2014 NASPC Pipe
- Thread starter flmason
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
Rich Lewis is probably one of the most under-rated pipemakers in the world. He was making very top quality briars since at least the 1990's. I have come across many of his creations, and I am kicking myself for not keeping one for myself. There is a very high attention to detail in his pipes, and the shapes are very classical and precise. I have not smoked one yet, but from inspecting them in detail, I can say they should smoke wonderfully. They are also priced fairly.
The newsletter is the six times a year publication by NASPC called "The Pipe Collector". It's under 20 a year for membership to NASPC which includes The Pipe Collector" and the ability to order a pipe of the year. TPC might just be the best deal around. The pipe of the year looks very nice. It's too big for me at 7 inches long and too pricey at $305.00 but no doubt worth every penny. It's limited to members and capped at I believe 25 pipes. A back issue of The and Tobacco has a nice article on Rich Lewis btw.
NASPC on facebook or www.NASPC.org Only photo I found is in the newsletter at present.
Mike Stanley
NASPC on facebook or www.NASPC.org Only photo I found is in the newsletter at present.
Mike Stanley
I just printed my newsletter to read this weekend.
I know nothing about Rich Lewis. However, anything connected to Vegas Smokes has to be treated as tainted. Their reputation is one of the worst in the mail order industry and they appear to be a bunch of crooks themselves.
Joining the NASPC every year is the best $10 I ever spend. Each newsletter is about an hours worth of fine reading enjoyment.
I know nothing about Rich Lewis. However, anything connected to Vegas Smokes has to be treated as tainted. Their reputation is one of the worst in the mail order industry and they appear to be a bunch of crooks themselves.
Joining the NASPC every year is the best $10 I ever spend. Each newsletter is about an hours worth of fine reading enjoyment.
I don't know about the "infamous pipe repair" episode, but I can tell you that my dealings with Rich Lewis have been pleasant indeed.
I saw one of his pipes on his website http://lewispipe.com/lewpipes.htm and sent Rich an email saying how much I loved the pipe. I didn't have quite enough saved at the time and asked him if he could hold it for a while.
Rich was just great. He said he would hold it until he heard from me. He did. I bought the beautiful 1849 shaped "Supreme" grade pipe. Rich said he had been at a pipe show and had been thinking of a Charatan when he carved the pipe.
It smokes like a dream.
I've only belonged to the NASPC for a short time. It is worth every penny of the membership. I met Bill Unger a couple of years ago in Richmond. He was just the most interesting fellow and a pusher of pipes and his NASPC.
I can tell you IMO NASPC and Rich Lewis make a great combo. I hope to snag one of the RL Pipes, the Custom Bill in honor of Unger. It is an unbeatable combination.
I have an original Custom Bilt given to me by a long-gone dear friend. It is a treasure. I'm sure the Custom Bill will become a treasure as well.
I saw one of his pipes on his website http://lewispipe.com/lewpipes.htm and sent Rich an email saying how much I loved the pipe. I didn't have quite enough saved at the time and asked him if he could hold it for a while.
Rich was just great. He said he would hold it until he heard from me. He did. I bought the beautiful 1849 shaped "Supreme" grade pipe. Rich said he had been at a pipe show and had been thinking of a Charatan when he carved the pipe.
It smokes like a dream.
I've only belonged to the NASPC for a short time. It is worth every penny of the membership. I met Bill Unger a couple of years ago in Richmond. He was just the most interesting fellow and a pusher of pipes and his NASPC.
I can tell you IMO NASPC and Rich Lewis make a great combo. I hope to snag one of the RL Pipes, the Custom Bill in honor of Unger. It is an unbeatable combination.
I have an original Custom Bilt given to me by a long-gone dear friend. It is a treasure. I'm sure the Custom Bill will become a treasure as well.
Wow, that is a beauty tennsmoker, I can definitely see the Charatan DNA in that one, stem to stern.
Thanks, Al. I love this pipe. I'm also saving up to get another RL. He does outstanding work at about today's market prices.
I think he is definitely underrated.
I think he is definitely underrated.
I agree, Chris. Unger was just a super fellow. I got to talk to him for a spell in Richmond that year. Craig Tarler, the old master of C&D was still alive, bless him, and I was just in hog heaven listening to these two gentlemen about pipes and tobaccos.
Unger was such a gentleman. Tarler was crusty, but very much a gentleman. He had a wry sense of humor. Unger seemed to be the gentle philosopher that he was.
I just hope I can get one of the Custom Bill's. Rich is going to carve only 25, according to NASPC ad in this current issue.
The shape and design of the pipe is one of Unger's favorites in the Custom Bilt line.
Unger was such a gentleman. Tarler was crusty, but very much a gentleman. He had a wry sense of humor. Unger seemed to be the gentle philosopher that he was.
I just hope I can get one of the Custom Bill's. Rich is going to carve only 25, according to NASPC ad in this current issue.
The shape and design of the pipe is one of Unger's favorites in the Custom Bilt line.
- Status