1970s Charatan's Make Special 311DC

Description, Markings, Measurements:

Charatan holds a very special place in the collective pipe collecting conscience. While there have been many great pipes made in England, for many collectors, Charatan has a certain mystique about it. The "old world" craftsmanship, the rivalry with Dunhill, and the Crown Achievement, touted as the world's most valuable pipe, all contribute to the aura of Chartan's Make.

Here we have a 1960s Charatan's Make Special 373X Bent Apple/Prince. To me this exemplifies the Charatan design aesthetic in that it does not match any shape directly and has characteristics of a number of shapes along with new design language that makes it a unique, whimsical shape.  This piece is in very good shape, with sharp stampings, no toothmarks, barely any darkening around the chamber and intact stem stampings.  There are some handling marks and dings, but other than that, it was lightly smoked and well cared for.

Markings read: CHARATAN’S MAKE, LONDON ENGLAND, SPECIAL, 373X, (Lane "L"). The stem features a nearly intact CP logo.  Since it is not a "Double Comfort" stem, it does not carry a registration number.  Measurements: 6 3/8" long, bowl is just over 1 5/8" wide and just under 1 3/4" tall. The pipe weighs 39 grams. This one is about a Dunhill large group 4 or small group 5 in capacity.

Condition:

9 out of 10. Overall the pipe has factory-crisp stampings, no toothmarks on the original stem, very nice crosscut grain and a clean chamber.  Issues:  Well the biggest one is a significant number of small, shallow pinprick dings and handling marks on the left side of the bowl, as well as a few other handling marks scattered about.  The rim has some slight darkening and very slight rounding, with a couple tiny pinprick dings right on the outer rim edge.  That's it.  If not for the dings and handling marks, this would have rated 9.75 easily.  You could easily get this one refinished and restained and it'd be good as new.  All cleaned up and ready to pack and light.