Here is the pipe that took two weeks coming 6300 miles from the Ukraine, that I just unwrapped and smoked tonight for the first time:
I bought it here if you'd like to see other pipes from the same craftsman.
This is my first briar pipe that didn't come pre-smoked. Before I go any further I had better give you the pros:
For the price, I don't think I'll ever find a better new pipe, unless it's from the same maker. I got this pipe (after several days of online research and shopping) to replace my Dr Grabow Grand Duke. I am thoroughly pleased.
I bought this one in particular for three reasons ...
one, you can't beat being able to put the thing down without a special pipe stand.
two, in case you can't tell from the picture, it's a pretty massive pipe. The bowl is about 3/4 of an inch thick all the way around and underneath, yet it is still light and comfortable to smoke in your teeth.
three, the bowl diameter may be fairly standard, but it's a little over two inches deep. After I break it in and feel comfortable tamping it down packed brimming full, I'm sure it'll smoke for a good 45 minutes.
The cons, well there's really only one that was unexpected, but it doesn't concern me much.
The outside of the pipe is almost flawlessly shaped. The interior, though, shows that it was very likely made by hand without the absolute best of carpentry tools. There are some imperfections in the interior, none of which, though, negatively effect it's smoking. It's just not uniform in every way like a Dr Grabow, which are nearly identical in shape and really only vary significantly by the grain and polish of the briar.
This leads me to the original subject at hand, breaking it in. Like I said above this is my first new, unsmoked briar pipe. I followed these excellent instructions on breaking in a fresh briar pipe. I packed it loosely but full, and smoked it gently and completely.
It was more unpleasant than I had gathered from what others have said about the experience. My usual aromatic which goes by the name of "Corinthian" was hard to taste after the first 10 puffs over what I figure had to be the smoke of the burning, unsmoothed briar of the interior. You may or may not be able to tell from the photo but there is a black coating of some kind that can be seen all of the way to the bottom of the bowl.
I actually finished smoking the first fill about three hours ago, and I'm still a little nauseous. I know it isn't the tobacco that's making me feel this way, I've smoked a similar amount of the same type of tobacco in a shorter period of time with very good results and none of what I'm feeling now. I've actually finished a quite large cigar in an hour and didn't feel even close to this unsettled.
My question for the wise and knowing ... is this reasonably common? Should I be concerned and find another way to break in the pipe?
Thanks for your opinions
I bought it here if you'd like to see other pipes from the same craftsman.
This is my first briar pipe that didn't come pre-smoked. Before I go any further I had better give you the pros:
For the price, I don't think I'll ever find a better new pipe, unless it's from the same maker. I got this pipe (after several days of online research and shopping) to replace my Dr Grabow Grand Duke. I am thoroughly pleased.
I bought this one in particular for three reasons ...
one, you can't beat being able to put the thing down without a special pipe stand.
two, in case you can't tell from the picture, it's a pretty massive pipe. The bowl is about 3/4 of an inch thick all the way around and underneath, yet it is still light and comfortable to smoke in your teeth.
three, the bowl diameter may be fairly standard, but it's a little over two inches deep. After I break it in and feel comfortable tamping it down packed brimming full, I'm sure it'll smoke for a good 45 minutes.
The cons, well there's really only one that was unexpected, but it doesn't concern me much.
The outside of the pipe is almost flawlessly shaped. The interior, though, shows that it was very likely made by hand without the absolute best of carpentry tools. There are some imperfections in the interior, none of which, though, negatively effect it's smoking. It's just not uniform in every way like a Dr Grabow, which are nearly identical in shape and really only vary significantly by the grain and polish of the briar.
This leads me to the original subject at hand, breaking it in. Like I said above this is my first new, unsmoked briar pipe. I followed these excellent instructions on breaking in a fresh briar pipe. I packed it loosely but full, and smoked it gently and completely.
It was more unpleasant than I had gathered from what others have said about the experience. My usual aromatic which goes by the name of "Corinthian" was hard to taste after the first 10 puffs over what I figure had to be the smoke of the burning, unsmoothed briar of the interior. You may or may not be able to tell from the photo but there is a black coating of some kind that can be seen all of the way to the bottom of the bowl.
I actually finished smoking the first fill about three hours ago, and I'm still a little nauseous. I know it isn't the tobacco that's making me feel this way, I've smoked a similar amount of the same type of tobacco in a shorter period of time with very good results and none of what I'm feeling now. I've actually finished a quite large cigar in an hour and didn't feel even close to this unsettled.
My question for the wise and knowing ... is this reasonably common? Should I be concerned and find another way to break in the pipe?
Thanks for your opinions
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