Help: Comoy's "Specimen" 77008 Magnum (Huge!) Sitter

[Humblepipe]

I purchased this pipe with the intention of adding it to my personal collection. It just arrived from a contact in the UK. I like my pipes on the larger size, but this one is way to magnum for me. It's 8" long, with an ID of just over 1", and a bowl height of 3.5"! I am going to sell it, but was hoping to glean some info from somebody who knows more than me. The COM stamp (circle with “MADE” at the top, “IN” in the middle, and “LONDON” at the bottom, with “ENGLAND" in a straight line beneath), according to Pipedia was first used in the early 1950s. It's got the “three-piece C" inlaid on the stem, but the only tells us this is a pre-1980s pipe. The nomenclature (left side of shank) is "77008". Here are some photos:



(This photo is NOT from the pipe, but is a clearer photo of what the stamp looks like)

 

[AroEnglish]

I can't help with identifying anything about the pipe but I can help identifying a potential buyer for this behemoth.

Paging @Chasing Embers

 

[sablebrush52]

So, that’s what happens when briar gets hit by an Alien heat ray!

 

[AJL67]

Sorry I can't help but love the pipe, never seen a pipe with that affect for a base.

 

[Humblepipe]

Sorry I can't help but love the pipe, never seen a pipe with that affect for a base.

Yes... very unique. If it was not so huge, I'd keep it. It's near perfect!

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Circle COM over England is 1950's<, three piece C is pre Cadogen <1980's

(From:A HISTORY OF COMOY’S AND A GUIDE TOWARD DATING THE PIPES, By Derek Green)

Specimen Straight Grain. I am not sure when this grade was first produced, but it probably appeared just before the Second World War. This certainly was the top grade from its introduction. It is described in my 1965 catalogue as “The rarest and finest of all Comoy pipes. It is so unusual to find a completely perfect straight grain that shapes and quantities are strictly limited.” It was priced at $50 in 1943 and 1965. Jacques Cole recalls that, in the 1950s, there was a very large bent that was reckoned to be about the “perfect” Straight Grain. It was not for sale but used as an exhibition piece and valued then at £500.

 

[Hillcrest]

It looks like a Hawkbill, Cutty, Rhodesian Bulldog sitter ... an entire collection in one pipe for the frugal collector ! Well done Comoy !!

 

[kcghost]

In any event it is way too damn big for me!! Jeesh, it's big!!

 

[Humblepipe]

Circle COM over England is 1950's<, three piece C is pre Cadogen <1980's

(From:A HISTORY OF COMOY’S AND A GUIDE TOWARD DATING THE PIPES, By Derek Green)

Specimen Straight Grain. I am not sure when this grade was first produced, but it probably appeared just before the Second World War. This certainly was the top grade from its introduction. It is described in my 1965 catalogue as “The rarest and finest of all Comoy pipes. It is so unusual to find a completely perfect straight grain that shapes and quantities are strictly limited.” It was priced at $50 in 1943 and 1965. Jacques Cole recalls that, in the 1950s, there was a very large bent that was reckoned to be about the “perfect” Straight Grain. It was not for sale but used as an exhibition piece and valued then at £500.

This is excellent info. Thanks, brother.

 

[Humblepipe]

I am curious about the 5-digit nomenclature "77008". I was not able to find any info about what (if anything) a 5-digit nomenclature can tell us about a make-date range, etc.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I am curious about the 5-digit nomenclature "77008". I was not able to find any info about what (if anything) a 5-digit nomenclature can tell us about a make-date range, etc.

I suspect that number is not so mucha shape number as it is a serial number, it might be unique to that pipe.

 

[jguss]

…it probably appeared just before the Second World War.

From what I can tell Derek Green was exactly right. I first find it in the 1939 Tobacco World Fancy Goods Brand directory.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I can't help with identifying anything about the pipe but I can help identifying a potential buyer for this behemoth.

Paging @Chasing Embers

I despise bulldogs and rhodesians. After getting that broken Yanik owl, my interest in any new pipes has mostly declined. I've got too many anyway.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I don’t have anything to offer other than the shaping is reminiscent of those pipes shaped like a woman’s leg, except in this case he went after honesty rather than allure.

Also as for the stamp. The 77 and 008 almost look like two seperate stamps.

 

[simong]

Gorgeous looking pipe!
Reminds me of the ‘Freehands’ & ‘Uniques’ that Comoys & GBD did back in the early 80’s. Cadogan era Comoy’s also have 5 digit serial numbers but the stamping of your serial number looks pre Cadogan. Good luck dating it, could be a 5 pipe problem!

Here’s one of the ‘Uniques’ from the 80’s. Bears a slight resemblance to your comoy.

 

[Humblepipe]

Gorgeous looking pipe!
Reminds me of the ‘Freehands’ & ‘Uniques’ that Comoys & GBD did back in the early 80’s. Cadogan era Comoy’s also have 5 digit serial numbers but the stamping of your serial number looks pre Cadogan. Good luck dating it, could be a 5 pipe problem!

Here’s one of the ‘Uniques’ from the 80’s. Bears a slight resemblance to your comoy.
View attachment 305827

I see the resemblance! Thanks, Simon.

 

[Humblepipe]

I misspelled "specimen". Apologies. Unable to edit... wish they would fix that! Now my spelling issue is forever memorialized.

 

[Hillcrest]

I don’t have anything to offer other than the shaping is reminiscent of those pipes shaped like a woman’s leg, except in this case he went after honesty rather than allure.

They're called love handles.

 

[Ahi Ka]

They're called love handles.

I’m more concerned with that dislocated knee cap

 

[Hillcrest]

I’m more concerned with that dislocated knee cap

Easier to catch !