I was sitting outside just now smoking some 1Q laced with Syrian Latakia from an old McCrainies pipe I have. It's a large panel billiard I bought years ago as a part of a clearance pair (the other was a beautiful apple that burnt out). I got it for $25 marketed down from $100 at the shop I worked at. It was in the clearance wall for the 10 years I worked there and I talked the own into giving me them 2 for 1. I bought it because I liked the apple and was thinking if it smoked well, it would be a good walking around pipe - in other words, not something I'd care if I dropped. Years later, I am glad I spent the money on it but...
In other hands, it might actually be considered beautiful since it is sandblasted and without any staining and it has colored up just beautifully. As much as I love the way this pipe smokes, every time I smoke it and see the panel billiard, I can't help but thinking "I wish they had finished making this pipe." I just don't get panel billiards. They seem like the one shape of pipe that the pipe maker started to make and then just abandoned it. I can't think of another shape that fits that description. I just don't get it.
