Walt Cannoy Signature Series Suede Blast Apple w/ Silver Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Walt Cannoy first emerged as a major figure in the the North American pipe making renaissance around the turn of the millennium. Originally an R&D mechanic, Cannoy carved and sold his first pipe in 1999, having been inspired by artisan pipe makers as diverse as Preben Holm, Robert “Micoli” Burns, and Joe Mariner. Cannoy would soon rise in the ranks of the North American artisan scene, becoming one of its premier high-grade carvers. While the majority of the pipes that Walt Cannoy makes these days fall under his Cardinal House series, he does, from time to time, still make pipes of another series—the “Signature.” To understand the difference between the two, some historical context is required. When Walt Cannoy first started out as a pipe maker, all of the pipes he made were what would now be called “Signature” series pipes. These pipes were exclusively extra-high-grade and highly labor-intensive works, aspects that were reflected in the acclaim they received and the prices that prices that accompanied them. This remained the case until the mid-2010s, when Cannoy launched a second series of pipes to meet the demands of a growing market for more affordable artisan pipes. The second series was, of course, the Cardinal House, one comprised of pipes that were high-grade and completely handmade, but whose manufacture was able to be streamlined by Cannoy thanks to his 15 years of expertise as a pipe maker. The Cardinal House series was extremely successful and remains so to this day, but for those looking to experience the highest heights of Walt Cannoy’s pipe making prowess, one must look to the Signature series. The amount of time and energy invested in the creation of a single Signature series pipe is orders of magnitude greater than that of a Cardinal House, and the latter certainly aren’t rushed. Furthermore, Signature series pipes feature exclusive forms and finishes, in part because they simply take too much time to be viable for Cardinal House. The “Suede Blast” finish, seen here, is a perfect example of that. Like a few other American artisan giants, such as Lee Von Erck, J.T. Cooke, and Larry Roush, Cannoy has his own, famous, signature sandblasting techniques, one of which is termed the “Suede Blast” due to its resemblance to the fabric of the same name. Though Cannoy’s exact technique remains a trade secret, the Suede Blast is an ultra-fine sandblast relief that can take weeks to perfect for a given pipe. The results, however, are unlike just about anything else in the world of pipes, yielding a sublime sensation for the eye and the hand. This particular example marries the Suede Blast with a classic apple form, accented with a collar turned from sterling silver and fitted with a mouthpiece hand-cut from German NYH Cumberland rod.   Details: Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm Bowl Width: 0.76 / 19.30mm Bowl Depth: 1.16″ / 29.46mm Weight: 1.3oz / 38g