French Butz-Choquin Gentleman ROC Dinky No.1 Nosewarmer Pocket Pipe, Saint-Claude

Welcome to Pipe Collectors Encyclopedia, your premier destination for museum-quality estate pipes with comprehensive historical and technical documentation. IDENTIFICATION This is a Butz-Choquin Gentleman ROC Dinky No.1, a French pocket nosewarmer produced in Saint-Claude during the mid-20th century. The Dinky designation indicates a compact, diminutive chamber size favored by commuters and travelers. ROC denotes the line's rusticated finish treatment. HISTORICAL CONTEXT Butz-Choquin was founded in 1858 in Metz, France, by tobacconist Jean-Baptiste Choquin and Gustave Butz. The original Choquin pipe featured a curved stem with flat-bottomed bowl and innovative albatross bone mouthpiece secured by sterling silver rings, establishing the house reputation for cool, dry smoke. In 1951, Berrod-Regad acquired the brand and relocated production to Saint-Claude in the Jura, the world capital of briar pipe manufacturing. By the 1970s, Butz-Choquin produced over 800,000 pipes annually with 180 artisans, earning the Oscar of Export and Gold Cup of French Good Taste. GRADING AND MARKS - Maker stamp: BUTZ-CHOQUIN, Saint-Claude (underbase or side shank) - Line designation: GENTLEMAN ROC - Model: DINKY No.1 - Country of origin: FRANCE - Finish grade: Rusticated (ROC treatment) - Era: circa 1960s-1970s production SHAPE ANALYSIS The Dinky No.1 is a classic nosewarmer or pocket pipe, designed for brevity and portability. The shape features a compact, shallow chamber with minimal depth, a straight or slightly angled shank, and a short, tapered stem. Overall length typically does not exceed 4 inches. BRIAR AND FINISH The pipe displays Butz-Choquin's characteristic rusticated finish treatment, known as ROC. This roughened surface texture conceals minor grain imperfections and provides visual distinction from smooth estate pipes. The briar grain beneath the rustication is to be confirmed pending examination. CONDITION REPORT Overall condition to be confirmed upon detailed inspection. Standard condition assessment will note: rim character, internal chamber condition, stem oxidation or tooth marks, presence of any fills or repairs, and structural integrity. Professional sanitation will be performed prior to shipment. DIMENSIONS - Length: to be confirmed (nosewarmer class approximately 3.5 to 4.0 inches) - Bowl height: to be confirmed - Chamber diameter: to be confirmed (dinky designation indicates shallow, compact bowl) - Chamber depth: to be confirmed - Weight: to be confirmed CLOSING This Butz-Choquin Gentleman ROC Dinky No.1 ships directly from the Faridunhill archive with comprehensive condition documentation. Professional sanitation and worldwide shipping available. SKU: SKU-306