The Story of a Gifted Pipe
I was going to post this in the "Show us your" thread. But, thought the story was a little long and might deserve it's own post.
I started smoking a pipe about a year ago. I had been collecting pocket knives for a few years and came across a YouTuber who was smoking the most gorgeous pipe in a knife review. I smoked cigarettes already and the beauty of their pipe inspired me to try to get a pipe of my own.
Anyway, this past spring my mother went on a cruise with my great aunt (my mother's mother's sister). One of the places they were stopping was Italy. My mom asked what I might want for a gift. She knew I smoked cigarettes most of my life, but I hadn't told her about the pipe yet. Just hadn't come up in conversation. I did think it would be pretty cool to get a Savinelli from Italy and most of my pipes were $20 or less at this point. So, wanting a quality pipe, a good smoker, I asked for a Savinelli. One I would cherish forever.
Well, unfortunately, she was not able to find one in the locations they visited. But, if you recall my great aunt was with her. She must've caught wind of me smoking a pipe without me knowing. Months later, she sent me a package out of nowhere. I opened the shipping box and was floored...
With me now living in Pennsylvania, I had heard of Boswell's pipes and tobacco and long wanted to make a trip (still do want/need to make a trip). I thought if I ever bought a handmade pipe, what better pipe to own than a Boswell? It's rooted in Pennsylvania. It has decades of history. They are well respected and supposed to be top tier smokers. How did she know I wanted one? I had not told anybody I wanted a Boswell. Not even my wife!
Well... the universe aligned and this was obviously meant to be. Back in the late 90's / early 2000's, my great aunt was a Clan Mother of the Métis Nation. Mind you, neither my family nor I had any connection to Pennsylvania at this point in time. I remember her having ceremonies in her basement when I was younger, but never got into it or asked many questions. She apparently wanted a "smaller" pipe that she could smoke without others around to share. One she could travel with. This was the pipe she bought!
Pictured above is the Boswell pipe from 2001. The first smoke was some Peter Stokkebye 403 Luxury Bullseye Flake. The stockman pocket knife and the pipe knife were both my cousins. He passed away at the age of 20 in a freak accident. I was 6 or 7 at the time. These knives will be cherished forever as well!
I'm still just flabbergasted that she was able to find this pipe, which she had reportedly only smoked once and packed away in storage. That she sent it to me, no questions asked or strings attached. And that it was from a maker that I had only secretly desired. I could likely never afford a pipe this nice. What an incredible gift and one I will cherish forever!
If you made it this far, thanks for reading!!
I was going to post this in the "Show us your" thread. But, thought the story was a little long and might deserve it's own post.
I started smoking a pipe about a year ago. I had been collecting pocket knives for a few years and came across a YouTuber who was smoking the most gorgeous pipe in a knife review. I smoked cigarettes already and the beauty of their pipe inspired me to try to get a pipe of my own.
Anyway, this past spring my mother went on a cruise with my great aunt (my mother's mother's sister). One of the places they were stopping was Italy. My mom asked what I might want for a gift. She knew I smoked cigarettes most of my life, but I hadn't told her about the pipe yet. Just hadn't come up in conversation. I did think it would be pretty cool to get a Savinelli from Italy and most of my pipes were $20 or less at this point. So, wanting a quality pipe, a good smoker, I asked for a Savinelli. One I would cherish forever.
Well, unfortunately, she was not able to find one in the locations they visited. But, if you recall my great aunt was with her. She must've caught wind of me smoking a pipe without me knowing. Months later, she sent me a package out of nowhere. I opened the shipping box and was floored...
With me now living in Pennsylvania, I had heard of Boswell's pipes and tobacco and long wanted to make a trip (still do want/need to make a trip). I thought if I ever bought a handmade pipe, what better pipe to own than a Boswell? It's rooted in Pennsylvania. It has decades of history. They are well respected and supposed to be top tier smokers. How did she know I wanted one? I had not told anybody I wanted a Boswell. Not even my wife!
Well... the universe aligned and this was obviously meant to be. Back in the late 90's / early 2000's, my great aunt was a Clan Mother of the Métis Nation. Mind you, neither my family nor I had any connection to Pennsylvania at this point in time. I remember her having ceremonies in her basement when I was younger, but never got into it or asked many questions. She apparently wanted a "smaller" pipe that she could smoke without others around to share. One she could travel with. This was the pipe she bought!
Pictured above is the Boswell pipe from 2001. The first smoke was some Peter Stokkebye 403 Luxury Bullseye Flake. The stockman pocket knife and the pipe knife were both my cousins. He passed away at the age of 20 in a freak accident. I was 6 or 7 at the time. These knives will be cherished forever as well!
I'm still just flabbergasted that she was able to find this pipe, which she had reportedly only smoked once and packed away in storage. That she sent it to me, no questions asked or strings attached. And that it was from a maker that I had only secretly desired. I could likely never afford a pipe this nice. What an incredible gift and one I will cherish forever!
If you made it this far, thanks for reading!!
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It was a pleasant first smoke, but seeing as it was never truly broken in I imagine it will get even better with time!
