▲ (Underside)
K.A.(In rectangle)
8013
▲ Dating: a four or five-digit number, where the last two digits show the year of construction and the 2 or 3 first digits identify the serial number of the pipe. (i.e. 8013 = 80th pipe carved in 2013).
Artisan: Konstantinos Anastasopoulos (born in 1980) started pipe carving in 2011 with the help of Kostas Gourvelos.
Production: ~ 100-150 pipes/year
▲ V V V V Old Briar Straight Grain
(US market pipe)
▲ A, Kai Nielsen, Hand Made in Denmark, Old Briar
( EU market pipe)
Kai Nielsen (born 1951) is the son of Viggo Nielsen and brother of Jorgen Nielsen.
Grading: "Jewel of Denmark" is the highest grade reserved for the finest pipes.
US market grading (ascending): 1 to 4 "V"
EU market grading (ascending): "D" to "A"
Some pipes crafted by Kai are stamped "Viggo Nielsen" and additionally signed "Kai Nielsen".
Do not confuse Kaj C. Rasmussen with Poul Rasmussen or Anne Julie Rasmussen or Kent Rasmussen which all are danish pipe carvers.
All the Rasmussen here.
Artisan: Hans Kallenberg (retired)
Brand created by the grandfather Heinrich in 1919. Today (2011) Frank Peter Filß (Hans' pupil) continues the Kallenberg production.
Brand created in 1965-66 by Karl Erik Ottendahl (1942 - 2004 †). In the best years he employed up to 15 craftsmen among which Bent Nielsen (see Benner) and Peder Christian Jeppesen.
Former grading (ascending): from 4 to 1, and "Ekstravagant" (entirely hand made)
See also: Ottendahl, Champ of Denmark, Golden Danish, Knute of Denmark, Shelburne
Artisan: Karl Kristian Olsen
He repairs any pipes and has his own handmade production.
Outrup Pibeservice, Lykkesvej 11
DK-6855 Outrup - Denmark
Phone +45 75 25 14 00
Artisan: Karsten Tarp (born 1954) started his carreer at the Bari pipe factory. He left the company after several years and established on his own as a part-time carver. He went full-time carver in 2010.
Gradings (ascending) named after Viking ships types:
Some pipes are stamped "Top grading", "Elephant Trunk", or "Crown".
[Cat] Ken
Artisan: Ken'ichiro Dederichs-Uchida is born in Japan and lives in Germany. He started making pipes in 2005.
Markings: Only a signature and a cat logo. No grading.
Other pipe maker stamping a cat on his pipes: Brishuta
▲ (Underside)
KENT, Handmade, Denmark [Butterfly]
▲ (Underside)
Kent
Handmade Denmark
* * * (3 stars)
Artisan: Kent Rasmussen (born in 1961) started making pipes in 1998.
Grading (ascending): no stars, 1, 2 or 3 stars.
The butterfly is the hightest grade.
▲ (Underside)
Kevin Arthur (in circle)