Charles Rattrays Monarch Black 5 Briar Pipe

• Overall Length: 151mm
• Overall Height: 48mm
• Bowl Height: 48mm
• Bowl Diameter: 41mm
• Bore: 20mm
• Weight: 57g
• Filter: 9mm
• Cloth pipe bag included

The Charles Rattray’s Monarch Black 5 is a model of traditional British pipe design — a straight billiard done to exacting standards and finished in a muted matte black that lends it an air of quiet dignity. No frills, no fuss, just a clean-lined workhorse meant for those who value balance, tradition, and a faithful draw.

The proportions are classic — a tall, cylindrical bowl with just the right amount of wall thickness, joined to a slender shank reinforced with a gleaming nickel mount. The 9mm filter option modernises the experience without compromising the old-school charm. It’s the sort of pipe one might find resting in the ashtray of a country solicitor, a well-worn volume of Churchill’s speeches nearby.

The billiard shape has long stood as the template for all pipes, and rightly so. It’s a shape that’s endured for over a century because it works — straightforward to pack, easy to clean, and cool to smoke. Rattray’s, founded in 1911 by Charles Rattray of Perth, have built their reputation on this kind of integrity — no gimmicks, just excellent pipes for discerning smokers.

Whether filled with a sturdy English mixture or a mellow Virginia, the Monarch Black 5 offers a reliable companion for the daily ritual — one of those pipes that quietly becomes a favourite without fanfare.