Dr Plumb Cortina Rustic Briar Pipe

• Overall Length: 123mm
• Overall Height: 40mm
• Bowl Height: 40mm
• Bowl Diameter: 38mm
• Bore: 18mm
• Weight: 37g
• Filter: Metal Condensing
• Gift Boxed

Dr Plumb Cortina Rustic Briar Pipe

The Cortina Rustic is the workhorse of the Cortina family. Same traditional Dr Plumb approach, but this time the briar has been given a deeply textured black finish that looks rather good after it's spent a few years being used.

Dr Plumb dates back to 1925, originating as a more affordable line connected with GBD's French operation. The name came from Leslie W. Plumb, secretary to GBD sales manager J.B. Rubinovich. The story goes that Mr Plumb had a certain aptitude for doctoring the accounts, and one of pipe smoking's more memorable names was born.

This Cortina uses a familiar Bent Billiard shape, with a substantial rounded bowl, gently rising shank and lightly curved black fishtail mouthpiece. It's an easy, comfortable profile and one that suits an everyday pipe particularly well.

The difference here is that black rustic finish. Rather than polishing the briar smooth, the surface has been heavily textured, producing deep ridges and irregular patterns across the bowl and shank. Apart from giving the pipe a much more rugged appearance, a rusticated surface is generally rather forgiving of the little knocks and marks that inevitably arrive with regular use.

There's still some contrast amongst all that black. The high points of the rustication catch the light, while smoother sections around the rim, shank and stem transition stop the pipe looking like a lump of coal somebody has fitted a mouthpiece to.

The Cortina is fitted with Dr Plumb's traditional metal filter system and finished with a straightforward fishtail bit. Current UK listings identify the Cortina specifically as a briar pipe with a metal filter and fishtail mouthpiece.

It isn't delicate, fashionable or particularly interested in impressing anybody.

It's a black briar pipe built to be smoked. After over a century, Dr Plumb has evidently decided not to complicate matters.