@peckinpahomme, sorry to be so tardy getting back to this thread. Your set is stunning! My Askwith Morta is very like your black one, it has a cream mouth piece (Irish Coffee?!) but is a long-stemmed Lovat. I think Chris is a rising star in the pipe carving world. My 23 year-old is showing some interest in pipes. So, as a graduation gift I am planning to commission a pitch black Morta with a black mouth piece (Darth Vader!) and a silver band (he loves embellishments!!) I will ask Chris to make an engraved presentation case for it.
Re tobaccos for my Morta, I have said in my thread that IMO my Morta suits Balkan flakes. I have now tried it with other tobaccos. My pipe (Norfolk bogwood) is not 'neutral' - it definitely adds something to the tobacco, something I like! A kind of nutty, smoky taste. This still seems to be favouring Latakia-rich Balkans rather than VA flakes. But it's early days yet!
