The Pipes Spanu Pipes: FR Grade

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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 Stamped: FR    ~    Other stamps: 2004
Pipe Code: SP065 Price: CHF 170.00   Shape: Stack (Chimney) Weight: 55g / 1-15/16 oz Chamber ø: 22.5mm --  Chamber Depth: 43mm  --  Wall Thickness: 12mm  --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes
COMMENT: This pipe is the biggest and most classic in this FR grade. The bowl stands at 52mm (a little over 2 inches) tall. The shank is probably a little longer than what you would expect, and that's led me to measure both the height of the bowl and the length of the shank. If they were equal (or the shank a tiny bit longer), it would have been defined as a Billiard. But, it's not. The shank is 45mm (1.77 inches) long, with the black acrylic band included. The briarwood band is part of the saddle mouthpiece, not the shank. I would compare the tobacco chamber size to a Dunhill Group 6.

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Pipe Stamped: FR    ~    Other stamps: 2004
Pipe Code: SP066 Price: CHF 170.00   Shape: Plateau Dublin Weight: 52g / 1-27/32 oz Chamber ø: 22.5mm --  Chamber Depth: 47mm  --  Wall Thickness: 12mm  --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes
COMMENT: If you're a Gemini and you like the shape, then I really, really recommend it. Let me explain (mind you, I tend to have a twisted mind when it comes to pipes ;-): The pipe is two in one. You look at it from one side of the bowl and you see a 100% black rusticated pipe, but then when you look at the bowl from the other side, you see a 100% smooth natural wood. Hence, the two personalities! Add to this the fact that the pipe has a gorgeous plateau top, a very attractive shape, an Army Mount, and the most elegant of tapered mouthpiece, complete with a thin briarwood band, and you have a born winner. Size-wise, I would compare the tobacco chamber to a Dunhill Group 5, considering that it's conical.

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Pipe Stamped: FR
Pipe Code: SP087 Price: CHF 170.00   Shape: Freehand Weight: 49g / 1-23/32 oz Chamber ø: 20.5mm --  Chamber Depth: 40mm --  Wall Thickness: ->14mm  --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes
COMMENT: If you know me, then I expect you are surprised by my choice of "Freehand" to describe this shape! Well, I did that because nothing else would do the pipe justice, not even Freeform Apple/Billiard. Actually the bowl can be seen as egg-shaped by some people. The whole trick here lies in the uppermost part of the bowl, with that particular shape that Spanu created. The shape of the bowl kind of reminds me of an antique vase or clay pot. Note also how fully bent the pipe is, and you can see that more clearly by looking at the tight angle between the bowl and shank. Indeed, you can't help but think of the classic Oom Paul (Hungarian). The smooth segment of the pipe is definitely larger than the rusticated part, and I have to add that the grain is absolutely fabulous, a blend of Flame Grain and Bird's Eye.

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Pipe Stamped: FR
Pipe Code: SP125 Price: CHF 170.00   Shape: FF Brandy Weight: 49g / 1-23/32 oz Chamber ø: 20mm --  Chamber Depth: 37mm --  Wall Thickness: ->15mm --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes
COMMENT: It's such a rare opportunity to describe a pipe as a Brandy, since this shape is so hard to come back, though I have always regarded it as one of the most attractive traditional shapes. Of course, the pipe is not an exact reproduction of the classic Brandy, but I find that it comes pretty close, closer than to any other classic shape. As you can see, the pipe has two different faces, considering that on one side, it's all rusticated, whereas on the other, it's in a smooth, natural finish. Also the shank is in a smooth finish and is further enhanced with a sweet, green, acrylic insert, which paves the way to the tapered, acrylic mouthpiece. I would compare the tobacco chamber capacity to that of a Dunhill Group 3-4.

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Pipe Stamped: FR
Pipe Code: SP126 Price: CHF 170.00   Shape: Plateau Dublin Weight: 53g / 1-7/8 oz Chamber ø: 21.5mm --  Chamber Depth: 45mm --  Wall Thickness: 11mm --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes
COMMENT: This pipe was very obviously meant to be a Straight Grain pipe, since this is exactly the kind of grain that the bowl shows. In fact, the grain is not only straight, but it's impressively so. To the benefit of its future owner, that was not to be. It was destined to continue to show this fabulous grain but be sold for the price of a much lower grade, the "FR" (semi-rusticated). I like the way Spanu rusticated the pipe, since it minimized any heavy-handedness and in a way added a touch of elegance. Another unique and rare feature of this pipe is the plateau top, which Spanu kept due to its obvious quality and uniformity. The slightly longer than usual shank also adds a sweet touch to the whole shape, followed by a classic, tapered mouthpiece. The tobacco chamber is quite conical in shape, which is believed to be even more conducive to even and regular combustion. I would compare the tobacco chamber capacity to that of a Dunhill Group 4-5.

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Pipe Stamped: FR
Pipe Code: SP127 Price: CHF 170.00   Shape: XL Billiard Weight: 68g / 2-13/32 oz Chamber ø: 20.5mm --  Chamber Depth: 47mm --  Wall Thickness: ->14mm --  Cleaner Passes?  Yes
COMMENT: Here's a truly MASSIVE Billiard, and to make this point as clear as possible, let me give you some more measurements. The bowl is 55mm (2.17") tall and 36-46mm (1.41-1.81") in diameter. The total length of the pipe, with the mouthpiece in place, is 143mm (5.63"). If you like large pipes, you will understand the absolutely unbelievable value that this pipe offers. When you also consider that it's only half rusticated, and the smooth part is in a natural finish AND shows some very exceptional Flame Grain and Bird's Eye, you realize that it's a deal that you rarely see. To add fuel to the fire, I have to tell you that I have a feeling that this piece of briar is particularly aged, and that is based on informed intuition (the dark color tones of the wood and how it absorbed the stain). I strongly believe, therefore, that this pipe is not only good looks and good value. It'll turn out to be a champion when it comes to the smoking quality.

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