England
We suspect that GBD was a pipe maker with the best protection against an industrial espionage. Hundreds of shapes (changed every year), production on both sides of the Channel, lack of accurate dating of pipes could dement any James Bond who attempted to steal even a trifling secret.
But many efforts will give a result even in cases that seem to be hopeless. And we can talk about our today’s pipe in detailes. Of course, it’s easy to identify that it was made in England, not in France. Additionally we can surely claim it to be made in 1970s. That follows from GBD shape and grade charts, where GBD International is mentioned in the 1976 catalogue and the “International” resides in the middle of a grades list. Thus there’s nice middle range English GBD from 1970s with an original box and a sleeve.
The 1626 shape has different names between collectors, we saw both Yachtsman and Cobra. Please don’t worry, the pipe won’t bit you!
The pipe markings are “GBD \ INTERNATIONAL \LONDON MADE”, “LONDON ENGLAND \ 1626”. The length is 13.5 cm, bowl’s hight is 4.7 cm. External dimesions of the bowl are 3.2 and 3.7 cm, internal diameter is 2.0 cm. The depth is 3.3 cm and this pipe weights 32 gr. Briar, vulcanite stem, no filter.The chamber has been protected with a break in paste.
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