Sandblasted Gronkle '55' with Bakelite (909) Tobacco Pipe

A Montana native and the man behind Yeti pipes, Micah Cryder became fascinated with pipe making after smoking a pipe for the first time in high school. His passion for the craft became intense and all encompassing, and he eventually quit his barista job and left university to pursue pipe making full-time. He's now one of America's premier pipe makers, garnering considerable praise for his unique shaping style, handsome finishing work, and mind-boggling attention to detail.

One of Cryder's signature shapes, the Gronkle is striking design defined by a Bulldog-like bowl, a plateau-crowned rim, and a flattened, pointed heel. Those aforementioned features are all present with this "55" rendition, alongside the addition of a firm, structural paneled shank, which mirrors the rigid, architectural aesthetic present at he bowl. Almost Acorn-like in its appearance, the bowl here tapers from a conservative heel to a broad waistline accentuated by a subtle ridgeline, which marks the start of the rim's steady upward taper. Said taper terminates at a ring of plateau that lends a touch of asymmetrical organicism to the shape's silhouette. The plateau's rich texture is continued by the stummel's finish, which takes the form of a rugged, inky sandblast that draws out rippling growth rings across the bowl's flanks. A stylized stem of horn-hued Bakelite completes the ensemble, its vibrant complexion standing out sharply against the rest of the pipe's shadowy hues.