The Pipes DG Pipes. Grade: D

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• As he lives close to Italy's biggest briar supplier, Gabriele Dal Fiume is fortunate enough to go and select his briar, piece by piece.
  
• Due to the fact that Gabriele has a full time job, he can dedicate only a small part of his time to pipe making; this means that his annual production is extremely limited.
  
• All Gabriele's pipes are stamped "DG" (Dal Fiume Gabriele), with the grade (A, B, C, D, E, F, and Dal Fiume). For a complete guide to DG grading system, please go to: DG Grading Guide.

 

Pipe is stamped: "D" ~ "05" ~ "70", plus the butterfly.
Pipe Code: DG032 Price: CHF 590.00  Convert Shape: Flower Weight: 48g / 1-11/16 oz Chamber ø: 19.5mm  --  Chamber Depth: 30mm  --  Wall Thickness: 15mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes This pipe is comparable in size to a Dunhill Group:  3 An alternative way to view all the pictures of this pipe is: The SlideShow.
COMMENT: The bowl shape apparently has some floral inspiration behind it, or at least this is how I see it. Let's just hope Gabriele is not reading this and disagreeing with me! Though the bowl walls are quite thick, the pipe overall appears to be so delicate. A big part of this is due to the slender two-knuckle bamboo shank and of course the very, very delicate unique Fishtail mouthpiece. In fact, when I asked Gabriele how come the mouthpiece doesn't have the DG logo, he simply said that there was no room. The mouthpiece and the two inserts are made of acrylic though they give the impression of being Cumberland. There are two small visible sandpits that are fortunately tucked away from the critical eye underneath the shank. Thanks to the comfortable mouthpiece, the pipe should prove to be very comfortable and well balanced to clench on.

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Pipe is stamped: "D" ~ "05" ~ "84", plus the butterfly.
Pipe Code: DG033 Price: CHF 590.00  Convert Shape: Freehand Weight: 58g / 2-1/32 oz Chamber ø: 19.5mm  --  Chamber Depth: 36mm  --  Wall Thickness: ->21mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes This pipe is comparable in size to a Dunhill Group:  3 An alternative way to view all the pictures of this pipe is: The SlideShow.
COMMENT: This is an extra, extra long pipe. The entire pipe from the mouthpiece button to the outer side of the bowl measures about 190mm (7.48 inches). As you can see from the pictures, the two sides of the shank are different from each other: One shows a straightforward shape similar to the classic Dublin while the other seems to be a straight slap (or cover) that goes around the bowl from top to bottom. You see the uniqueness of the design when you look at the pipe from one of the two remaining sides (the one facing the shank and the one opposite that). The right-hand side of the bowl (see second picture, first row, from left) shows a visible sandpit; however, due to the darker stain used, you really need to look closely to spot it. There's nothing special about the grain in general, but I have to point out that the Bird's Eye on the bowl top is gorgeous, and it is thanks to the stain, that Gabriele managed to bring it out. The short tapered, acrylic mouthpiece is a little too thick, in my opinion, to make this pipe comfortable to clench on, though the button is high enough to hook the mouthpiece between your upper and lower teeth. In addition, and if you prefer to hold your pipes, then I don't see any problem with the mouthpiece. By the way, I did use an extra long cleaner to run the test, and the pipe passed the test with flying colors.

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Pipe is stamped: "D" ~ "05" ~ "146", plus the butterfly
Pipe Code: DG045 Price: CHF 590.00  Convert Shape: Freehand Weight: 43g / 1-17/32 oz Chamber ø: 19mm  --  Chamber Depth: 35mm  --  Wall Thickness: ->13mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes This pipe is comparable in size to a Dunhill Group:  3-4
COMMENT: If you know me, you should be wondering why I used "freehand" here instead of my favorite, "Freeform Lovat". Well, first because I believe the pipe has a lot more to offer than even a freeform Lovat, and second, because it is ever so slightly bent. I'm totally and unconditionally in love with this pipe. The bowl shape is fabulous, and the three-knuckle mouthpiece is to kill over. The pipe is unstained, and yet, due to a secret process, Gabriele managed to bring out the Flame Grain around the bowl and the Bird's Eye on the bowl top and base. The short saddle mouthpiece seems to be very, very comfortable to clench on, and once the pipe is clenched on, I'm sure it will offer some attractive visual balance, thanks to the bowl shape and the slight bend on the mouthpiece.

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Pipe is stamped: "D" ~ "05" ~ "40", plus the butterfly
Pipe Code: DG046 Price: CHF 590.00  Convert Shape: Freehand Weight: 54g / 1-29/32 oz Chamber ø: 19.5mm  --  Chamber Depth: 40mm  --  Wall Thickness: ->16mm  --  Cleaner Passes? Yes This pipe is comparable in size to a Dunhill Group:  4 An alternative way to view all the pictures of this pipe is: The SlideShow.
COMMENT: Like a lot of DG pipes, this shape has a lot to offer than what first meets the eye. It's like the pipe has two personalities, each of which is revealed depending on the side of the bowl you're looking at. If you look at the first picture (from left, first row), you see what could be described as a "freeform Apple"; the last picture in that row shows the other face, which is a complicated freehand, with twists and grooves. That's not all. When you look at the pipe from the top, you start to grasp the idea behind the shape design and realize the amount of time, effort and skill that must have been invested in its production. The shank alone is worthy of a whole comment of its own, but one of the pictures in the second row is meant to illustrate that aspect. The amber-color mouthpiece is made of acrylic, with a very thin boxwood insert.

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Pipe is stamped: "D" ~ "07" ~ "83"
Pipe Code: DG071 Price: CHF 540.00  Convert Shape: Freeform Bell Weight: 29g / 1-1/32 oz Chamberø: 20.5mm -- Chamber Depth: 32mm -- Wall Thickness:->15mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes This pipe is comparable in size to a Dunhill Group:  2
COMMENT: I always hate to have to use the word "freeform" with a shape that is, in and by itself, a freeform of another shape. In this case, the Bell is a freeform Dublin. It's just that in the case of this pipe, I didn't want to use the easy term "Freehand", since it doesn't really say much, other than "hey, I have no idea what this is!". On the other hand, I don't see the word "Bell" as an accurate description of the shape, considering the numerous touches that deviate from the basic shape. Whatever the shape is, this is a gorgeous pipe. While the grain is not great around the bowl, the Bird's Eye on the bowl top is fabulous. The bowl shape is oval measuring, at the rim, 41x51mm. The bowl also has an ever so slight cant on the bowl, which is emphasized more by the oval shape of the bowl. I love the angle that was created between the bowl and the shank (the "neck" of the pipe). What I really, really love about the pipe is the very elegant and short, two-knuckle bamboo shank, followed by a tapered black acrylic shank insert, and then by a long, tapered mouthpiece. You just won't believe how delicate and well made the mouthpiece is. It measures 3.8mm in thickness and 9-13mm in width. Such a mouthpiece is the ultimate proof that an acrylic mouthpiece can be as comfortable as a vulcanite one!

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Pipe is stamped: "D" ~ "07" ~ "97"
Pipe Code: DG072 Price: CHF 540.00  Convert Shape: Freehand Weight: 36g / 1-9/32 oz Chamberø: 21mm -- Chamber Depth: 34mm -- Wall Thickness:11mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes This pipe is comparable in size to a Dunhill Group:  3
COMMENT: In order for me to offer a more accurate shape description here, I would have had to use at least 4-5 words, and hence my decision to go with Freehand. The bowl shape is closest to the of the Poker, but again, the bowl is so conical that we can't discuss the shape without making some reference to the Dublin. Moreover, the shank is quite long and round, with a short, tapered mouthpiece, which means that some mention of the Liverpool is indispensable. You see, how could I fit all that in a word or two. I'd like to add to the above a few more sentences. First of all, note that the bowl top is concave, which adds a whole extra dimension to the overall shape design. The shank is an elegant three-knuckle piece of bamboo that measures an average of 9mm in diameter. You will also notice that there is a slight gap between the acrylic shank insert and the mouthpiece. Well, this is not really a gap; the mouthpiece was shaped and designed this way to allow a bit of distance between the mouthpiece and the rest of the pipe. Speaking of the mouthpiece, this is another extremely slender and comfortable mouthpiece; it measures 4mm in thickness and 14mm in width. The grain is Flame pattern all around the bowl, with some fabulous Bird's Eye on the bowl top. Due to the flat bowl base, the pipe can sit on its own on a flat surface, which is always a welcomed addition.

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Pipe is stamped: "D" ~ "07" ~ "101"
Pipe Code: DG073 Price: CHF 540.00  Convert Shape: FF Apple Weight: 37g / 1-5/16 oz Chamberø: 19.5mm -- Chamber Depth: 36mm -- Wall Thickness:->13mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes This pipe is comparable in size to a Dunhill Group:  4
COMMENT: With all the breathtaking DG pipes with light-colored bamboo shanks that Dal Fiume produces, it was not enough. It took Gabriele at least a couple of years of hard work and perseverance to get his hands on a stock of dark-colored bamboo, and the pipe you see here is one of the first such pipes to be made and offered for sale. Note that the color of the bamboo is NOT the result of the maker's application of a stain or any other process. This type of bamboo is found in this dark color in nature, but it is extremely hard to find. I've always been fond of pipes with bamboo shanks, but now that I have seen this type of bamboo, I know that my collection of these pipes will soon be as substantial as my finances permit. The dark color of this bamboo somehow manages to fit more discretely with briar and acrylic, without ever failing to make its presence evident. I always appreciate the fact that the knuckle of this bamboo are usually of a lighter color than the stem itself, which makes the bamboo shank itself a lot more beautiful and intriguing. Though there is no doubt in my mind that the best way to define the bowl shape is by using the classic term "Apple", I have to draw your attention to the rest of the pipe, which deviates from the classic Apple. The shank is long (and round, of course), with a short tapered mouthpiece. These two features are directly associated with the classic Liverpool. To deviate even more from the Liverpool, which is straight, Gabriele added a slight bend on the shank and mouthpiece, creating what I would call an 1/8 bent. Finally, the pipe comes with exceptional Flame/Straight Grain all around the bowl, and some gorgeous Bird's Eye on he bowl top and base.

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