Over in the Middle East there are men born to be oil sheiks. They can own gilded billion dollar motor yachts and half billion dollar 747s and ten million dollar cars with young nubile “Instagram Models” draped all over their palaces, yachts. jets, and cars, and hunt with falcons. They can buy anything in this sin cussed world of woe they can imagine.
But you can smoke a pipe fit for an oil sheik for $20.
In my experience the best of the very best briar came from Algeria harvested by Berbers and selected by Frenchmen before the November 1, 1954 revolution where perhaps a million natives died in an incredibly cruel civil war that lasted eight years and ended in utter French defeat. When it was available the best makers used nothing else on their best grades.
Why French made pipes are the Rodney Dangerfield of pipe collecting I have no idea. Perhaps because French women are mysterious and desirable and exotic but a hairy legged French guy smoking a pipe in a beret is not a staple Hollywood leading man character. In any event if a pipe is made in France it usually sells for less than one made in Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Italy or America.
Varnished pipes are cheapies. But 4/0 steel wool removes varnish and once gone you can’t tell it was ever varnished.
So, if you wait awhile on eBay you’ll find a like new, barely smoked, varnished, French made pipe that is stamped Algerian Briar.
This one cost $12 and $8 tax and shipping.
When it came before I did anything else I stripped the varnish with 4/0 steel wool and cleaned it up with grain alcohol and applied mineral oil.
Then you must break in your oil sheik grade $20 pipe. Take one tiny dab of honey and coat the bowl, and I used Granger tobacco.
Smoke it slowly, all the way down. Then take steel wool and alcohol and strip it all down again and apply mineral oil.
And yes it tastes even better than it looks. It will look better and taste better for a lifetime if properly rested and rotated and oiled and cleaned.
There are decent substitutes for ancient Pre 54 oil cured, aged, unvarnished, unstained, and unpainted Algerian briar only because the French lost the war.
This is the best briar that ever was or ever will be, period. This pipe will color to a deep reddish brown oxblood shade all over it, as the oil or sap or precious flavor mojos—-something mysterious and magical and wonderful—seep out.
It will never get hot to hold after break in.
It will taste better than I can describe.
Try only one, and you are hopelessly hooked.
Living the good life isn’t expensive.
You just need to learn how.
Sing one Lefty!
Down by the Railroad Track
But you can smoke a pipe fit for an oil sheik for $20.
In my experience the best of the very best briar came from Algeria harvested by Berbers and selected by Frenchmen before the November 1, 1954 revolution where perhaps a million natives died in an incredibly cruel civil war that lasted eight years and ended in utter French defeat. When it was available the best makers used nothing else on their best grades.
Why French made pipes are the Rodney Dangerfield of pipe collecting I have no idea. Perhaps because French women are mysterious and desirable and exotic but a hairy legged French guy smoking a pipe in a beret is not a staple Hollywood leading man character. In any event if a pipe is made in France it usually sells for less than one made in Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Italy or America.
Varnished pipes are cheapies. But 4/0 steel wool removes varnish and once gone you can’t tell it was ever varnished.
So, if you wait awhile on eBay you’ll find a like new, barely smoked, varnished, French made pipe that is stamped Algerian Briar.
This one cost $12 and $8 tax and shipping.
When it came before I did anything else I stripped the varnish with 4/0 steel wool and cleaned it up with grain alcohol and applied mineral oil.
Then you must break in your oil sheik grade $20 pipe. Take one tiny dab of honey and coat the bowl, and I used Granger tobacco.
Smoke it slowly, all the way down. Then take steel wool and alcohol and strip it all down again and apply mineral oil.
And yes it tastes even better than it looks. It will look better and taste better for a lifetime if properly rested and rotated and oiled and cleaned.
There are decent substitutes for ancient Pre 54 oil cured, aged, unvarnished, unstained, and unpainted Algerian briar only because the French lost the war.
This is the best briar that ever was or ever will be, period. This pipe will color to a deep reddish brown oxblood shade all over it, as the oil or sap or precious flavor mojos—-something mysterious and magical and wonderful—seep out.
It will never get hot to hold after break in.
It will taste better than I can describe.
Try only one, and you are hopelessly hooked.
Living the good life isn’t expensive.
You just need to learn how.
Sing one Lefty!
Down by the Railroad Track
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