Travers LaRue is one of those rare American pipe names that feels half workshop, half campfire legend. Working out of the Virginia Tobacco and Pipe Shoppe in Langley on Whidbey Island, Washington, LaRue made hand-cut briars from roughly 1972 until his death in 1983, turning out scarce freehands and classics with serious Northwest soul. The documented lore is strong: old Sardinian and Grecian plateau briar, hand-cut work, signature pieces…real one-of-a-kind LaRue pipes.
These weren’t catalog pipes. They were island-made, low-output, smoke-first pieces from a man working outside the big factory machine, back when an American artisan could still carve like he had something to prove and nobody looking over his shoulder. A true Travers LaRue has that “found treasure” energy — rare as hen’s teeth, tied to Whidbey Island history, and carrying just enough mystery to make collectors lean in hard. Not flashy for the sake of it. More like a handmade knife from a man who knew exactly where the edge belonged.
Professionally restored. Stem is 9/10. Come and take it.
Follow my shop for choice pipes and color commentary, uploaded regularly and original pipes hand made by me, uploaded occasionally. I REGULARLY STOCK 100+ ESTATE PIPES SO CHECK OUT MY OTHER AUCTIONS
Keywords – briar smoking tobacco pipe rare vintage antique estate pipe potato
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Measurements available upon request.
My shipping is a little more than some. I use UPS (unless it's going to a PO Box or non contiguous US) because UPS has a 98% success rate versus USPS at 87.5%. I have a dedicated UPS representative who goes above and beyond in the rare case there is a shipping issue. Three-ish dollars is worth the peace of mind in my opinion.
