A Brief Tribute To Dr. Grabow

[mso489]

One of the great remaining pipe factories in the U.S. is in Sparta, N.C., in the Western part of the state, that still makes volumes of Dr. Grabow pipes. These are all filter pipes but can be easily converted to no-filter with adaptors for 6 mm pipes. I am especially enamored of the Royalton series, the top of the line but still mostly below $40, made in the bulldog shape and the apple (which looks like a prince shape to me), both slightly bent. These are handsome durable pipes. I'd prompt people to buy them new to support the factory itself. This is probably the largest pipe factory in terms of volume production of briar pipes in the U.S. If these are not exactly American Dunhills, they are excellent and worthy pipes. Even if you are mostly a high-end artisanal smoker, or indeed one who mostly smokes Dunhill and comparable pipes, a Dr. Grabow Royalton will earn your respect, as a car, boat, or travel pipe. And you'll be supporting a great traditional industry in the U.S. I have no financial interest in Dr. Grabow other than living in the state in which they are made -- just love the pipes.

 

[aldecaker]

I heartily second your sentiments, mso. I enjoy my Grabows very much.

 

[Chasing Embers]

My first few pipes years ago were Grabows. Still have a couple of them in my rotation.

 

[michiganlover]

I've got vintage and modern Grabows and greatly enjoy both. I don't have a Royalton but do think the Omega is a great pipe.

 

[ray47]

Grabows and American OTCs are made for each other. Sort of gives me that 50's feeling.

 

[danielplainview]

I love my Grabow's. I can smoke 3-6 bowls in one pipe before they get soggy. I'm usually packing a couple of Grabow's in my pipe kit when I'm on the go.

 

[agnosticpipe]

I'm smoking a Dr. Grabow Westbrook with Blockade Runner, (your fault Duane) as I post this. I can only deal with the older Dr. Grabow pipes, because they have vulcanite stems, and not the newer plastic stem. The briar always seems to be good in spite of a fill or two, and the draw is on point. I like these pipes and feel that they represent a good value, plus they're made here in the USA.

 

[ejames]

Yeah,for an inexpensive pipe they're OK. :roll: I have a few . :D

 

[ssavarimuthu]

I've got a Grabow that I really enjoy. Nice open draw, and quite a large bowl.

 

[danielplainview]

@ ejames
Yeah... A few hundred. :worship:

 

[jakegoodman]

I better get one, I like to support homestate pipe manufacturers.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You guys keep them after you smoke them? Oh... I thought they were disposable. :|

 

[newbroom]

I won a 'group' of pipes on ebay recently that included 2 Dr.Grabow pipes. They're a little worn on the outside, but both are smokeable. I'm only smoking the Westbrook model right now. Not a bad little smoker!

Light, ebonite, and nice in hand.

There were 2 other pipes in the sale. One was a Barling EXEL t.v.f. Brandy stummel with military mount type silver on the shank (that I've smoked using the stem from my MM Cobbit) and a beautiful blasted prince with no name.

I got em all for under $15.00 including shipping.

 

[pappymac]

I found this in a collectible's shop last month. It's a Linkman's Holly Court Special 7023, Patent #2073668. I've been told that Linkman and Co. was the forerunner of dr. Grabow.

 

[ejames]

I found this in a collectible's shop last month. It's a Linkman's Holly Court Special 7023, Patent #2073668. I've been told that Linkman and Co. was the forerunner of dr. Grabow.

Linkman (MLC) made many lines of pipes before and after they brought out the DR. Grabow line in about 1931-32. The Hollycourt was made up till the the mid 40's or so--IIRC.

 

[mso489]

scarface, here in the U.S., new Peterson pipes start at about $96, although you can occasionally find them for less ($88 and so on...) and a little less for the off tankard and Belgique. By comparison, you can often find new Dr. Grabow pipes at $40 for the top of the line Royaltons, bulldog and apple, and a few dollars less for the rest of the line. So it is about a third off the price of a new Pete. I feel differently than those who think Dr. Grabow is good, for an inexpensive pipe. I think it is good in its own right and well above its price point, especially for the Royalton. I have heard of quality glitches, but I also think that when broken in "kindly" and after a few years, a Grabow can rival high end pipes in smoking quality. It's always a Grabow, but to me, that's a good thing.

 

[colorduke]

I enjoy all my 100+ Grabows including my Colordukes.

 

[ejames]

I feel differently than those who think Dr. Grabow is good, for an inexpensive pipe. I think it is good in its own right and well above its price point, especially for the Royalton. I have heard of quality glitches, but I also think that when broken in "kindly" and after a few years, a Grabow can rival high end pipes in smoking quality. It's always a Grabow, but to me, that's a good thing.

I don't understand this- "when broken in "kindly" and after a few years". Can't understand why it would take that much time and coddling to break one in. I never break in any pipe "kindly". Just fill it and smoke hell out out of it and have never had a Grabow take more than a dozen bowls or so to break in. Just so you know I have never had a pipe self destruct because of the way I break them in and I'm still smoking them. :D