G. Batson/Steve Morrisette “Matched Set”

If I didn’t know better I’d swear these two pipes were made by the same maker, perhaps as a set. I guess it’s not surprising that they both live in Nashville and share a unique design vision.
I picked up this Steve Morrisette two months ago after seeing it on Maxim’s site. I really liked the shape and especially the shank extension and delicate blast; very stylish and elegant. Although I never owned one, I heard that Steve made a very good pipe and pays meticulous attention to detail. This was plainly evident when the pipe arrived. The blast is shallow yet brilliantly defined. I wasn’t sure what material the shank extension was made from but discovered it was black horn with a brass insert to secure the vulcanite stem.
The pipe smokes very well and I detect subtle flavors in certain blends I hadn’t noticed with other pipes. It’s very dry and cool with a nice, open draw. My only criticism is that it tends to go out more frequently than other pipes. This might be due to the somewhat tall and narrow tobacco chamber. A looser pack seems to work best in this pipe.
Yesterday I visited Maxim’s again and stumbled upon this beauty by Grant Batson. Volcanos and bent pokers are two of my favorite shapes so this baby bowled me over. I then noticed the black shank extension. Now where have I seen that before? They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so I wonder who is flattering who? :D The extension is also made of horn and even contains the same brass insert for the stem! The blast is equally gorgeous with fine ring grain surrounding the bowl. This too is my first introduction to this pipe maker. If it's anything like Steve's I'm a happy man!

The G Batson arrived yesterday and what a beauty it is! Outstanding workmanship and attention to detail is plainly evident. Grant Batson is also a custom guitar maker so he's well-versed in meticulous craftsmanship. It's a fabulous smoker; very dry and cool. The baptismal smoke of Chelsea Morning was heavenly! This one stays lit far better than the Morrisette even though the tobacco chambers share the same dimensions. One fabulous pipe!