Yes, some pipe makers are certainly still showcasing grain. The Danish pipes of the 70s and 80s in my mind, perfected a genre based on the technology they had on hand at the time and the direction they took was an outgrowth of what they had seen, could quickly manufacture, and followed some simple rules. The premier examples of their work often times were just mind blowing.
My first foray into grain was a GBD Virgin full bend - not Danish, but certainly showcasing grain. I longed for a Danish Freehand, but as a young college student, they were out of my price range - they were not cheap pipes. The only way I was able to get the GBD was that I won it in a pipe smoking contest.
You see pipes from this era come up for sale periodically. Many are blasé . But from time to time, you still see pristine examples of the genre. Sadly, they still are quite expensive, especially if they are not smoked. But as a whole, the Danish Freestyle pipes made today either add to the genre with various aspects or go a different direction in the staining to create different colorations. I would love to see examples of this genre from that golden time period. I have another, a Knute.
it‘s not everyon’s bag of tea, but I miss the Danish Freestyle pipes of the 70s-80’s when chasing grain was all the rage. The integration of a smooth grain finish and plateau were to my eye simply beautiful. The fancy stems and the use of curves that followed the grain was something that appealed to me.
and the pipe community was thriving.
The Knute - a sister to the Jobey Dansk, both make by Karl Eriks .
This one was purchased at Palm Desert Pipe and Tobacco.
