CHARATAN’S Make Special 012

July 9, 2016January 10, 2019

England, 1950s

A nice classical English lovat pipe made during the family, “pre-Lane” era. You may see that the shape number is located on the left side of the shank (from the smoker’s perspective) together with other stampings, what is typical for the Ruben era. So the pipe was made in 1950s, hardly much earlier: the Special series was more characteristic for the last “family” decade and the Lane period.

The pipe markings are “CHARATAN’S MAKE \ LONDON. ENGLAND \ SPECIAL”, “012”. The length is 13.2 cm (5.2″), bowl’s height is 4.8 cm (1.89″). External diameter of the bowl is 3.8 cm (1.5″), internal diameter is 1.9 cm (0.75″). The depth is 3.7 cm (1.46″) and this pipe weights 35 gr. Briar, vulcanite stem, no filter. The top of the bowl was slightly corrected to remove a few chips around it. The chamber has been protected with a break-in coat.

CHARATAN'S
CHARATAN’S MAKE Executive
February 2, 2021February 2, 2021
England, 1960-70s A Charatan’s pipe of “the second Lane era” (1965-76), the period of the brightest blossoming of this brand, delightful shapes and grains, which eclipsed all others pipe makers including Dunhill. There’s no shape number on the pipe – it was made by one of the leading carvers at this factory regardless any catalogues….
Read More CHARATAN’S MAKE Executive
CHARATAN'S
CHARATAN’S Make Executive bulldog
May 30, 2017December 29, 2018
England, 1960s A Charatan’s pipe of “the second Lane era” (1965-76), the period of the brightest blossoming of this brand, delightful shapes and grains, which eclipsed all others pipe makers including Dunhill. There’s no shape number on the pipe, thus it was made by one of the leading carvers at this factory regardless any catalogues….
Read More CHARATAN’S Make Executive bulldog
CHARATAN'S
MADE BY HAND unsmoked
October 29, 2016January 7, 2019
England, 1960s The stamping “Made by hand in London City” was absolutely typical for the Charatan’s second Lane era (1965 – middle of 1970s) pipes. This unsmoked sample was perhaps predetermined to become at least an upper middle grade pipe, but a couple of scratches (or surface neat cracks?) changed its destiny quite dramatically and…
Read More MADE BY HAND unsmoked
CHARATAN'S
CHARATAN’S MAKE Aristocrat 61
August 7, 2025August 7, 2025
England, 1950s This pipe clearly dates from the final years of Charatan’s “family” period: the shape number still appears on the same side as the rest of the nomenclature, and the circled “L” began to appear on Charatan’s pipes shortly before the company was acquired by Herman Lane, primarily on products exported to the USA….
Read More CHARATAN’S MAKE Aristocrat 61
CHARATAN'S
CHARATAN’S MAKE Special 321
January 16, 2014February 9, 2019
England, 1960s In 1863 Charatan’s family left Russia, and we can take a tumble why. Almost 100 years later their business was sold to Mr. Herman Lane, who at his time escaped from Germany (and we are pretty sure why). Hence the Golden era of the most creative and valuable English pipe brand began. At…
Read More CHARATAN’S MAKE Special 321
CHARATAN'S
CHARATAN’S MAKE Selected 55
December 1, 2018December 13, 2018
England, 1950s A pipe of the second Charatan’s higher grade next to the highest “Supreme”. It seems the pipe was made before 1960 – the shape number is located together with the nomenclature on the left side of the shank like it was on “family era” pipes. The encircled “L” is not a misunderstanding –…
Read More CHARATAN’S MAKE Selected 55