Ryan Alden Billiard (Pics)

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

611

• Jun 13, 2013

• #1

Just arrived in the mail today, all the way from the Lone Star State... my new Ryan Alden billiard.
I had asked Ryan to make a fat-bowled billiard (a la S. Bang) with box elder on the shank end and a saddle stem. I think Ryan hit the ball out of the park on this one. The shaping on the bowl and at the bowl-shank transition are exactly what I was looking for. The walls are thick and solid, but overall the pipe is light and well balanced. I absolutely love this pipe.
Also, Ryan was great to work with and his prices are very reasonable (for now).
5" length

1.8" bowl height

1.4" bowl width

0.8" chamber width

 

bentmike

Lifer

Jan 25, 2012

2,422

43

• Jun 13, 2013

• #2

Sweet! I like it. Congrats pitchfork it looks like it will be an excellent smoker.

 

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

611

• Jun 13, 2013

• #3

Thanks, guys. I haven't tried it out, yet, but it looks to be an ideal flake burner.
I should also mention that, like all good pipe makers, Ryan puts a nice funnel at the button end and the airflow overall is nice and easy.

 

peckinpahhombre

Lifer

Dec 24, 2012

7,195

463

• Jun 13, 2013

• #4

Looks like a nice thin and comfortable stem - congrats - very nice indeed. Almost looks like a Danish pipe.

 

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

611

• Jun 13, 2013

• #5

Thanks, Peck. Very comfortable stem, indeed.
Also, I'm currently christening the pipe with a bowl of 2003 Christmas Cheer. The pipe smokes wonderfully, handling this fairly damp, dense flake with nary a gurgle. And the briar itself, so far, smokes very sweet. I'm a happy camper.

 

lonestar

Lifer

Mar 22, 2011

2,854

163

Edgewood Texas

• Jun 13, 2013

• #6

The pipe smokes wonderfully, handling this fairly damp, dense flake with nary a gurgle. And the briar itself, so far, smokes very sweet.

Click to expand...

Thats what I like to hear ! I liked the aesthetics a lot, you will definitely see more in this style from me.

I'm glad you're happy, I hope it is a favorite for years to come. :puffpipe:

 

wyfbane

Lifer

Apr 26, 2013

5,747

7,069

Tennessee

• Jun 13, 2013

• #7

That is an amazing pipe! Wow!

 

gwtwdbss

Lifer

Jun 13, 2012

2,945

21

54

• Jun 13, 2013

• #8

Looks great. Congratulations!

 

papipeguy

Lifer

Jul 31, 2010

15,777

42

Bethlehem, Pa.

• Jun 13, 2013

• #9

Man, everything works well with that pipe. I'd buy it for sure.

 

bigvan

Lifer

Mar 22, 2011

2,192

14

• Jun 13, 2013

• #10

"Almost looks like a Danish pipe."
I was thinking the exact same thing, Peck.
Well done, Ryan!!
JJ

 

tbradsim1

Lifer

Jan 14, 2012

9,229

11,944

Southwest Louisiana

• Jun 13, 2013

• #11

Very good work, another Home Run.

 

numbersix

Lifer

Jul 27, 2012

5,449

63

• Jun 13, 2013

• #12

Gorgeous! Big congrats to you - Lonestar hit another one out of the park yet again.

 

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

611

• Jun 13, 2013

• #13

Thanks, guys. Much appreciated.

"Almost looks like a Danish pipe."
I was thinking the exact same thing, Peck.

Click to expand...

Yeah, Ryan and I talked about a number of different Danish pipes, ranging from apple to billiard (all fat), as models for the pipe. So I'm sure Ryan is pleased that others find it to be distinctly "Danish." But Ryan's pipe isn't quite as plump or as boxy as some of the ones we were looking at. I think he did a really nice job of incorporating his own sense of how a billiard is supposed to look.

 

lonestar

Lifer

Mar 22, 2011

2,854

163

Edgewood Texas

• Jun 13, 2013

• #14

I think he did a really nice job of incorporating his own sense of how a billiard is supposed to look.

Click to expand...

I'm catching hell from a couple other pipemakers about whether I should call this shape a billiard or a pot. I can see the argument for Pot, but I see a lot of Danish pipes shaped similarly and called a Chubby Billiard. I say call it what you will, I call it sweeeeeeet :D

There is universal agreement that its nice, whether its a nice pot or a nice billiard seems to be the controversy.

 

cigrmaster

Lifer

May 26, 2012

20,248

57,313

67

Sarasota Florida

• Jun 13, 2013

• #15

Very nice looking pipe, congrats. Nice to hear you are enjoying how it smokes.

 

juptierspipe

Starting to Get Obsessed

May 27, 2013

245

8

Illinois

• Jun 13, 2013

• #16

Beautiful! Looks like she'll stay nice and cool in your hand with that thick bowl.

 

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

611

• Jun 14, 2013

• #17

Thanks, Harris.

Looks like she'll stay nice and cool in your hand with that thick bowl.

Click to expand...

juptierspipe, it's a cool, dry smoker all the way.

I'm catching hell from a couple other pipemakers about whether I should call this shape a billiard or a pot.

Click to expand...

Clearly these are amateurs with small minds and poor eyesight. :crazy:

 

fnord

Lifer

Dec 28, 2011

2,746

8

Topeka, KS

• Jun 14, 2013

• #18

Great burner, Pitchfork.
Good on you.
Well done, Ryan.
Fnord

 

captainsousie

Lifer

Aug 1, 2012

4,898

5,728

USA

• Jun 14, 2013

• #19

Call it what you will, I call it beautiful and another reason to want a pipe from him. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't grab the bulldog he had up a few months ago.

 

hodirty

Lifer

Jan 10, 2013

1,295

2

• Jun 14, 2013

• #20

That's a good looking piece of briar. Congrats pitchfork, Enjoy and happy puffing! ::