe design and making from no less than the master himself, Alberto Paronelli.
• Tommaso continues today to make his pipes completely by handout of the best Sardinian briar and according to tradition while implementing his own innovative designs and concepts.
• All Spanu pipes are stamped:  Tom Spanu

 

Pipe Code: SP100 Price: Price: CHF 200.00   Shape: Egg Weight: 57g / 2oz Chamber ø: 20.5mm --  Chamber Depth: 44mm --  Wall Thickness: 14mm --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes

COMMENT: If you don't see the "egg" here, let me give you an idea of how I saw it. Look at the bowl, but upside down, and there it is, in there somewhere! Spanu shows all his skill and experience of pushing the limit when it comes to combining two different materials, the wood and the cork. You see this by looking at the bowl rim, which is all briar, with an edge that kind of covers the cork coating on the bowl. Also, the last part of the shank, where the mouthpiece joins in, provides an excellent reminder of the meterial of which the pipe is made. The mouthpiece has no inserts, and it is as tapered as they come. With a thickness (thinness) of 4mm, you cannot ask for a more comfortable mouthpiece. This becomes even more so when you consider that the mouthpiece is 18mm in width, at its widest point.

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Pipe Code: SP102 Price: CHF 200.00   Shape: Freeform Dublin Weight: 54g / 1-29/32 oz Chamber ø: 21mm --  Chamber Depth: 43mm --  Wall Thickness: 14mm --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes

COMMENT: I have to admit that it is kind of weird to use the word "freeform" in the case of a cork-coated pipe, since the layer itself kind of changes the shape of the bowl slightly, making the well-defined boundaries of classic shapes less discernible. Having said that, the little elf that permanently resides in my brain forced me to do it anyway! What sets this pipe apart from all the other cork-coated pipes on this page is clearly the massive briar shank insert. At this point, I can't say whether it is an insert or simply the end part of the shank, but I can say that it's an educated guess on my part to say it is an insert. The other major feature here is the elegant, unique, and fancy saddle mouthpiece, which fits the good ol' Army Mount way! This comment would not be complete if I didn't draw you attention to the incredibly beautiful Bird's Eye on the bowl top. Gorgeous!

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Pipe Code: SP129 Price: CHF 200.00   Shape: FF Dublin Weight: 53g / 1-7/8 oz Chamber ø: 21mm --  Chamber Depth: 38mm --  Wall Thickness: 13mm --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes

COMMENT: I know that a typical, classic Dublin would have a slightly taller bowl, and hence I added the word "Freeform" to the shape definition. Let me put it another way. If you want a more accurate definition of this shape, you might prefer "Squat Dublin", which I would happily go with. The pipe is quite light in weight, and it is quite balance. I like the looks of the tapered mouthpiece, and I particularly love the beautiful colors of the cork The smooth, natural bowl top shows excellent Bird's Eye, whereas the edge of the shank shows straight grain (or Crossgrain), depending on how you look at it. I would compare the tobacco chamber capacity to that of a Dunhill Group 3-4.

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Pipe Code: SP130 Price: CHF 200.00   Shape: FF Pot Weight: 64g / 2-1/4 oz Chamber ø: 21mm --  Chamber Depth: 40mm --  Wall Thickness: 15mm --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes

COMMENT: It's usually quite easy to explain (justify) the reason why I call a pipe a Pot, which is by giving you the measures of the bowl and shank. In this case, the bowl is 50mm (1.97") in height and 45mm (1.77") in diameter, but the shank is 31mm (1.22") in length. I chose to add the word "Freeform" to the shape definition for one and very simply reason, which is the bowl top shape, which indirectly makes the pipe look more like a Dublin than like a Pot. As you can see, the pipe comes with one of those unique Spanu mouthpiece, which is a very subtle combination of saddle and tapered. I would compare the tobacco chamber capacity to that of a Dunhill Group 5.

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Pipe Code: SP131 Price: CHF 200.00   Shape: Freehand Weight: 66g / 2-11/32 oz Chamber ø: 21.5mm --  Chamber Depth: 45mm --  Wall Thickness: 15mm --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes

COMMENT: There is no doubt in my mind that the only way to describe this shape is by resorting to the illusive term "Freehand". Believe me, I have squeezed my brains to a pulp trying to find a more accurate definition, but I strongly believe that the pipe is indeed so unique in it design that to do it justice I have to go with "Freehand". I hope that the angles at which I took the middle pictures manage to show you why this shape is one-of-a-kind. What I can tell you with certainty is that the pipe is extra large in size, and let me give you a few extra measurements. The bowl is 61mm (2.4") in height and 47mm (1.85") in diameter, the shank is 38mm (1.5") in length, and the total length of the pipe (with the mouthpiece in place) is 149mm (5.87"). I absolutely love the wonderful Bird's Eye that is all over the bowl top, followed by a touch of Flame Grain which must have been the dominant grain pattern because the cork layer was added. I find the overall weight of the pipe more than reasonable considering the extra large size. The pipe, in addition, feels so well balanced in the hand, and if you choose to clench on it, I'm sure that you will be able to do so comfortably and with no compromises.

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