Tobias Lutz
02-21-2015, 03:33 PM
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04231.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04230.jpg
1. Straight, Smooth Royalton:
The Royalton line is the current “high-end” from Dr. Grabow, coming out in 1988. They are available in a variety of straight and quarter bent shapes (I also own a rustic ¼ bent), and all have the same amber swirled acrylic stems. They range from the low $30s to around $40. This particular one is great because of the thick bowl walls and good capacity. The chamber is 7/8” x 1 3/8” and easily holds a 45 minute smoke. It is drilled nicely, feeds a pipe cleaner easily, and the tenon fits almost perfectly flush with the shank (there is a hair’s width gap). It is a push tenon that will accept a standard 6mm filter. I would class these in the same ranks as a La Rocca or Baraccini pipe. It is solid American craftsmanship that will last you for decades.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04232.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04233.jpg
2. The Big Pipe:
This baby is only available in straight shapes, but can be had in either rusticated or smooth finishes in a couple stains. The design was introduced in 1991 and is still sold today- one will set you back around $40-$43. As the name implies, this is a large pipe. The chamber is 15/16” in diameter and 1 ¾” deep- providing an hour to 75 minutes of smoking pleasure. The bowl walls are thick and the pipe stays cool even for such a long period of smoking. When I first bought the pipe I worried that it was drilled a little low, but I came to realize it only appears that way because of how deep the chamber is. It uses a standard push tenon that fits perfectly into the shank with no daylight gaps. The sheer size of the pipe makes it a less than ideal clincher, but if you’re looking for something to smoke for the entire first half of a football game, or through a few chapters of your favorite book, I recommend these.
continued in next post...
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04230.jpg
1. Straight, Smooth Royalton:
The Royalton line is the current “high-end” from Dr. Grabow, coming out in 1988. They are available in a variety of straight and quarter bent shapes (I also own a rustic ¼ bent), and all have the same amber swirled acrylic stems. They range from the low $30s to around $40. This particular one is great because of the thick bowl walls and good capacity. The chamber is 7/8” x 1 3/8” and easily holds a 45 minute smoke. It is drilled nicely, feeds a pipe cleaner easily, and the tenon fits almost perfectly flush with the shank (there is a hair’s width gap). It is a push tenon that will accept a standard 6mm filter. I would class these in the same ranks as a La Rocca or Baraccini pipe. It is solid American craftsmanship that will last you for decades.
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04232.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04233.jpg
2. The Big Pipe:
This baby is only available in straight shapes, but can be had in either rusticated or smooth finishes in a couple stains. The design was introduced in 1991 and is still sold today- one will set you back around $40-$43. As the name implies, this is a large pipe. The chamber is 15/16” in diameter and 1 ¾” deep- providing an hour to 75 minutes of smoking pleasure. The bowl walls are thick and the pipe stays cool even for such a long period of smoking. When I first bought the pipe I worried that it was drilled a little low, but I came to realize it only appears that way because of how deep the chamber is. It uses a standard push tenon that fits perfectly into the shank with no daylight gaps. The sheer size of the pipe makes it a less than ideal clincher, but if you’re looking for something to smoke for the entire first half of a football game, or through a few chapters of your favorite book, I recommend these.
continued in next post...