The Origiinal Devil Anse

[smoker13]

Does anyone know who the artisan was who made Kevin Costner's namesake "Devil Anse" pipe for the movie "Hatfields and McCoys"? I imagine there had to be more than just one made, as there always is in a major movie with a prop that is so central to a main character.

Also, while we're at it, does anyone know if this pipe shape actually has a historic precedence? Was it based on any other pipe from the past or was it really just dreamed up for the character's role? If the latter, whoever thought it up should be honored in some way, as it has really established itself as a modern standard pipe shape in a short time, when you think about it.

 

[Richard Burley]

Nice observation; I agree. I haven't seen the entire series, or movie, or whatever it was, but do they roll the credits at the end? Virtually everybody that had anything to do with the show is usually listed in tiny print if you care to notice. Short of that, I would write Kostner and ask. Screw rumors. I have an Anse made by Todd Harris, and I love it.

(Edit: Costner. Might help if I spelled his name right.)

 

[smoker13]

My case in point, Richard. Just about every pipemaker today includes a Devil Anse pipe as part of their regular offerings.

I've been tossing it around my aging brain since I posted and I thought about this: The Cutty. Now, this is about as close a shape as I can think of as a standard shape that bears some resemblance to the Devil Anse. Just shorten the stem, in some cases, and you could have a passable one. Which brings me then to the origins of The Cutty(!) When I see one of these pipes all I can think of is old time sailors or, of course, clay pipes in ye olde taverns.

Could the Cutty be the Papa of the Devil Anse?

 

[Richard Burley]

...Could the Cutty be the Papa of the Devil Anse?  

I have no doubt that whoever created the pipe was quite familiar with the cutty shape, and the general shape of old clay pipes--in particular short ones, ones that had had the once long stem broken off in increments. But the DA is more of an apple shape than any cutty or clay I've ever seen. The pipe definitely has a look all its own (speaking of the original). Costner had to choose between using the DA or using a corncob pipe for the role. Whatever the inspiration, I think both he and the maker chose well.

 

[taharris]

I never saw the shape until after the movie.

It is a bit of a short, fat Cutty.

It's a cool shape, but I'm not sure of the origins either.

Todd

 

[Sasquatch]

There are historical precedents for the shape. One fairly realistic historical possibility is that the pipe is a cut-down (broken and repaired) version of some more traditional shape, but there are certain pipes that date from 100 years ago or more of that ilk - look at Peterson's "Jap" for example - a slightly chubby version.

 

[Richard Burley]

The original is incredibly short--or maybe he is "choking up," so to speak. If you look at pipe smokers in movies, or real life, there is a difference in appearance between those who dominate the pipe and those whom the pipe dominates. (It helps to be a practiced pipe smoker, to cast the former image.) We're talking appearance here. It's kind of like "does the pipe make the man, or does the man make the pipe?" I think Costner, being an actor, was aware of this and opted for a very small pipe, but nevertheless one that "looked right." In every still I've seen of him in this role he dominates the pipe, not the other way around.

(Just a theory of mine, pulled out of the ether. Your hallucinations may vary.)

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[thedeep]

I've had the same question, in my head, for some time. I have one and really enjoy it. Would be nice to know who created the shape. A tip of the hat to that person!

 

[smoker13]

As an adjunct, of sorts, to Mr Burley's post, I was struck at how natural Costner seemed to be at all times with that pipe in his mouth, smoking it just seemed to be an unconscious effort.  I mean, if I remember correctly, he'd have that pipe clenched while he was talking, he'd pause and puff a bit, continue talking, etc., all the while keeping that pipe firmly clenched in his mouth.  Now, this might seem like no big deal, but as pipe smokers we here know that it takes awhile smoking a pipe before one gets comfortable enough to do all these things without giving it a second thought.  The novice pipe smoker just could not pull it off to where it would seem natural.

All of which has made me wonder how long Mr Costner smoked that Devil Anse before actual filming began.  It also made me wonder if he continued pipe smoking after shooting the film.

OK, time for a tangent.  I recently saw "The H8teful Eight" (or whatever iteration is the officially sanctioned one).  I was disappointed in that the only pipe smoking occurred in the first 15 minutes or so of the film.  Samuel Jackson more or less begins the film lighting up and puffing his pipe.  Shortly after, he and Kurt Russell smoke their pipes in a short stagecoach ride.  That's it. In a film that's almost 3 hours long, the brunt of it shot in one set PERFECTLY suited for pipe smoking (big fireplace, coffee on the stove, blizzard outside, I mean, C'MON!).

But I wondered what kind of tobacco actors who had to learn to smoke a pipe for a role chose.

 

[monbla256]

But I wondered what kind of tobacco actors who had to learn to smoke a pipe for a role chose.

Borkum Riff or Amphora I'm sure :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[smoker13]

I was thinking along those lines, some kind of Drug Store Tobacco for sure......

 

[Idlefellow]

- look at Peterson's "Jap" for example - a slightly chubby version.  

Would you clarify what pipe you're referring to here? Couldn't find anything called that. Thanks...

 

[Sasquatch]

Where did you look? Because, honestly, I googled "Peterson pipe jap shape" and got about 70 hits.

https://petersonpipenotes.wordpress.com/tag/peterson-jap-shape/

 

[smoker13]

WOW! That is truly fascinating (at least to me)! Many Thanks for that link, Sasquatch.

 

[Idlefellow]

Where did you look?   Because, honestly, I googled "Peterson pipe jap shape" and got about 70 hits.  

https://petersonpipenotes.wordpress.com/tag/peterson-jap-shape/

Well duh! I got results tonight.  I swear they weren't there this afternoon; don't remember exactly what I searched for but I got nothin'!  I even went to the Peterson site and searched there!  Anyway thanks for the link.

I only skimmed Mark Irwin's notes about the shape; interesting, but I didn't notice any particulars about the terminology. "Jap" seems an odd term; wondering if anyone knows the history there?

 

[KevinM]

I bought an Estate DA by Monnshine pipes. It's about an inch longer than standard and looks like a canted egg. I'd guess Costner chose the pipe, because its size and shape are in a good proportion to his face in close ups. He tends to be a low-key actor who gets the most from slight changes in expression. A large pipe or cob could dominate the frame as well as his stock-in-trade micro-expressions. Just a guess.

 

[smoker13]

Kind of a coincidence, Kevin. Yesterday in the mail a Moonshine Devil EGG pipe came in the mail. The bowl's a bit bigger than the Devil Anse. When I found their web page all of their Devil Anse pipes were sold out.

I've still got my Tom Eltang Devil Anse, and it's a beaut. It's rusticated and beautiful, but I still am on the lookout for an Eltang smooth Devil Anse. Of all the DA's Ive seen I think his are the nicest (and closest to the dimensions of the one used in the Hatfield & McCoy movie.