I just picked up this exact same pipe unsmoked. I know it's been a while, but hit me on DM as I'd like to find out how much you paid for it, condition, etc.
Got me another 'new to me' pipe!!! A Brigham Norseman 9W7.
Brigham Pipes
- Thread starter rd02sir
- Start date
Brigham was my first name brand (not basket) pipes. Once I figured out pipe smoking is for me and I can comfortably look beyond baskets, antique store estates, and cobs it was a Brigham Klondike Canadian and a Heritage bent Dublin. I'll have to dig them out for pictures someday soon.
I’ve been getting a lot more selective in my pipe purchases but sometimes the ones you go for will come in bunches. In the last few weeks I’ve picked up the following from top to bottom.
1980s fully rusticated Norseman
1980s partially rusticated Norseman
1970s Valhalla with replacement stem
Early 2000s 5-dot Lowlander
Looking forward to cleaning these up. In the future I will need to have a new Brigham stem made for the Valhalla. The Lowlander is interesting, it is stamped 5-dot but is smooth which was supposed to be reserved for the 7-dots. The 5-dots were fully rusticated and 6-dots partially rusticated.
1980s fully rusticated Norseman
1980s partially rusticated Norseman
1970s Valhalla with replacement stem
Early 2000s 5-dot Lowlander
Looking forward to cleaning these up. In the future I will need to have a new Brigham stem made for the Valhalla. The Lowlander is interesting, it is stamped 5-dot but is smooth which was supposed to be reserved for the 7-dots. The 5-dots were fully rusticated and 6-dots partially rusticated.
For the 4, including shipping, I paid a total of $300 and also got 2 more no name briar pipes and a six pipe rack/humidor that I will need to make a top for.
God bless NPD.
I got a new Brigham Klondike Canadian yesterday! SP sent it in record time, the same day I ordered it. For the price ($136) I think it is gorgeous. The grain is incredible. It's so beautiful that I almost didn't want to smoke it. But pictured above is the first tobacco I smoked it with, which has become one of my favorites (figures, it's the most expensive tobacco I've encountered).
Look at this grain. And the finish--this pipe is smooth as glass. It blows me away that I can get something like this at such a reasonable price. I love the Canadian shape, too, especially the length--here, just over 7 inches.
The rock maple filter is super simple and easy to use and has a definite effect. It cleans up the smoke a lot, but seems to let most of the nicotine and definitely all of the taste through. This pipe has become the only one I smoke and I switch between 2 filters at the moment, and I've had full--maybe even smoother--taste through both, even after multiple uses without cleaning. I also do still get an occasional nip of the tongue with my other pipes but not with this one, not even a little. It also smokes super dry--no gurgling of any kind.
Despite the great quality of the smoke, I've had 2 issues so far I'd classify as minor.
First is that, breaking in the pipe, I've been burning through some type of plastic. I don't taste it during the smoke but noticed it afterward as a very faint chemical taste and odor. By bowl 5 this seems to have dissipated.
Second is that the pipe runs hot. It is unforgiving--you gotta bring your A game. This seems to be primarily because the walls of the bowl are quite thin, about 1/4" or slightly less. I've slowed down, sipped the smoke, packed looser, done everything I'm supposed to, but it runs hot just the same. A relight, especially late in the bowl, immediately warms the walls to the point where it is too hot to hold. I've solved this by holding it on the shank, like a cigar. This is easy to do because of the shank's oval shape, but I admit I prefer to grip the bowl. This might be solved once there is more cake on the walls, I guess we will have to wait and see.
Overall, though, this is my first truly nice pipe and I really like it. I would say that, given the craftsmanship, the quality, the looks, and the filter system, I'm a Brigham convert. My next pipe will be a knockaround travel pipe--and it will definitely be a Brigham.
Nice pipe, I too am a Brigham fan. The Klondike line is really nice. Enjoy your smokes
Petersons have been replaced as my favorites by Brigham pipes. I get the best smokes out of them. Your particular model is beautiful! Some of their other models have thicker walls and may not smoke as hot as that one. I have one from each price range and they all smoke wonderfully.
Same experience here with my Heritage series Canadian. Love the pipe but I'm afraid I'll end up blowing a hole through it. Since I smoke only when in my car, wearing my racing gloves helps a bit with holding it, LOL.
Thank you! I love looking at it almost as much as I love smoking it. I actually wanted another Brigham as my travel pipe because I don't want to bring my nice one on a plane or during a long car ride, so I just bought a cheapo blasted System from SP that seems to be sitting at the post office in SC MADDENINGLY (along with half a pound each of Pegasus and DFK argh!) lol. I guess it won't make it to me in time for my trip early next week but it will definitely be on the next one!
I have the same worry but it seems to be holding up fine. I'd read about finishes bubbling but I've gotten that sucker really hot a few times and it's no worse for the wear (wish I could say the same about my tongue lol). It has forced me to let a little cake build up, which definitely helped, and to slow my cadence down a bit, which really helps. I can hold the bowl until the last quarter or so now; after that, I just hook a finger over the shank and it works great. When I purchased my travel Brigham, I did opt for a non-smooth finish and a thicker bowl. I'm convinced the blasted or rusticated finishes smoke a little cooler and are easier to hold when hot just because of the increased surface area. I have an infrared camera, come to think of it, so maybe I should compare and contrast once my new pipe gets here. Hmmmm.....
Well, that'd be an interesting "study" to see.
My first Brigham was a #84 Voyageur. Smokes cooler than the Canadian but still gets quite warm, specially around the rim which is thinner. Other than the crappy vulcanite stem it's been very good. I'm itching to get me another Voyageur now that they're making the stems out of acrylic. Too bad Brigham doesn't make churchwardens.
I'd stay away from their Tundra line, BTW. Very bad experience with them: bleeding stain, pits... oh my.
Too bad. The good news is it’ll be waiting for you upon your return!