Ok, ok, not really, but sort of......
As some of you here may know, my very first pipe was given to me by a dear friend and mentor, a retired U.S. Marine General, back in 1982 while I was stationed in Pensacola FL.
It was a Dr. Grabow Bent Bulldog.
Sadly for me, somewhere over the years and moving around the globe, I lost it.
As good fortune would have it, I recently found and joined a Dr. Grabow Pipe Forum. Soon after joining I was invited to join a group of DG fans for a tour of the Sparta NC Dr. Grabow Factory.
My Son Seth joined me for the trip.
At the end of the tour we were invited to look through boxes of finished and unfinished pipes that were laying around on the shelves and were allowed to purchase them very cheaply.
I picked up three unfinished Bent Bulldogs for $10 each and three CDL's for $4 !
While I was looking through the pipes the GM of the plant, Rick, came up to me and handed me a beautiful Royalton Bent Bulldog with Amber Bit. Just like the one I'd lost! Better yet, he allowed me to pay only $20 for it.
To say that I was / am stoked, would be an understatement.
So, here I sit, smoking this beautiful little briar (breaking it in with a bowl of Carter Hall), I can't help but smile from ear to ear.
As some of you here may know, my very first pipe was given to me by a dear friend and mentor, a retired U.S. Marine General, back in 1982 while I was stationed in Pensacola FL.
It was a Dr. Grabow Bent Bulldog.
Sadly for me, somewhere over the years and moving around the globe, I lost it.
As good fortune would have it, I recently found and joined a Dr. Grabow Pipe Forum. Soon after joining I was invited to join a group of DG fans for a tour of the Sparta NC Dr. Grabow Factory.
My Son Seth joined me for the trip.
At the end of the tour we were invited to look through boxes of finished and unfinished pipes that were laying around on the shelves and were allowed to purchase them very cheaply.
I picked up three unfinished Bent Bulldogs for $10 each and three CDL's for $4 !
While I was looking through the pipes the GM of the plant, Rick, came up to me and handed me a beautiful Royalton Bent Bulldog with Amber Bit. Just like the one I'd lost! Better yet, he allowed me to pay only $20 for it.
To say that I was / am stoked, would be an understatement.
So, here I sit, smoking this beautiful little briar (breaking it in with a bowl of Carter Hall), I can't help but smile from ear to ear.
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