Unique and Exceptional: Freehand Pipes

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Especially for newcomers to pipe smoking, the terminology can be confusing: there are serial pipes, handmades, and freehands. But what exactly is behind these terms? Every freehand is a unique piece that exists only once in the world, unlike serial pipes, of which multiple copies exist because they can be reproduced indefinitely.

The Construction

A particularly beautiful freehand pipe In the production of freehand pipes, craftsmanship plays an exceptionally prominent role. All steps and drillings are done completely by hand without the use of templates, CNC, or lathes. The briar block is shaped using a grinding wheel until the pipe achieves the desired form. Even the mouthpiece is handmade from ebonite or acrylic, without using pre-made blanks. The manual drilling of the pipe requires exceptional finesse and was perfected in the 1960s and 70s by the masters of the Danish school. This approach is considered the most exquisite, albeit the most costly, form of pipe making.

Handmades

The term “handmade” is broader. Tools like lathes and turning machines are used in crafting the pipe bowl, especially for straight, classic pipes, where symmetry is particularly important. Some pipemakers also use pre-made mouthpiece blanks. Handmade pipes are often unique pieces, but there are also pipemakers who work with such precision that even small series are considered handmade. There is generally no significant price difference between handmade and freehand pipes, but in the Italian pipe-making tradition, handmade pipes enjoy a high reputation.

In Comparison

Overall, it is difficult to judge and only feasible if a pipemaker provides a fully transparent production process. For the pipe lover, it doesn't matter whether the pipe is handmade or freehand. There is no hierarchy between the two manufacturing methods, and the transitions are often fluid. Some pipemakers don’t bother with such distinctions; they simply make pipes – and that’s the most natural approach. High-quality pieces, mostly handmade, are available from, for example, Dunhill, Castello, or Poul Winslow.

In our shop, we make a distinction only between serial pipes and freehands, counting handmade pieces among the freehands. For you as a customer, this distinction is of little importance. What matters is that in our shop, you will find unique pieces, while serial pipes are available in larger quantities.