I got one of those Chinese cobs for $4 and poked a hole right through the bottom of it with my pipe nail. That was a real quality pipe right there!
Anything other than Missouri Meerschaum is a gamble. But a few of MM's models don't have hard wood plugs, so you need to use a lighter hand when using a pipe tool pick on them.
Only one of my MM cobs has a wood plug, but they are all WAY more solid than that Chinese piece of junk!Anything other than Missouri Meerschaum is a gamble. But a few of MM's models don't have hard wood plugs, so you need to use a lighter hand when using a pipe tool pick on them.