what is your latest pipe purchase

[T.E.Fox]

Ordered a cheap pipe off amazon today. Not sure of who makes them, Ukrainian pipe, supposedly hand carved. Probably will be a waste of money but figured it had good reviews and really liked the look of it (being a maritimer living in the prairies) so while placing an order for other things I added it to the cart. I only have 2 pipes so as long as it's not terrible it'll be nice to have another to add to the rotation. A little annoyed though, the tracking's showing eta of middle of next month...

Attachment 3480

My girlfriend actually bought me one of these recently for my birthday because the anchor matches a tattoo of mine. Someone told me they might be pear wood, and I'm seasoning it accordingly. It smokes well for me thus far after a few bowls. The drilling in the stem is slightly unconventional but doesn't seem to have any ill effects. Even if you don't like how yours smokes they are a lovely display pipe, very pretty. My only issue is after the first bowl, the tenon has come a bit loose in fit, but that's nothing that can't be addressed with a bit of handiwork and maybe a dab of CA glue

[El Whedo]

My only issue is after the first bowl, the tenon has come a bit loose in fit, but that's nothing that can't be addressed with a bit of handiwork and maybe a dab of CA glue

I fix loose stems by rubbing them with bee's wax. It works well, and lasts up to a year before needing another ten-second rub.

Anyone handy should always have bee's wax on hand (heh). It has a million uses. It makes hard to open drawers slide open easily, and everyone has a couple sticky drawers at home (heh).

[Alligator Gar]

I have been chasing this particular pipe for over a month. When I first laid eyes on it the guy wanted $250+ shipping. Consulted my pipe advisor and he said it was no good--Bent. We get past that awkward moment and he allowed as it was a fine pipe at half the price. Told the guy it was a $100 pipe. While I was waiting for seller to drop the price, he pulled the listing?! Did I lose it?



Pipe advisor came to the rescue. He found the ebay listing. $150 CAN and free shipping starting price.



Now I didn't want it, I NEEDED it. Dat coral dot.



I waited until the last second and bid $156 Canuck. Was the only bidder and he had to give it to me $112 USD shipped. I reminded him I was the guy that wouldn't pay $250 in his previous listing just to twist it a little. He said I got a good deal and left it at that. Fifteen days later and it looks and feels better in person, not a spot on her and smokes like chimney. She's an inside pipe, for sure.

[BryGuySC]

Nice snag!

[Haebar]

Nice pipe!

[NeverBend]

Scored this James Upshall/Barry Jones made Astley's carved billiard. Upshall didn't make any rusticated pipes until a few trial pieces in 1988 but Barry made them more regularly in the mid 1990s when I believe this pipe was made. I was surprised how accomplished Barry's rusticating technique was but he'd actually learned and perfected it at Charatan (who made some part carved pipes).

Astleys stamped their nomenclature on pipes made by famous makers but their main supply of high grades came from Upshall from 1980 through the 1990s. Some pipes with their name are ordinary but this is one of the nice ones.


After Barry had carved the pipe he'd put it back on the lathe and trim the top inside of the bowl to eliminate carving that had edged into the bowl. You can see that the chamber widens slightly toward the rim and the wall thickness is slightly uneven and a little thinner.

[Cool Breeze]

Looking forward to having a package delivered at work tomorrow. My first ever brand new pipe (not counting cobs of course), and a few tins of tobacco.

I won't say what everything is in this post, I'll post a pic when I get home from work tomorrow.

[Cool Breeze]

Well damn, it didn't come today.

It says delivery was to be Saturday but the darn tracking still shows that it departed South Carolina at 2:30 a.m. on the 24th.

We'll see.

[bluenoser]

My cheap amazon pipe showed up today and I'm more than impressed with the looks of it. Raining like crazy and blowing winds 70 kmph gusting to 90 so won't get a chance to try it tonight but hopefully tomorrow I'll get a chance to run some Prince Albert through it.

[NeverBend]

My cheap amazon pipe showed up today and I'm more than impressed with the looks of it. Raining like crazy and blowing winds 70 kmph gusting to 90 so won't get a chance to try it tonight but hopefully tomorrow I'll get a chance to run some Prince Albert through it.

Blake, pipes looks great, enjoy but not in the weather you describe! Winds like that are like a light hurricane.