Richmond





This pipe was probably the best “steal” of the bunch. It arrived from the seller in fully restored condition, and it smoked great from the first bowl. The bowl is 7/8” in diameter and 1 ¾” deep, holding a smoke that will last for around an hour. This is another one of Sasieni’s factory seconds that is not stamped with the company name, but noted as “London Made”. I use this very helpful site to clarify nomenclatures and identify pipes. I really like the length on the shank, and its thickness. The bowl walls are also quite stout and the pipe smokes rather coolly. The briar itself is inundated with pinprick pits, but this is nothing more than an aesthetic flaw. It is a comfortable clencher, and while not a sitter, it settles very comfortably in my palm. The drill is perfect, and it cleans very easily. Overall, a pretty and very functional estate pipe.

Sasieni 964





I’m generally not a fan of bent pipes, but I have a couple around for a change of pace. This is a fairly small pipe with a bowl that is 1 3/8” deep and ~3/4” in diameter. It has a stinger and is almost impossible to feed a pipe cleaner through (even discounting the stinger, the stem is very narrow). It smokes pretty well, though nothing to write home about. The bowl stays fairly cool, but it does tend to get wet in the bottom while never getting to the point of gurgling. It is a attractive pipe, both in shape and briar finish, so it is a nice option for carrying in public, but I believe I would have been disappointed had I purchased this pipe new. I have ~$30 in it, and I’m comfortable with that because I find it smokes about the same as a Dr. Grabow Omega. Ironically, of the five Sasieni and Sasieni seconds I own, the genuine Sasieni is my least favorite.