Thunder Pipes USA

[Chasing Embers]

@Ebarber

Just so you know, I blame you.

I recently received my 357 poker from Frank Johnson of Thunder Pipes, and have to say that I'm impressed. After seeing the one I commissioned for my wife, I decided to add one to my collection as well and couldn't be happier. Frank is an absolute joy to work with, informed me of defects in the briar, and even totally started over on the pipe when he found something wrong. What I ended up choosing was a pipe with no accents, but fell in love with the amber swirl acrylic rod stock he had for the stem, and a matching tamper. The pipe has an amazingly open draw and as the briar warms, it emits a soft, pleasant nutty aroma. His button work is superb as I am finding the acrylic stem very comfortable to clench. My pipe and tobacco pairings are always done out of pure whimsy and as such, this revolver pipe is my new Luxury Bullseye Flake smoker.

 

[autumnfog]

That is a cool pipe, man!

 

[Ebarber]

@Ebarber

Just so you know, I blame you.

I recently received my 357 poker from Frank Johnson of Thunder Pipes, and have to say that I'm impressed. After seeing the one I commissioned for my wife, I decided to add one to my collection as well and couldn't be happier. Frank is an absolute joy to work with, informed me of defects in the briar, and even totally started over on the pipe when he found something wrong. What I ended up choosing was a pipe with no accents, but fell in love with the amber swirl acrylic rod stock he had for the stem, and a matching tamper. The pipe has an amazingly open draw and as the briar warms, it emits a soft, pleasant nutty aroma. His button work is superb as I am finding the acrylic stem very comfortable to clench. My pipe and tobacco pairings are always done out of pure whimsy and as such, this revolver pipe is my new Luxury Bullseye Flake smoker.

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Outstanding! That looks great. Yes he is great to work with and a very talented maker. That was my first custom pipe and actually my last one so far. I plan to do another with him one of these days if he still has time for me when I get ready. The word is spreading and I'm sure one of these days he will have a heck of a backlog. He's very particular and I like that. Thanks for sharing the pics of your new pipe ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Outstanding! That looks great. Yes he is great to work with and a very talented maker. That was my first custom pipe and actually my last one so far. I plan to do another with him one of these days if he still has time for me when I get ready. The word is spreading and I'm sure one of these days he will have a heck of a backlog. He's very particular and I like that. Thanks for sharing the pics of your new pipe ?

He sent me a photo of another he was working on for another client, and his carving skills are quite impressive.?

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Very cool.

 

[Ebarber]

He sent me a photo of another he was working on for another client, and his carving skills are quite impressive.?

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Yes they are. That pipe shape right there will probably be my next one from him. I love Savinelli 673's and wanted a similar shape.

 

[hawky454]

He sent me a photo of another he was working on for another client, and his carving skills are quite impressive.?

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Daaaamn! I likes me sums o’ dat!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yes they are. That pipe shape right there will probably be my next one from him. I love Savinelli 673's and wanted a similar shape.

Daaaamn! I likes me sums o’ dat!

I can certainly see myself being a regular customer.?

 

[olkofri]

I just hope you won't end up being this guy:

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just hope you won't end up being this guy:

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It has only gone off once but fortunately it was a shell in the front.?

 

[canucklehead]

Very cool pipe, .357 mag! Now you need a .45-70 churchwarden and a .22 nosewarmer.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Very cool pipe, .357 mag! Now you need a .45-70 churchwarden and a .22 nosewarmer.

?That is genius!

 

[Ebarber]

@chasingembers

I love the size of the revolver pipe also. I was surprised at how large it was when I got it.
The pictures I saw of another one he had made didn't look that large.

It really feels great in the hand.

 

[Ebarber]

I just hope you won't end up being this guy:

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I sent him nickel casings for mine and I reprimed them with unfired primers because I wanted them to look like unfired rounds.
Before I sent them I wet tumbled the casings to polish them with the primers in them to help deactivate them. I also soaked the primers in 3 in one oil afterwards to assure they would be deactivated.

He said he still had one sizzle on him when he cut the heads off of the casings. He said they get a little warm when cutting them lol.

 

[Chasing Embers]

@chasingembers

I love the size of the revolver pipe also. I was surprised at how large it was when I got it.
The pictures I saw of another one he had made didn't look that large.

It really feels great in the hand.

Surprised me a bit too.

 

[olkofri]

@chasingembers

I love the size of the revolver pipe also. I was surprised at how large it was when I got it.
The pictures I saw of another one he had made didn't look that large.

It really feels great in the hand.

I shoulda guessed it was one of those magnum-sized pipes, otherwise the Cap'n wouldn't have ordered one.

I dig it, but too big for me. Think you guys he could carve a derringer-sized pipe for the concealed-carry-minded piper? ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I shoulda guessed it was one of those magnum-sized pipes, otherwise the Cap'n wouldn't have ordered one.

Nowhere near that big, more like a medium group 4. The chamber depth is around 40.64mm.

 

[olkofri]

Nowhere near that big, more like a medium group 4. The chamber depth is around 40.64mm.

Bore diameter?

 

[Ebarber]

Surprised me a bit too.

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I was kicking around the idea of having him do a 44mag instead of the .357 but he said he would have to order a larger block of briar for that.

I didn't want to wait and it was quite a but more money also.

I'm glad I went with with the .357 it's the perfect size.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Think you guys he could carve a derringer-sized pipe for the concealed-carry-minded piper? ?

From some of his portfolio he showed me, I have no doubt.