A New Ryan Alden - Author

[lifesizehobbit]

After meeting Ryan Alden a number of years ago at the St. Louis Pipe Show, I knew I wanted one of his pipes. At the time, I just didn't have the ability. A few weeks ago I reached out to Ryan to discover all he'd been going through, but that he was working to get back into pipe making. Lucky me, I literally slid into a window for a commission to have Ryan carve an Author shape. I've been out of town and returned to find my new Alden Author waiting for me.

Here it is. Strawberry Briar, Deep Craggy blast and a Cumberland bit. It's 5 inches long and is a perfect fit in my hand. I'm blown away.

 

[kcghost]

Pipe has an interesting style of blasting, and the stem matches the pipe exactly!!

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Killer! Ryan seems to be getting his groove back, posthaste.

 

[AroEnglish]

This man knows his craft.

 

[Merton]

Beautiful pipe. Enjoy it...looks like a whale lives in the sandblast...or at least some type of face.

 

[Davy]

Beautiful! Enjoy it for many years to come.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Absolutely stunning.
I take it you mean strawberry wood ?

 

[lifesizehobbit]

Beautiful pipe. Enjoy it...looks like a whale lives in the sandblast...or at least some type of face.

From a different angle it looks more like a "mummy" or "pirate" face.

 

[lifesizehobbit]

Absolutely stunning.
I take it you mean strawberry wood ?

Correct; strawberry wood. My bad. It is so feather light.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Awesome

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

That's a beauty, Ryan is a great carver.

 

[bent1]

A truly unique spin on the Author Shape, and I really like it. Throughly enjoyable to see how pipe artisans add their unique touch it classic shapes.

Just me, but Haunted Bookshop straight or mixed with 25% red virginia seems so fitting for this masterpiece.

 

[ashdigger]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Absolute stunner!!

 

[bobpnm]

Gorgeous! Bet it’s a great smoker!

 

[Chasing Embers]

It is so feather light.

I've got some magnums made from it that are lighter than many of the smaller pipes I've owned.

 

[lifesizehobbit]

Gorgeous! Bet it’s a great smoker!

I'll post an update when I get the courage to light it. LOL...almost like setting fire to a Monet...

 

[mso489]

What a powerful compact (and light weight!) author. I love that shape, but many are a little heavy for the size chamber, while this one is perfecto.

I don't have anything quite that spectacular, but I have a Luciano author that is both trim and has an ample chamber, and a Kaywoodie Drinkless Ruff-Tone that could be nothing but an author shape.

 

[georged]

I'm pretty sure what Ryan calls "strawberry wood" is just a bowl of dehydrated strawberries he smushes into a hard block (have you ever seen his hands?) and carves into a pipe.

 

[lifesizehobbit]

I'm pretty sure what Ryan calls "strawberry wood" is just a bowl of dehydrated strawberries he smushes into a hard block (have you ever seen his hands?) and carves into a pipe.

I shook Ryan's hand back in 2016 when I met him, I detected a faint scent of strawberry on my palm afterwards. You may be on to something.

 

[brian64]

I'm pretty sure what Ryan calls "strawberry wood" is just a bowl of dehydrated strawberries he smushes into a hard block (have you ever seen his hands?) and carves into a pipe.

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Is there a subsequent pic? Just wondering what became of the dude with the mustache.