For the past several years an annual Bruce Weaver commission was how I had come to celebrate my birthday. I first became aware of Bruce's work when attempting to get my dad into pipe smoking. I contacted Bruce about a volcano commission, he happily obliged, and my dad passed away before its completion. Sort of by inheritance, I had my first Weaver. Bruce and I talked a lot during the commission and after and he walked me through several carvings. We became very good friends and talked often on many occasions throughout the years.
After the initial commission I was very impressed by his carving, and most of the subsequent pipes were surprise commissions where I would set a price point and just ask him to make me a pipe in that range. A game we both enjoyed and I ended up the happy owner of some very interesting pieces.
Shortly after the commission of my 2016 Christmas pipe, he told me he was seriously considering retiring from carving due to earlier health issues and to spend more time with his family. We still spent much time talking and he impishly surprised me a couple of times by sending me pipes he had finished before retiring at no charge. A great guy and a better friend you couldn't possibly ask for.
Sad news came this past Summer when I was told that he had passed away in his sleep, but I was happy to have gotten to have his friendship and a small collection of his pipes. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when forum member Harris (cigrmaster) brought my attention to an unsmoked Weaver acorn on SPC. Holidays coming up and money short, I sent in some estate pieces to SPC in hopes of knocking a dent in the price, which was more expensive than any pipe I've ever purchased, and to my surprise and delight it covered not only the pipe but also ten tins of Savinelli Doblone d'Oro! Thank you beyond words for the heads up Harris as having one more of my buddy's pipes means the world to me.
The mortise actually is lapis lazuli!
And of course no picture set is complete without the family photo.
After the initial commission I was very impressed by his carving, and most of the subsequent pipes were surprise commissions where I would set a price point and just ask him to make me a pipe in that range. A game we both enjoyed and I ended up the happy owner of some very interesting pieces.
Shortly after the commission of my 2016 Christmas pipe, he told me he was seriously considering retiring from carving due to earlier health issues and to spend more time with his family. We still spent much time talking and he impishly surprised me a couple of times by sending me pipes he had finished before retiring at no charge. A great guy and a better friend you couldn't possibly ask for.
Sad news came this past Summer when I was told that he had passed away in his sleep, but I was happy to have gotten to have his friendship and a small collection of his pipes. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when forum member Harris (cigrmaster) brought my attention to an unsmoked Weaver acorn on SPC. Holidays coming up and money short, I sent in some estate pieces to SPC in hopes of knocking a dent in the price, which was more expensive than any pipe I've ever purchased, and to my surprise and delight it covered not only the pipe but also ten tins of Savinelli Doblone d'Oro! Thank you beyond words for the heads up Harris as having one more of my buddy's pipes means the world to me.
The mortise actually is lapis lazuli!
And of course no picture set is complete without the family photo.
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