Smoking metal? Kirsten!
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Smoking metal? Kirsten!
Woo hoo! I just bought a new pipe! I need another pipe about as much as I need another hole in my head. But when I saw this Ardor Urano Rhodesian estate pipe on SmokingPipes I knew that I had to have it:
Italian Estates Ardor Urano Rhodesian with Boxwood (DR) (2019) | Buy Italian Estates Tobacco Pipes at Smokingpipes
It has ALL of the characteristics I like in a pipe:
* Straight, not bent.
* Relatively broad, shallow chamber.
* Thick bowl walls that won’t get too hot (I’m a holder).
* Low-maintenance acrylic bit.
* Smooth, easy-to-clean rim.
* About the right length.
* Looks beautiful (in my eyes).
Its condition is described as “Smoked but rather clean.” I’ve purchased several of their estate pipes that were so described, and each of them was, in fact, unsmoked. The views of this pipe makes it clear that it’s unsmoked too. I’d have kicked myself if I’d let it get away.
I also ordered ten 50g tins of Capstan Medium (blue tin label) Flake. One of the few Virginia flakes that still come in the small compact-storing rectangular tins. Should arrive next week.
Nice!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pipe Smoker
I find you ALWAYS 'need' another pipe :D
Where've you been? Thought maybe you were suffering a bout of the CoVids or something.
I was able to semi-randomly snag a 500g package of Rattray's Marlin Flake!
I was quite happy!
Idk what Marlin Flake is but I sure like my Red Rap :pipe: Wish that one came in a flake. I'd be all over it.Quote:
Originally Posted by BryGuySC
... or maybe it's a good thing it doesn't... for that very reason
I received my Ardor Urano Rhodesian a couple of days ago:
Italian Estates Tobacco Pipes | Buy Italian Estates Tobacco Pipes at Smokingpipes
See my May 3 post, a few above, about its purchase.
It’s magnificent! The finest Ardor (for me) that I’ve ever seen, and I follow this hand made brand closely. The SmokingPipes blurb says it’s a palm-filler, and that’s no mistake – at 3.2 ounces there’s a LOT of briar in this baby.
Its craftsmanship is superb. E.g., rhe acrylic bit is melted into the boxwood accent piece, creating a smooth fillet. I’ve never seen that before on any pipe, and the acrylic-boxwood boundary is undetectable by touch. Better seen in the fourth photo in this link (the original offering):
http://www.pipe-24.de/epages/8076993...roducts/AR4607
The boundaries between the smooth and rusticated regions are interesting too. The mortise is perfectly centered in the round shank – twist the bit 180° and the bit and shank are still perfectly aligned. Uncommon.
I got it for $153, about half the price of most new Ardor pipes currently on SmokingPipes:
www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/ardor/
None of which I like as well as mine. Cheap on a $/oz basis. :)
And it’s a sitter, very stable on smooth or hard surfaces. Yeah, I like it! Haven’t smoked it yet – want to gaze at it in its pristine state for awhile. :)
I did it again – bought yet another pipe that I scarcely need – a L’Antra freehand:
Italian Estates L'Anatra Smooth Freehand with Silver (Two Egg) | Buy Italian Estates Tobacco Pipes at Smokingpipes
I couldn’t resist – it’s one of the most beautiful pipes that I’ve ever seen. So graceful and classy. Nicely grained, and I love its color. Its chamber is relatively shallow and wide, as I like. I usually avoid bent pipes, but this one is only barely bent.
“L’Antra” is Italian for “The Duck”. Notice the tiny silver duck head atop the bit. Very distinctive compared to the usual “spot” that most makers use to mark their pipes.
$130 – very reasonable for such a gorgeous pipe.
Just bought a Missouri Meer Dagner Poker. Bought it per Amazon Prime for 28 bucks.
Steep price for a cob pipe but it comes with an acrylic bit. When you look at putting a Forever Stem on a cob, you're looking at around 30 for the stem and shipping alone and you don't even have a pipe yet.
Supposedly these tend to gurgle but I plan to mod it quite a bit what with a spherical heel and possibly a cherry stem. Safe to assume it won't smoke anything like it would have out of the box - be it for better or worse...
Anyway, another hunting coat / fishing shirt pocket pipe is the idea.
I now have the L’Antra in hand. It’s as-described, and beautiful. Craftsmanship is top-notch in all respects.
It’s apparent that the “silver” is german silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy), rather than Stirling. I’m good with that. German silver isn’t quite as bright as Stirling, but it’s still very bright. And german silver is much harder (more scratch resistant), and doesn’t tarnish (less maintenance). The silver-briar boundary is undetectable by touch.
The briar finish is satin (my preference), rather than glossy. The prettiest grain of any pipe that I’ve ever owned, and I love its color. A keeper!
Bought another Dagner Poker to mod... brother wants one too...
I might even post pics when they're done.