Hard to say, if the briar had a weak spot, but firing up the very bottom to smoke the last bits has ruined many a pipe. Smoke slowly and if it goes out in the bottom, empty it out. On the next time, you might be able to smoke it fully.
I have only once scorched a pipe like that and it was not cheap, a Rovera. It was clearly my fault as I tried to light the last pieces of a fold and stuffed MB Navy flake. I applied a layer of pipe mud (ashes and spit), closed the cracks and smoked only ribbon mixtures with great care in it for a while. Worked out fine and the pipe is still smoking great. I would not continue to smoke it like that, as the ember will go into the cracks and kill the wood from the inside.
I have only once scorched a pipe like that and it was not cheap, a Rovera. It was clearly my fault as I tried to light the last pieces of a fold and stuffed MB Navy flake. I applied a layer of pipe mud (ashes and spit), closed the cracks and smoked only ribbon mixtures with great care in it for a while. Worked out fine and the pipe is still smoking great. I would not continue to smoke it like that, as the ember will go into the cracks and kill the wood from the inside.
