Not many instances of this inventive shape are found online. Stephen Downie has one up, and not to say anything negative about the pipe-I’d gladly own it any day were the pipe gods feeling benevolent-but Mr. Knets takes this shape higher.

While Downie’s pipe, from a lateral view, is dominated by the two horizontal lines that frame the bowl at the top and make it rest on a point below, Mr. Knets uses only one diagonal that defines the flow of the bowl, from the outside edge of the rim to the bottom undergirding below, curving gracefully at the diagonal ends. To me this one feature takes his design from whimsical to masterful.and is the calling card of the higher degree, above. Unlike a blowfish with its reiteration of wandering lines pulled together in the end, this line is more or less, by itself, the chief element of this beautiful design.

Second of importance, for me, is the expansive front end of the bowl which when viewed from the front is formidable, confronting the eye by that area with birdseye brilliance; which brings me to a few remarks on the fantastic grain. Mr. Knets positioned the grain in the standard manner for this type of block, mostly birdseye with a bit of cross on the front and back of the bowl, as well as on top of the shank.

Finally, the pipe is a bit longer than standard length, 6.55” to be exact, and its longer extension makes the pipe seem somewhat gracious, the pipe inviting itself to be smoked.

Michael Brennan Smith