Northern Briars Premier
Ian Walker’s Northern Briars pipes are very unusual in that they are the only pipes that are entirely handcrafted on board an English canal or narrow boat. Ian and his wife purchased the NB Sable in 1997 which serves as both residence and Ian’s pipemaking studio. According to British law, the boat can only be moored at one spot for two weeks. So every fortnight Ian moves his house and workshop to a new location on one of the thousands of canals and rivers in England.
This piece is an older Charatan style that back in the day was called After Hours. Charatan fashioned these to be a gentlemen's long last smoke of the evening, gracing the many London gentleman's clubs with Latakia smoke. Ian tends to prefer larger pipes, this one being a Group 5 equivalent at 6.75 inches long with a 2 inch bowl height. The shank is fitted with a gold mounted horn accent slightly tapered to match the Cumberland stem.
Ian is a third-generation pipemaker with his grandfather leaving Duncan Briars in 1958 to form Northern Briars with his son Peter as a pipe repair service. Ian had his start at the family business in 1972 and began making pipes in 1983. He is one of the few remaining artisans continuing the English handmade pipe tradition.
Northern Briars Premier
Ian Walker’s Northern Briars pipes are very unusual in that they are the only pipes that are entirely handcrafted on board an English canal or narrow boat. Ian and his wife purchased the NB Sable in 1997 which serves as both residence and Ian’s pipemaking studio. According to British law, the boat can only be moored at one spot for two weeks. So every fortnight Ian moves his house and workshop to a new location on one of the thousands of canals and rivers in England.
This piece is an older Charatan style that back in the day was called After Hours. Charatan fashioned these to be a gentlemen's long last smoke of the evening, gracing the many London gentleman's clubs with Latakia smoke. Ian tends to prefer larger pipes, this one being a Group 5 equivalent at 6.75 inches long with a 2 inch bowl height. The shank is fitted with a gold mounted horn accent slightly tapered to match the Cumberland stem.
Ian is a third-generation pipemaker with his grandfather leaving Duncan Briars in 1958 to form Northern Briars with his son Peter as a pipe repair service. Ian had his start at the family business in 1972 and began making pipes in 1983. He is one of the few remaining artisans continuing the English handmade pipe tradition.