1st Barling's Make Special 225

[condorlover1]

Very nice pipe!

 

[graydawn]

That is a beauty. Jesse is correct, one cannot stop buy Barling's once one starts.
Richard

 

[ssjones]

Well, my purchasing is limited by the shapes. I'm a bent guy and nearly all the Barling's I've encountered at shows, etc. have been straight pipes.
I smoked the first bowl this afternoon. The pipe easily passes a cleaner (that's a pretty severe bend!) and the pipe has a typical British draw, which is to my liking. No funky tastes or odors, but I'm not surprised as the bowl looked so clean inside. The pipe smoked very well for the first bowl, the stem is a bit Charatan like in feel and a bit softer than my Sasieni's. While not the second coming of Christ, it compares well against the Sasieni's and Comoy's of that era. It is quite light (29 grams), with a largish bowl, so that is a great combination for a 45 minute smoke. And of course, it will improve with some cake. Plus, I just love the shaping and gorgeous wood - so it's a winner!

 

[sablebrush52]

I'm happy that you like the pipe. Barling used a higher quality vulcanite that has a bit of give to it. Neither Charatan, nor Sasieni stems are of the same quality. Their focus was on the quality of the briar. Barling wanted it all top notch. There was a member here, Neverbend, who wrote to me about this. He used to rep Upshall as well as Dunhill and other top makes.

 

[buroak]

Glad to hear it gives a good smoke. I am also glad to learn a bit more about Barling stems. A nice end to an evening that is far too cold for smoking.

 

[ssjones]

I miss Neverbend, he was a wealth of info. He just dropped out of sight.

 

[pepesdad1]

That Barling is just perfect.

 

[neverbend]

I miss Neverbend, he was a wealth of info. He just dropped out of sight.

Thanks Al, just dropped back into sight. That’s some sweet stick you got there!

Well, my purchasing is limited by the shapes. I'm a bent guy and nearly all the Barling's I've encountered at shows, etc. have been straight pipes.

We should shop for Barlings together, you buy the bents, I'll buy the straights.

The pipe smoked very well for the first bowl

Barling estates often get better and better and I hope yours does too.

There was a member here, Neverbend, who wrote to me about this.

He used to rep Upshall as well as Dunhill and other top makes.

Past tense? I must be dead!
I sold a lot of Dunhills through my store but never rep'd them. I imported and distributed James Upshall (so yes, I rep'd them). I introduced and imported a few Italian brands too.

Barling used a higher quality vulcanite that has a bit of give to it. Neither Charatan, nor Sasieni stems are of the same quality.

Yes. Barling and Dunhill each used their own proprietary blend of vulcanite rods made by NY Hamburger. Barling’s rods were softer than Dunhill, they they worked more easily and Barling did more work to their stems. Dunhill vulcanite was harder, gave a better polish but it was a bit more brittle. I prefer Barling but both made excellent handmade stems.
Barling owned their own saw mill in Algeria and later sourced briar the best briar especially from Greece. Barling consistently used the best raw materials across their entire range.
Jesse and I have had many discussions about Barling and he knows that despite my involvement with some wonderful manufacturers that I consider Barling to have made the finest pipes that were ever made.
Barling controlled their production from the ground to the mouth.

Barling's quality is legendary but it is no myth.

 

[sablebrush52]

Past tense? I must be dead!

I happily stand corrected. You were just on sabbatical. Welcome back!

 

[neverbend]

I happily stand corrected. You were just on sabbatical. Welcome back!

My Uncle Louie taught me..
When you bury a guy, use a shovel and move a lot of dirt.
You're looking as handsome as ever.

 

[sablebrush52]

You're looking as handsome as ever.

That bad, huh?

 

[neverbend]

That bad, huh?

My eyesight? Yes.
The goatee suits you, certainly better than that fuzz you used to have on your lip.

 

[ssjones]

Welcome back Pete, your presence was missed!
The Barlings has been performing well, but I still prefer the feel of my Sasieni stems, which appear to be sourced/made similarly to Dunhill in that they are a bit more brittle.

 

[huntertrw]

ssjones:
My four pre-transition Barlings all are billiards, and now here you've gone and planted in me the yen for a lovely bent like yours...darn you, Sir!

 

[neverbend]

My four pre-transition Barlings all are billiards, and now here you've gone and planted in me the yen for a lovely bent like yours...darn you, Sir!

Hunter, take a deep breath - it will pass