Thanks guys.
It's funny. I was ogling this pipe while laying in bed next to my wife and told her I was going to buy it. She said, "No. You don't need it. You only smoke one pipe anyways." I said, "Fine, but someone else is going to buy it, and it will be forever gone, as I've never seen one like it." Anyhow, I agreed, and sulkily went outside to smoke a bowl of Condor.
When I got back, she says, "Well. You've been a very good boy lately, so you can buy the pipe." My wife has been bedridden for a while, dealing with pregnancy, and I've been making and bringing her every meal, and taking care of her. Even cancelled 3 hunting trips! So, yes, I've been pretty good.
Anyhow, I get all excited, and when I go to the smoking pipes website, I see that it has been sold! I'm completely distraught, and exclaim to my wife, "See! I told you someone would jump on it!"
At this point, she had an evil little smile, and I knew who had bought it!
I then asked her if she made sure to get me a tin of Hal O' the Wynd, to take advantage of the free shipping.
Oh well...you can't have everything....she said she thought about it, but didn't.
I think it's a really neat pipe. I tried to do a search to see if this model exists anywhere else, and have not been able to find, so it being somewhat rare is pretty cool, too!
I think this will be a pipe that I baby, take care of, clean meticulously, and rarely if ever take out of the house. I will also rest it if that's what the pipe needs. I also am not sure that I will put lakelands into it, but will probably stick to straight Virginia and Vaper flakes, ropes, and plugs, and of course burley as well. I want to keep the pipe fairly neutral. In other words, I will not treat this pipe like my others!
I don't have much of this type of tobacco, so I'm thinking I might buy some Best Brown at the local B&M to break it in. I'm also very interested in Hal O' the Wynd, as I hear so much good about it.
Hey- every guy should have that "Nice Pipe" that they prize, and this one will be it for me....if it's a good smoker, which I expect it to be.