Mastro Grandolfo Pipes

[bernie2]

The pipe is ordered and Alex Grandolfo has shipped it but it was sent via priority mail. Right now the Italian post office has it and the tracking is a little rough/limited. My guess is that I won't receive the pipe for another 2 weeks.
I'm not sure why he didn't ship via 3-day Fedex which is only $18 from Italy. The priority mail method he used takes around 2 weeks and costs $15.
I'll update the thread when I receive the pipe.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I watched a few videos, and am I the only one who sees the problem with the stems on those pipes? It's just a hole in the end of the stem. No slot at the button at all.
Let us know how it smokes for you.

 

[jazz]

am I the only one who sees the problem with the stems on those pipes? It's just a hole in the end of the stem

No. One of the first things I noticed about some of them.

 

[bernie2]

am I the only one who sees the problem with the stems on those pipes? It's just a hole in the end of the stem

One of my favorite pipes is a Peterson p-lip with an opening that is about the same size, although it is oriented up towards the roof of your mouth. It will be interesting to see how my first Mastro Grandolfo smokes. I'll let you guys know in a week or so when it arrives.

 

[bernie2]

Received the pipe today. It was a very nice package with a certificate of authenticity, an olive wood tamper, pipe cleaners, support certificate, pipe bag and also a pipe!
Here are some photos:

I'll put one final update on this thread after I have a chance to smoke it tonight.

 

[mso489]

These look nicely designed and finished. Maybe some of you owners could keep us posted how they do over time. Alternate woods always arouse some suspicion, but many of them do well enough. I have several pipes made of Mountain Laurel, which was adapted in the U.S. when the supply of briar was cut off during World War II. These have done well over twelve years (the one I've had the longest).

 

[oldredbeard]

That's a beautiful olive wood sir, congrats.

 

[bernie2]

Just finished my first smoke with the new pipe...it was excellent. My first bowl was Bowsell's Magnum english blend.

I packed the pipe about 3/4's full. Smoked pretty aggressively tonight and still ended up with a 1.5 hour smoke. The smoke was cool and dry. The pipe itself was a little warmer than I expected during the smoke considering that there is almost 3/4" of olive wood outside of the bowl.
This is my best 1st smoke apart from a moretti bog oak morta poker. The smoke was a little sweater than what I get out of my briars and cobs.
All in all I'm impressed with the way the pipe smokes and looks. I'm sure this won't be my only Grandolfo pipe.