Restored a Natural Finish Savinelli Root Briar With an Odd Tenon

[agnosticpipe]

I got this old Savinelli Root Briar a little while ago and gave it a clean up. It was unstained with a natural finish sort of like the Punto Oro Corallo line of pipes. It had obviously been smoked as the chamber had a thick cake, but for some reason the rest of the innards were pretty clean. In fact I think the outside of the pipe was dirtier than the inside. While cleaning up the stem I noticed that it wasn't made to take a filter, which is not all that odd, but the tenon looked to be made of something other than vulcanite. Close examination showed that it was stamped around the base with some letters, which turned out to say Savinelli Patent. I have never noticed this before on any of the many Savinelli pipes I've had. Also the stem had no trace of the Savinelli logo. Maybe some kind of replacement stem? The shank showed no evidence of damage or a crack, so I don't know why it had a stem that looked different. I tried to show this in the photos. Anyone come across anything like this before, or have any ideas about it?

 

[GrailProvisions]

Well done!

 

[Waning Embers]

I've seen those. It's a prefabricated stem with a tenon glued into it.

 

[agnosticpipe]

I've seen those. It's a prefabricated stem with a tenon glued into it.

So is this something Savinelli makes and puts on their pipes? I've never seen one before.

 

[Waning Embers]

So is this something Savinelli makes and puts on their pipes?

Yep. Makes it easier to make a pipe filterless or filtered.

 

[sablebrush52]

Yep. Makes it easier to make a pipe filterless or filtered.

That explains the patent.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Yep. Makes it easier to make a pipe filterless or filtered.

Cool, always something new to be learned. Thanks!

 

[OzPiper]

Cool, always something new to be learned. Thanks!

That’s the great thing about the PipesMagazine Forums - the wealth of information and generosity in sharing

I just muddled along in the ‘70s - all self-discovery with a lot of hit-and-miss

 

[TheIronMonkey]

This pipe in this particular finish (or more accurately no finish) is especially unusual when not a Punto Oro Corallo di Mare pipe; the Capri line had the same texture, but was generally stained and waxed. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an unstained, unwaxed Corallo finish that wasn’t a Punto Oro. Congratulations! I’m envious of your find!

 

[Waning Embers]

This pipe in this particular finish (or more accurately no finish) is especially unusual when not a Punto Oro Corallo di Mare pipe; the Capri line had the same texture, but was generally stained and waxed. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an unstained, unwaxed Corallo finish that wasn’t a Punto Oro. Congratulations! I’m envious of your find!

The golden burl Capris were unstained.

 

[agnosticpipe]

The golden burl Capris were unstained.

I remember seeing one in your huge Sav 904 collection.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

The golden burl Capris were unstained.

With the number of 9004 and 904 pipes you amassed, you’ve probably seen more variants of finish on a single shape than most people. This is great to know—I’ve only come across Corallos with no wax/no polish; all Capris that I’ve encountered had a sheen and/or stain. I will be on the lookout for pipes with a Golden Burl designation.

 

[Waning Embers]

I remember seeing one in your huge Sav 904 collection.

Yep

 

[mortonbriar]

That texture looks amazing, great clean up!