G. W. SIMS

November 23, 2025November 23, 2025

England, 1960-70s

As Pipedia notes, “G.W. Sims was one of the few English pipe makers who produced Danish style freehands carved from specially selected plateau briar. Mr. Sims willingly made pipes to personal specifications”.

Today, we have the pleasure of presenting an example of just such work by the former Charatan’s carver and later an independent London artisan. Everything is as promised — both Danish style and plateau briar. It is also evident that the customer appreciated the pipe, as it shows signs of having been smoked very carefully and with affection.

Pipe markings “G.W.SIMS \ LONDON MADE”
Length 13.1 cm (5.16″)
Bowl Height 5.6 cm (2.2″)
Outside Diameter 4.0 cm (1.57″)
Chamber Diameter 2.0 cm (0.79″)
Chamber Depth 4.3 cm (1.69″)
Weight 46 gr.

Briar, acrylic stem, no filter.

The pipe has been thoroughly cleaned, polished, sanitized and now is ready for a new life.

BEN WADE
BEN WADE Hand Model Roma
May 11, 2023May 11, 2023
This English-made Ben Wade Hand Model pipe is a unique and surprisingly effective piece. Its simple shape beautifully accents the fantastic birdseye grain on the left side of the bowl. The nomenclature corresponds to the Lane era times, but the stamping “ROMA” on the pipe is a bit unusual. Your thought regarding this would be…
Read More BEN WADE Hand Model Roma
G. W. SIMS
G.W. SIMS “A”
February 14, 2016January 19, 2019
England, 1960-70s G.W. Sims (just the modest G.W., though some consider that he was George) is known from the first half of the XX century, and the first pipes of the artisan (and at times a repairman) were marked even more modestly – “GWS”. According to some sources, G. W. used to work for Charatan’s…
Read More G.W. SIMS “A”
BEN WADE
Ben Wade (relief grain)
October 31, 2021October 31, 2021
England, 1960s This attractive freehand is not different from the Lane era Charatan’s make Relief Grain series pipes, and this is not surprising: the pipe was made at the same factory during the same period by the same carvers. Actually we don’t see any convincing reasons why it was stamped Ben Wade, not Charatan’s Make….
Read More Ben Wade (relief grain)
... MORE DANISH
HOLTORP
January 24, 2017September 26, 2022
Denmark, 1960s Who knows how would look modern smoking pipes without the incomparable influence of the “Danish miracle” and many efforts performed by Danish artisans and resellers such as Pipe-Dan. P. Holtorp was one of young talents working for Pipe-Dan in 1960s among with Sven Knudsen, Gert Holbek, Axel Svend Celius, Tom Eltang. “…the majority…
Read More HOLTORP
ERIK NØRDING
NØRDING 5
July 21, 2018December 13, 2018
Denmark, 1970-80s A nicely made Danish freehand from Erik Nording. The pipe comes the most probably from the 1970-80 when his old grading system was applied (A to F and 1, 2, 3….). An exquisite middle size smooth freehand pipe with attractive distinct grain!
Read More NØRDING 5
BEN WADE DENMARK PREBEN HOLM
PREBEN HOLM Ben Wade Danish Hand Model 100
August 7, 2025August 7, 2025
Denmark, 1970s Every work by Preben Holm — the brilliant Danish artisan and founder of the freehand pipe art — reveals a profound sensitivity to briar, along with a masterful use of its grain and structure to craft truly unique pieces. Today’s example also showcases his remarkable engineering intuition. Creating an object of such complex…
Read More PREBEN HOLM Ben Wade Danish Hand Model 100