Briar or Brylon? How to Tell?

[Vlad the Pipe Enjoyer]

I bought my first pipe a year ago. I was not as informed as I am now, so I thought buying a face-shaped pipe (which I had had my eye on for quite some time) online was a great idea. It was so pretty and distinguished. I overpayed for it, only for me to realize now, because of this thread, that it is resin. It said "made in Italy" but it smoked hot and it tasted like the insides of a dead bird that ate plastic. I smoked it only thrice, fortunately. Thank you internet, for you have saved me from trashing good (and expensive!) tobacco.

Keep on smoking, pals, and beware of polymers!

 

[NookersTheCat]

Sort of odd to use espresso tampers to illustrate graining in briar. However, I would love to have one of those. Esp with lots of birdseye.

Weird, I know a few girls who keep espresso tampers in their bedside drawer too... you'd think the kitchen would be more appropriate...

 

[anotherbob]

I bought my first pipe a year ago. I was not as informed as I am now, so I thought buying a face-shaped pipe (which I had had my eye on for quite some time) online was a great idea. It was so pretty and distinguished. I overpayed for it, only for me to realize now, because of this thread, that it is resin. It said "made in Italy" but it smoked hot and it tasted like the insides of a dead bird that ate plastic. I smoked it only thrice, fortunately. Thank you internet, for you have saved me from trashing good (and expensive!) tobacco.

Keep on smoking, pals, and beware of polymers!

pics? I really want to see what this thing is.

 

[Infantry23]

Yeah, I'd like to see pictures of this too.

 

[Vlad the Pipe Enjoyer]

Here it is, in all its gory glory. The varnish (which is NOT a good sign on a pipe, I am aware) has peeled on the shank, right where the "made in Italy" mention is. I believe the stem is vulcanite. Have a great day folks!

 

[FLDRD]

I vote not Brylon.
.02

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

My first thought was, no way... that aint Brylon.

But the more I look at those pictures the less it looks like wood.

 

[Vlad the Pipe Enjoyer]

While some parts of the pipe are really glossy, like the nose and the chin, the interior of the shank seems grainy enough to be some kind of wood, maybe even briar. I've seen online plenty of Italian face-shaped pipes, all marked "genuine briar" or a variation. Maybe it IS briar, simply coated in varnish that makes it look like resin. I'll upload more detailed photos if need be. Thank you all!

 

[anotherbob]

While some parts of the pipe are really glossy, like the nose and the chin, the interior of the shank seems grainy enough to be some kind of wood, maybe even briar. I've seen online plenty of Italian face-shaped pipes, all marked "genuine briar" or a variation. Maybe it IS briar, simply coated in varnish that makes it look like resin. I'll upload more detailed photos if need be. Thank you all!

It looks like wood of some sort. I've seen varnish like that on briar before. One thing young briar has a nasty taste, and sometimes is used on novelty pipes. You don't run into uncured or young briar because there isn't such a high demand for pipes these days, but it can happen. I doubt it's resin. I think it would actually look "better" if it was since it could be made with a mold.