Nielson 's Sparrow? (SP)

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 9, 2016

• #1

Any opinions to be shared about this pipe? It is extraordinary beautiful, but I only know Tonni by name, nothing about smoking qualities of her pipes. PM me about this if you feel it to be wiser. Really expensive pipe, so I don't want to pull the trigger unless I'm sure.

 

philobeddoe

Lifer

Oct 31, 2011

7,433

11,711

East Indiana

• Aug 9, 2016

• #2

Tonni is a him.

 

philobeddoe

Lifer

Oct 31, 2011

7,433

11,711

East Indiana

• Aug 9, 2016

• #3

And...his pipes are superior smoking instruments, I have several.

 

kcghost

Lifer

May 6, 2011

13,405

21,889

77

Olathe, Kansas

• Aug 9, 2016

• #4

Tonni Nielsen is one of the very best carvers in the world. He lives in Kentucky with his wife Barbara. They summer in Denmark.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,404

109,171

• Aug 10, 2016

• #5

He's originally from Copenhagen, and carved for W.O. Larsen early on in his career. I say grab it!

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 10, 2016

• #6

I'll need to have my head examined (when I can afford it) but I pulled the trigger on the Sparrow. This is the most expersive pipe I've ever bought, by far and away. But the darn thing kept calling my name, "Buy me, buy me." What could I do? If only I had a first born that I could sell to make up for this indulgence! (It went on a credit card, of course.) May God have mercy on me!

 

pipedreamin

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 25, 2016

195

166

• Aug 10, 2016

• #7

Congrats, looks beautiful, I would have succumbed to the call also.

 

philobeddoe

Lifer

Oct 31, 2011

7,433

11,711

East Indiana

• Aug 10, 2016

• #8

That's a beautiful pipe Sparrowhawk, you won't be disappointed, Tonni's pipes are spectacular smokers and it will be even more beautiful in person than in the photographs. Congrats!

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 11, 2016

• #9

Thanks bunches, philo. I'm still scared spitless at the price tag. I'm hoping actually holding the pipe in hand will allay my fears.

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 11, 2016

• #10

Thanks bunches, philo. I'm still scared spitless at the price tag. I'm hoping actually holding the pipe in hand will allay my fears.

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 11, 2016

• #11

Thanks bunches, philo. I'm still scared spitless at the price tag. I'm hoping actually holding the pipe in hand will allay my fears.

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 11, 2016

• #12

Oops, repeat. Sorry.

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 11, 2016

• #13

Given the option of a Nielson pipe, that implies an exceptional briar was used to make this particular pipe. What kind of briar would have been used? For that matter, what different kinds of briar are there?

 

snagstangl

Lifer

Jul 1, 2013

1,607

769

Iowa, United States

• Aug 11, 2016

• #14

grecian, corsican, algerian, insert most Mediterranean countries, then american, which is any of a bunch of kinds plants in the same family available in the us.

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 12, 2016

• #15

Having said that, what are the differences between these briars and what kind of briar does Tonni use. I assume it's a safe bet that Tonni uses the very highest quality?

The Sparrow arrives tomorrow. I can't wait!

 

peckinpahhombre

Lifer

Dec 24, 2012

7,195

456

• Aug 12, 2016

• #16

Tonni makes a great pipe and is a real classy gentleman to boot. I have a couple of his pipes and really enjoy them. I will say though that my two Tonni pipes have a narrower draw than I was used to when I got them. I have learned how to smoke them properly but it did take some practice after I had become accustomed to pipes with a wider draw, like my Castellos. I pack my Tonni pipes a little looser than my other pipes that have a wider draft whole. Beautiful pipe, by the way.

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 13, 2016

• #17

Tonni Nielson's Sparrow arrived today. Wow! What an extraordinary piece of pipe artistry! I waited a while before smoking it--I wanted to savor the moment before smoking a truly exceptional pipe. After a few hours of holding back, I loaded it up with Trout Steam and hit it with a charing light, tamp it down, followed by the true light. I wasn't disappointed. It was a smoke like no other, and you have to hold the pipe itself to see the little subtitles that imply the title, the tiny bits of carved briar that suggest a sparrow, an upward carve here and there the way a sparrow flicks its feathers. An amazing pipe, an amazing smoke that I don't think I will ever find an equal. My thanks to you, gentlemen, for so strongly recommending this pipe, and my gratitude to Mr. Nielson for making this pipe available for sale.

 

philobeddoe

Lifer

Oct 31, 2011

7,433

11,711

East Indiana

• Aug 14, 2016

• #18

Very cool, I'm glad that you are so happy with that beautiful briar Sparrowhawk.

 

sparrowhawk

Lifer

Jul 24, 2013

2,941

219

• Aug 14, 2016

• #19

I'm treating this pipe like the Crown Jewels. Two smokes a day with the chamber half full with the rim protected by a thin layer of wax. And so forth.

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,404

109,171

• Aug 14, 2016

• #20

Uh oh, Fred's been bit by the artisan bug! Any thoughts of contacting Tonni Nielsen for a commission?