Dents, fills, nicks and smoke quality

tmgaus51

Might Stick Around

Oct 12, 2015

95

20

• Nov 2, 2015

• #1

Hi All,
I just got an Invicta Briar in the mail--what a monster, and a fine first smoke as well. I was examining it and noticed these two areas. I wasn't quite sure if they were fills, or just dents/nicks that are natural to the briar and hadn't been touched. In any case, I assume that neither would have an effect on the quality of the smoke/longevity of the pipe?
Cheers!

 

cortezattic

Lifer

Nov 19, 2009

15,147

7,638

Chicago, IL

• Nov 3, 2015

• #2

I bought an Invicta a few years ago. It had a couple of obvious fills, but the price was right. It turned out to be a very good pipe.

 

philobeddoe

Lifer

Oct 31, 2011

7,433

11,711

East Indiana

• Nov 3, 2015

• #3

Dents, fills, scratches etc. have absolutely no effect on the smoking quality of a given pipe. However, for many people, but certainly not all, the aesthetics of a pipe have quite a lot to do with the quality of the whole smoking experience!

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,454

• Nov 3, 2015

• #4

I have both pipes with dents and fills and some brim charring and chatter on the bit, and others that are somewhat pristine. Wear and tear is not a factor in quality of smoking. Some pipes get more beat up because they are good smokers and get used a lot and attain wear that way. Other pipes get more care because they are higher quality, but that doesn't make them smoke any better. As for aesthetics, it's a mixed bag. Pristine pipes are beautiful, but beat up pipes can also be beautiful at least in the eyes of the beholder if they have everything else to recommend them. Not all of your relatives are gorgeous to look at, but some of the plainer ones are still among your favorites.

 

tmgaus51

Might Stick Around

Oct 12, 2015

95

20

• Nov 3, 2015

• #5

Thanks all for the responses. Pete from Invicta Briars did get back to me, and let me know that the pits have not been filled and what I'm looking at is just the natural briar. He seems to prefer the au naturale route. Now to try to convince myself not to worry about them and smoke this thing!

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator

Staff member

May 12, 2015

24,706

27,304

Carmel Valley, CA

• Nov 3, 2015

• #6

The pictures still do not show.

 

tmgaus51

Might Stick Around

Oct 12, 2015

95

20

• Nov 3, 2015

• #7

Trying again:

 

aggravatedfarmer

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 9, 2015

865

3

• Nov 3, 2015

• #8

That's a fill for sure.

 

tmgaus51

Might Stick Around

Oct 12, 2015

95

20

• Nov 3, 2015

• #9

And the man who made it says otherwise Now I'm just confused.

 

brudnod

Part of the Furniture Now

Aug 26, 2013

938

6

Great Falls, VA

• Nov 3, 2015

• #10

One man's fill is another man's character.

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

33,965

75,614

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Nov 3, 2015

• #11

Yep, it's ruined. You'd better send it to me. ::

 

smokinfireman

Starting to Get Obsessed

Aug 17, 2015

176

1

• Nov 3, 2015

• #12

Nope. No effect whatsoever. I'm kinda like MacArthur, stick a stem in a cob and fill'er up with somethin good.

 

hakchuma

Part of the Furniture Now

Jan 13, 2014

792

78

52

Michigan, USA

• Nov 3, 2015

• #13

It depends on how much up you paid for it

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator

Staff member

May 12, 2015

24,706

27,304

Carmel Valley, CA

• Nov 4, 2015

• #14

The stummel looks to have a fill, but not so on the bowl itself. Neither will affect how it smokes. The pipe is less valuable on resale with fills, but that's about all—unless it bothers you!

 

okiescout

Lifer

Jan 27, 2013

1,530

6

• Nov 4, 2015

• #15

I have an old Larenzo with more fills than I-35, but it is a hell of a smoker.