Removing Varnish/Fixing Bubbles

The Bjarne Viking I have is a small bowled, and relatively thin walled pipe.
about 2 years ago while driving with the windows down, I let some Orlik Golden Sliced get away from me and the wind stoked it up pretty good. The result was a couple bubbles in the finish.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...6583726b7f.jpg

They inevitably flaked off and are now just little eye sores.

Has anyone used any varnish stripper or sanding techniques that worked well for them? It'd be nice if I could just stick a cork in the bowl and smear on some stripper and be done but I don't know if any residual chemicals would seep into the briar and affect the smoking qualities of the pipe.
I also want to removed the varnish on my Omega, I kind of like the matte finish.

Thanks for any tips.

I've sanded the varnish off two of my pipes, and they both smoke better now.

Sand the sucker down. If you want to keep it raw briar, then use finishing techniques and wax that sucker.

If you want to re-stain it, then pick up some leather dye and have fun!