Unfinished pipes are great, and all the better when you can handle them and select the ones you want. I have four or five Sav unfinished pipes, and all smoke great. Some I've had for forty years. When you say you don't like the looks of them, you are really missing the point. They do look raw. With a year, then two, of smoking, they turn a beautiful walnut color. Polish them up while they're still warm after every smoke and it will hasten the "finishing" process. After that, they have a glow that you can't get from any other finishing method. Since you save shipping, the $49 price is excellent. Unless you are snobbish about your pipes, I'd get two or three, or buy them over time. They really are one of the great buys in tobacco pipes. I think Savenelli is scaling down or eliminating these and going entirely to Rossi with seconds, using a darker and matte finish to hide the fills. You'll pay a little or quite a little more for these, and you'll miss the pleasure of finishing your own pipe just by smoking it. Everyone should have a Sav unfinished pipe or two -- even high end artisanal pipe buyers, maybe especially them. It's one of the simple joys of the hobby.
