Dear all,
I just received this marvelous, chunky pipe, bought off Ebay. I know nothing about it other than that it has a wind cap (something I always wanted), and that it is CHUNKY! There are two markings on it, one saying "Made in France", and another saying "EP". It was advertised as a 19th century piece. It really doesn't matter to me if it is or not because I'm very happy with it. It came spotlessly clean, smelling of antique furniture, no trace of tobacco smell at all. I'll give it another cleaning of course before smoking, but overall very happy with it.
If anyone can tell me anything about it I'd be very glad.
The chamber is cavernous, just how I like it, 5cm deep, 2.5cm wide at the mouth, with a brass ring on top, and nickel band. The nickel band looks like it's either replaced (not great job), or fitted later in the pipe's life as there's an obvious seam, and it is not flush.
The wood doesn't look like briar as I know it, makes me wonder if it is pear, cherry or something else, briar should have a tighter grain in my mind.
The drilling is unusual (or not?), there's an idea of a Peterson system-like thing going on, the draft hole is placed above a well of sorts. It won't pass a pipe cleaner easily, but does if I twist it around a bit. There are some dings in the wood, but nothing that looks deep, there may be fillings in the dark area of the top of the bowl but I'm not an expert in wood to know. The chamber looks fine and clean, no signs of burning or carbonisation of the wood.
Excuse the quality of the photos, my phone is not very good!
I just received this marvelous, chunky pipe, bought off Ebay. I know nothing about it other than that it has a wind cap (something I always wanted), and that it is CHUNKY! There are two markings on it, one saying "Made in France", and another saying "EP". It was advertised as a 19th century piece. It really doesn't matter to me if it is or not because I'm very happy with it. It came spotlessly clean, smelling of antique furniture, no trace of tobacco smell at all. I'll give it another cleaning of course before smoking, but overall very happy with it.
If anyone can tell me anything about it I'd be very glad.
The chamber is cavernous, just how I like it, 5cm deep, 2.5cm wide at the mouth, with a brass ring on top, and nickel band. The nickel band looks like it's either replaced (not great job), or fitted later in the pipe's life as there's an obvious seam, and it is not flush.
The wood doesn't look like briar as I know it, makes me wonder if it is pear, cherry or something else, briar should have a tighter grain in my mind.
The drilling is unusual (or not?), there's an idea of a Peterson system-like thing going on, the draft hole is placed above a well of sorts. It won't pass a pipe cleaner easily, but does if I twist it around a bit. There are some dings in the wood, but nothing that looks deep, there may be fillings in the dark area of the top of the bowl but I'm not an expert in wood to know. The chamber looks fine and clean, no signs of burning or carbonisation of the wood.
Excuse the quality of the photos, my phone is not very good!