The Pipes Duca Pipes: Barone

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• Massimiliano (Max) Rimensi, the maker of the Duca Pipes is a self-taught pipe maker. He loves working with different woods, and his imagination and creativity seem be boundless. As you can see from his models and designs, Max brings a fresh breeze into the Italian pipe market.
  
• All Duca pipes are stamped "Il Duca", "Italy", and the grade (Nobile, Barone, Cavaliere, Conte, and Duca, followed by "D", "DD", or "DDD"). For a complete guide to Duca pipes grading system, please go to: Duca Grading Guide.

 

Attention: This is the only "sandblasted" pipe on this page!
Nomenclature:  DD Mouthpiece:  Acrylic/Lucite Size:  Dunhill Gr. 3, ca.
Pipe Code: DP008 Price: CHF 220.00  Convert Shape: Bell Weight: 43g / 1-17/32 oz Chamber ø: 22mm -- Chamber Depth: 33mm -- Wall Thickness: 14mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes
COMMENT: The "Bell" is definitely the best and most accurately term to describe this shape if you consider that the bowl diameter is 49mm (1.93"), at the rim, and 33mm (1.3"), at the base, with an overall bowl height of 40mm (1.58"). Max did a wonderful job blasting this pipe, and the result is an elegant and uniform grain pattern of Flame Grain all around the bowl. The bowl top, which is in smooth, natural finish, exhibits fabulous, flawless Bird's Eye. While the blast is not so deep, it is deep enough for your to discern the grain of the pipe both visually and by hand. The stain applied certainly plays an important role in the final, overall elegance of the pipe, with a deep, yet light, walnut color. I absolutely love the way the bowl meets the shank, creating a very tight angle; believe me, this is not a simple effect to achieve! The shank comes with what appears to be an antler insert, and the Army Mount mouthpiece is made of acrylic that is meant to have the appearance of genuine amber, without its fragility. The pipe measures 125mm (4.92") in length, which means that we can safely describe it as a "nose warmer".

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Nomenclature:  DDD Mouthpiece:  Vulcanite Size:  Dunhill Gr. 3, ca.

Pipe Code: DP009 Price: CHF 240.00  Convert Shape: Freehand Weight: 40g / 1-13/32 oz Chamber ø: 21mm -- Chamber Depth: 32mm -- Wall Thickness: 13mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes

COMMENT: We have to admit that this is a very, very unusual shape, especially when you consider that it was made by an Italian. I could have avoided the use of the term "Freehand", but I believe the pipe most definitely dictates it. If, however, I had to squeeze my brains out in search of a more familiar and accurate term, I would go with the "Globe", but of course, a lot of other features would be excluded from the description. As you can see, the bowl is in a smooth, natural finish, whereas the shank, which is a tiny one, is a combination of black, sandblasted and smooth, natural. Not only did Max fit the pipe with a very unusual mouthpiece, made of vulcanite, but he also fitted it with a unique, round boxwood insert. I hate to think how labor-intensive and time-consuming the making of that particular mouthpiece was! It definitely shows the passion that Max has for pipe making.

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Nomenclature:  DD Mouthpiece:  Acrylic/Lucite Size:  Dunhill Gr. 5, ca.

Pipe Code: DP032 Price: CHF 240.00  Convert Shape: Freehand Weight: 35g / 1-7/32 oz Chamber ø: 21mm -- Chamber Depth: 47mm -- Wall Thickness: 5-10mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes

COMMENT: This is another pipe that will always have its place in the history of Duca pipe. The reason for this is that it comes with a dark bamboo shank, which the maker is using for the first time. The shank is quite long, measuring about 105mm (4.14 inches), most of it is the three-knuckle bamboo shank. As you may know, this bamboo exists in nature in the color that you see, which means it has not been stained or colored in anyway. The pipe is in the sought-after sandblasted finish, and I must admit that the maker did a great job bringing out the best of the grain through the sandblasting process. The "veins" are both deep and pronounced, and the Ringblast is quite dominant, particularly on the left-hand side of the bowl. The pipe comes with a short, saddle mouthpiece, which has to indirectly bring to mind the classic Lovat; this is particularly the case due to the fact that the shank is round in shape. The egg-shaped bowl also comes with the natural plateau top, which is also a good reminder of the work of nature.

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Nomenclature:  DDD Mouthpiece:  Acrylic/Lucite Size:  Dunhill Gr. 6, ca.

Pipe Code: DP033 Price: CHF 500.00  Convert Shape: Freehand Weight: 68g / 2-13/32 oz Chamber ø: 23mm -- Chamber Depth: 45mm -- Wall Thickness: ->21mm -- Cleaner Passes? Yes

COMMENT: The pipe is technically semi-blasted, though most of it is in a smooth finish. Not only is it mainly smooth, but it exhibits absolutely wonderful Flame Grain, that, according to many people out there, should be described as Straight Grain. The sandblasted part of the bowl confirms the superiority and excellent quality of the grain by showing a wonderful pattern of Ringblast. The shape design is a very, very important part of the description of the pipe. The pipe has so many unique touches that the only fair and accurate way to define it is by the use of Freehand. When you look at the pipe from above, the shape that is most evident is that of an "eye". If you look around the bowl, you also see that it has not two, but four different panels. The shank is tapered in shape, and unlike the bowl, it comes with three different panels varying in the shape, length, and width. No comment can ever be complete without drawing your attention to the breathtaking Bird's Eye on the bowl top.

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