3 Year Journey: Complete Set of Continental X-Series (Pic Heavy)

[danielplainview]

A 3 year treasure hunt is nearly over. I've finally acquired a complete set of Dr. Grabow Continental X-Series.

12 unique shapes released in 1959. These were mail order coupon pipes only. Not sold in stores. A coupon pipe was only available for sale after a customer collected up to 25 coupons from various tobacco tin/tubs.

10 of the 12 Continentals I have are smooth finish. I'm still on the hunt to replace the 2 wire carved finishes.
Ejames, fact check or any other interesting info appreciated :puffpipe:

Many thanks to my friends over at the Grabow forums for helping me track down these seldom seen old briars. :clap:

 

[didache]

My hat off to you, sir! Tracking down an entire series of pipes only sold by mail order/coupon, and all in first class condition. A labour of love methinks! Mike

 

[owen]

Wonderful

 

[philobeddoe]

Outstanding....congratulations on putting this set together, 58 years after the set was sold, one at a time, you managed to gather the full compliment, well done sir!

 

[alexnorth]

Impressive!! A nice looking set indeed

 

[heimedvw]

Congrats on the wonderful collection!! Very unique shapes like you said

 

[colorduke]

Very nice looking collection.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

That's a great collection of pipes. Thanks for sharing the pics.

 

[dread]

Wow! Congrats! That is one impressive collection - those pipes are awesome.

 

[ashdigger]

That is epic!!! Very, very nice!!!

 

[ssjones]

That is fabulous! The shapes and briar on those pipes is amazing, a free coupon pipe, I had not heard of this line.

I love a three year hunt, particularly one that is victorious, congrats!

 

[randelli]

That's fantastic! Those pipes are in such good condition too.

 

[theosprey247]

That's a great looking set

 

[addamsruspipe]

That is very cool. And the time it must have take to track them all down and get them. Very amazing.

 

[davet]

Very impressive indeed :clap:

10 of the 12 Continentals I have are smooth finish. I'm still on the hunt to replace the 2 wire carved finishes.

Did you forget to mention tracking down the other 10 wire carved finishes :rofl:

Very nice collection, well done.

 

[dixie]

Amazing collection! How did that take to pull together? Whats next?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

All very unique Grabows!

Damn good job Dave!

 

[dixie]

Just read the title…answered my own stupid question Three years…what persistence! Second question still stands…whats next?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Wow, Dave, that is epic as already noted. Well done!
Now, let's see the after pics, when they have been cleaned up and polished......
.
.
.
.
.
.
A joke. Dave does extra fine work on all his refurbs, and the above is not an exception.....

 

[aldecaker]

Those are exceptionally nice Grabows (of which, I am a big fan in general). The fact that it's a themed collection is even better. Grabow's wire-carved finish, and similar iterations like Stanwell's Brushed series, is far and away my favorite texture on a briar pipe. As far as I know, Grabow did it first, and frankly, I feel they did it best. Good luck on the other Continentals you are after!