What Did You Smoke Today? (Pipe Edition)

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Originally Posted by Bruck

On my 2nd cobful of a blend (mixture, really) I just made from some leaves that just arrived from Larry, a grower in KY - Silver River, plus some perique, turkish imzir, and latakia (lat not from Larry). It's not too bad - spicy, smoky, slightly sweet, but a little cigaretty; next time I think I'll omit the imzir.

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Morning Bruce,

Is this mixture whole that you're pressing (flake) or is it cut and you're mixing it?

You're in the state with the right name, north to be sure, but have you visited any tobacco farms? Just a thought but perhaps you could pick your own leaf or maybe trade a farmer some leaf for finished pipe tobacco (I doubt that many would have the ability to press as you do). At the quantity you use, they might be willing to give you some choice leaf - especially if you name the mixture after him/her or their farm :).

Pete

@9:20am
2015 (new) Cromwell (pressed and tweaked) in a 1950s Pelican Pipette (made by Barling) sandblast saddle billiard. Iced water, Willie and Lobo.

Starting off my smoking day with Flying Dutchman Match in a 1970's medium bend big bowl rusticated Sienna colored Savinelli Estella with a pearl grey stem.

MacBaren HH Pure Virginia in a 2003 straight grain Karl Erik Ekstravagant A medium bend freehand sitter.

Smoked a cob of Chocolate Espesso Bean mix compliments of Our Horseshoe.

2015 (new) Cromwell (pressed - tweak #1) in a 1981 Mastro de Paja 1C (sandblast) lovat. Ice water.

Used a check in the Verizon store at the Bill Pay Kiosk. It took and then returned my check but still issued a PAID receipt. I was about to play my luck forward and pay for the whole year when a young fellow explained that this was the way it's supposed to work, it just reads the check. I need to get out more!

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Originally Posted by NeverBend

Used a check in the Verizon store at the Bill Pay Kiosk. It took and then returned my check but still issued a PAID receipt. I was about to play my luck forward and pay for the whole year when a young fellow explained that this was the way it's supposed to work, it just reads the check. I need to get out more!

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That's why I use AT&T, They rip you off the old-fashion way.Not really.I'm pretty happy with them,had this phone 4 yrs and counting.I can't get service for verizon out at my house so I have to stick with what works.

Contemplating the origins of the universe with "Einstien" by Pete in my DG Grand Duke with the saddle bit stem.

Just finished smoking D&R Ryback in a 1970s smooth medium bend Stanwell Rego 969-48 Design Choice 837 sitter with a vulcanite stem and ferrule.

MacBaren Virginia #1 in a late '90s half smooth/half etched freehand sitter, medium bend Nielsen Viggo.

Smoking the last of my stash of Watch City Nor’ Easter in a 2003 Ural full bend egg shaped Lattice meer.

Now smoking Jim's Test VaPer in a 2003 medium bent straight grain Two dot 2 P. Ardor Venere Extra Bucaneve with a silver ferrule signed by Dorelio Rovera.

2012 Anniversary Kake in a smooth 1981 Century full bend natural egg. Have enough left for two or three more bowls.

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Originally Posted by NeverBend

Morning Bruce,

Is this mixture whole that you're pressing (flake) or is it cut and you're mixing it?

You're in the state with the right name, north to be sure, but have you visited any tobacco farms? Just a thought but perhaps you could pick your own leaf or maybe trade a farmer some leaf for finished pipe tobacco (I doubt that many would have the ability to press as you do). At the quantity you use, they might be willing to give you some choice leaf - especially if you name the mixture after him/her or their farm :).

Pete

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This particular mix is just raw leaves, cut up (I've found that a pasta cutter makes a pretty good ribbon/shag cut), jarred, and shaken. But yes, normally what I do is press flake but in this case I'm trying to figure out what goes best with Silver River which I find singularly enigmatic, unlike any of the conventional tobaccos I've toyed with.

Unforch, I've never been to a tobacco farm, in fact I've never seen a tobacco plant up close and personal. OTOH, I'm pretty happy with the places I buy from :)

Daughters & Ryan Picayune in a Grabow

A couple minutes away from smoking MacBaren HH Pure Virginia in a mid-late 1930s straight black grain relief Dunhill OX Shell bulldog with a silver band repair.

Part way through this bowl of Hayward Mixture in an early 1930s smooth straight Super Grain Kaywoodie Synchrostem Canadian 5129.

Old Dark Fired in a smooth medium bend post-WW2 Pre-Republic Peterson Shamrock Killarney 9BC with a sterling silver band.

Just finished smoking 2009 McClelland Beacon in a post WW2 Pre-Republic Peterson Dublin straight smooth X155 Bulldog with a sterling silver band.

HH Marquee White Knight

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/...pstulhmy2l.jpg

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Originally Posted by GWBowman

HH Marquee White Knight

http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/...pstulhmy2l.jpg

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In your neat Hilson Bolero?

2015 (new) Cromwell (pressed with tweak #2) in a 1986 Ser Jacopo Maxima R1 (rusticated) canadian. This ol' boy has a 4"+ shank. Iced water. My electrician is making some repairs outside and he'll install some lights for the ponds as a surprise for my wife. I'll try to post pics.

Wind's blowing hard out here, gusts around 25mph but it doesn't look like a storm is coming. Hope that you all are having a good start to the weekend. Tomorrow I'll go to the Jets-Eagles game, first time at a stadium in a while for me.

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Originally Posted by NeverBend

In your neat Hilson Bolero?

2015 (new) Cromwell (pressed with tweak #2) in a 1986 Ser Jacopo Maxima R1 (rusticated) canadian. This ol' boy has a 4"+ shank. Iced water. My electrician is making some repairs outside and he'll install some lights for the ponds as a surprise for my wife. I'll try to post pics.

Wind's blowing hard out here, gusts around 25mph but it doesn't look like a storm is coming. Hope that you all are having a good start to the weekend. Tomorrow I'll go to the Jets-Eagles game, first time at a stadium in a while for me.

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Yes, I finally loaded a bowl. Seems the bowl has an odd taper inside (can't get my little finger in far enough to touch the bottom) and looks like the hole comes into the bowl a little high. After dumping it out, the bottom of the bowl looks wet, but it never gurgled. Haven't seen much about Hilson. The stem is a cheap plastic and there are no markings. Does that sound like a knockoff?

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Originally Posted by GWBowman

Yes, I finally loaded a bowl. Seems the bowl has an odd taper inside (can't get my little finger in far enough to touch the bottom) and looks like the hole comes into the bowl a little high. After dumping it out, the bottom of the bowl looks wet, but it never gurgled. Haven't seen much about Hilson. The stem is a cheap plastic and there are no markings. Does that sound like a knockoff?

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Morning George,

Does it say HILSON (and possibly/probably Bolero) on the pipe?

Hilson was the first company to introduce this style of pipe (1960s I believe) and there were knockoffs but most were well made and passed for the Bolero without closer inspection. Hilson made some well respected mid-range pipes.

High draught hole won't gurgle by itself but it prevents burning all of the tobacco. I wrote somewhere else that most gurgle is caused by a partial obstruction of the draught hole with a wet piece of tobacco that flaps on and off the hole.

Tapered bowls are intentional (some manufacturers) and the merschaum insert was obviously made this way. Different schools of thought on whether this is a beneficial or not. If the hole is too high, so that it interferes with a good smoke, you could try some pipe mud to raise the bottom but if it smokes well, I'd not bother.

So, how does it smoke?

Pete

2015 Blood Meridian in a 1970s Caminetto Business #104 saddle billiard. Last of this mixture (not quite a whole bowl). Dr. Brown's diet Black Cherry on ice.

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Originally Posted by NeverBend

Morning George,

Does it say HILSON (and possibly/probably Bolero) on the pipe?

Hilson was the first company to introduce this style of pipe (1960s I believe) and there were knockoffs but most were well made and passed for the Bolero without closer inspection. Hilson made some well respected mid-range pipes.

High draught hole won't gurgle by itself but it prevents burning all of the tobacco. I wrote somewhere else that most gurgle is caused by a partial obstruction of the draught hole with a wet piece of tobacco that flaps on and off the hole.

Tapered bowls are intentional (some manufacturers) and the merschaum insert was obviously made this way. Different schools of thought on whether this is a beneficial or not. If the hole is too high, so that it interferes with a good smoke, you could try some pipe mud to raise the bottom but if it smokes well, I'd not bother.

So, how does it smoke?

Pete

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Pete,

Unfortunately there are no marking anywhere. I'm don't consider myself someone to rate a pipe, but I'm the only one here, so, Lots of smoke and a easy draw, and about the same number of relights that I generally encounter. The smoke was good but seemed hot. Bowl was noticeably hot but not alarming. Quite a bit of tobacco left in the bottom. I'll definitely smoke a few more bowls over time, and wouldn't be surprised if it finds a regular spot. Thanks for all your info/help.

George

Peacehaven in a 2014 smooth quarter bend Basil Meadows horn with a cumberland stem and p-lip.

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Originally Posted by GWBowman

Pete,

Unfortunately there are no marking anywhere. I'm don't consider myself someone to rate a pipe, but I'm the only one here, so, Lots of smoke and a easy draw, and about the same number of relights that I generally encounter. The smoke was good but seemed hot. Bowl was noticeably hot but not alarming. Quite a bit of tobacco left in the bottom. I'll definitely smoke a few more bowls over time, and wouldn't be surprised if it finds a regular spot. Thanks for all your info/help.

George

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Sounds like a good Bolero knock off and all of them (including the Hilson) could get hot. I don't know (or remember) what material is used for the outside of the bowl but they're similar in smoking to most meerschaum lined pipes.

Sounds like you're doing everything right.

Will soon smoke the remainder of the
2015 Thomas Hariot (pressed) in a 1950s Barling's Make, Ye Old Wood Fossil (sandblast) #252 saddle billiard. This is the last of this sample.

Almost finished smoking Stonehaven in a 1998 smooth medium bend Peterson Limerick 69 with a nickel band. Got half an ounce from a good friend today. And another friend gifted me some Rich Dark Flake along with other stuff from England. Just a great day for "hate" mail!!!

P&W Dummerston in my old reliable 1986 smooth Peterson Kildare 999 Rhodesian.

PS Lux Navy Flake in a DG Savoy

P&W #515 in a 1980s black sandblasted slight bend Savory’s Argyll 281 Cherrywood.

Just popped a jar of McClelland 2015 that has been sitting up since February. Great stuff.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...psmhzwl3xs.jpg

MacBaren Symphony in a very ugly reddish color 1980 medium bend Lorenzo Leganza Sigma 8635 etched rough top.

Listing this a little early: P&W #400 in a 2003 medium bent Ural meer with a lined and etched egg shaped bowl.

2015 (new) Stout (pressed - tweak #1) in a 1985 Ser Jacopo Renaissance #313 (sandblast) taper apple with handmade white acrylic stem. Iced water, Paul Desmond Taking Ten.

Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend in a 2014 Basil Meadows smooth slight bend squashed tomato with an aluminum band and a black pearl acrylic stem.

C&D Crowley's Best - part of a nuclear attack from our friend @Alligator Gar a few weeks ago. Very nice 7 smooth!

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Originally Posted by Bruck

C&D Crowley's Best - part of a nuclear attack from our friend @Alligator Gar a few weeks ago. Very nice 7 smooth!

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I was in a burley mood myself. Smoking some '09 Haunted Bookshop. The very definition of smooth and satisfying.

Greve Gilbert Hamiltons Blandning in a 1982 smooth straight Sasieni Ivory 105 Apple.

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Originally Posted by Alligator Gar

I was in a burley mood myself. Smoking some '09 Haunted Bookshop. The very definition of smooth and satisfying.

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Agreed. I'm finding that with the Crowley's, I have to be very disciplined in smoking speed - too fast and it gets soggy and goes out.

Rich Dark Flake in a 1984 black sandblasted straight Dunhill Shell 4103 Billiard. Can't believe I was gifted this rare treat! :D

Part way through this bowl of MacBaren HH Pure Virginia in a mid-late 1930s straight black grain relief Dunhill OX Shell bulldog with a silver band repair. Wasn't quite so crazy about it at first, but it's growing on me now that the bowl is seasoned with the flavors.

Now smoking the best durn tobacco made today: Strang in a 1999 medium bend black sandblast Savinelli Tris 677KS apple with a cumberland stem.