Originally released as part of our Return of Sherlock Holmes series (1992-1997), this squat, slightly bent interpretation of the Bulldog shape was first designed by German pipemaker Jan Harry Seiffert (son of Detlef Seiffert, who was the godson of our own Harry Kapp). Intensely muscular and crisp of line, it's a comforting, stout shape with classic appeal.

The Sherlock Holmes Dark Smooth line presents all our fabled, Sherlock-inspired shapes in a rugged, earthy rustication, accented by broad sterling silver bands and traditional, jet-black stems.

In 1987, we released a special commemorative pipe to celebrate the 100th anniversary of A Study in Scarlet, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first novel in the Sherlock Holmes universe, originally published in the November 1887 issue of Beeton's Christmas Annual. The pipe was a tubular, almost trumpeting Calabash shape: an XL version of the 305(b) System first designed by our senior craftsman, Paddy Larrigan. That design is better known today as the Original.

Before his retirement, our dear Larrigan went on to create the prototypes for each of the seven shapes in the Original Sherlock Holmes Collection, released between 1989 and 1991, all of which were inspired by people, places, or important artifacts from Doyle's stories. Continuing with that theme, we followed those first Sherlock Holmes designs with The Return of Sherlock Holmes line (1992-1997), ushering in an additional seven original shapes, as well as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series (2011), in which we added an additional four signature models.

Collectively, these pieces would comprise one of our most popular and sought-after series, one we still produce today in a variety of finishes, all banded with sterling silver and stamped with the series' logo, itself inspired by a silhouette of Basil Rathbone with a 4AB System (Large Dutch Billiard) clenched between his teeth.