Savinelli 320KS

This is a pipe I acquired during my Ebaying days. I have since given up on Ebay as there are some amongst us who are willing to pay way over the odds for what amounts to a beaten up old briar and they tend to overbid on anything marked up as being “vintage”, “rare” and “collectible”, even though all three statements are more deceptive than descriptive.
This particular pipe is neither one of those three but I wanted an author shape in my rotation and this fat Savinelli caught my eye. I got it for the princely sum of $35.oo which I believe was a bargain. In very good condition and hardly smoked at all when I got it, I have put it to good use over the past two years. It is quite heavy as pipes go and not one I would have hanging from my teeth for any length of time but it does smoke very well even if it is bored to take a filter. I removed the filter and inserted the customary plug into the recess. (Without the plug it whistles like a football referee on steroids!)

Not the nicest piece of briar I have ever seen with a badge from a knot (?) on the front of the bowl but, as I said, it caught my eye and the shape is very pleasant. I’ve looked for fills and can’t find one so, all in all, I’m pleased with the thing and wouldn’t part with it now. This is the fifth Savinelli I own and I may have to entertain the thought of getting more from the same factory. To give some idea of the size of this delightful instrument, the shank is 24 mm in diameter where it meets the bowl and tapers back to 22 mm at the stem The button is 17 mm broad and 7 mm thick. See further down for other dimensions.

The pipe is stamped very clearly with “Champagne”, from the line of that name, “Savinelli Product” under the shank and “320KS Italy”. All the markings are clear and crisp. The savinelli logo is imprinted on the stem but as the white has worn off, it is barely visible. The pipe is decorated with a thin yellow metal ring and a vinyl ring ends the stem.

The chamber diameter invites mixtures. Although this pipe does smoke well on Virginias, it really shows its value with a good English mixture such as Dunhill 965 or even Petersons Old Dublin.

Dimensions:

Bowl:  50 mm at he broadest point.
Chamber: Ø22 mm x 32 mm deep.
Height: 42 mm.
Length: 142 mm.