I think you may mean the gourd Calabash, but I really like the shape in briar, and have asked for one for Christmas. The gourd pipes are impressive, but a bit large and maybe dramatic for my style of smoking. BC makes a nice briar version. The one I requested was a Peterson B10 on a good discount from PC.
I've owned one for many, many years, meer bowl and all. It's a grand smoke but, I smoke it rarely due to size and shape. It's my one pipe that can't be ignored when smoking it. One doesn't "clench and forget" a true calabash.
The gourd pipes are quite beautiful, but bulky to haul around. They'd be nice for smoking at pipe shows, shops, and clubs, but a bit grand. People might start looking for your butler. I like the shape. That's why I like the briar (or Meer) versions.
I bought the B10 too. I also got 3 more Petes with it. That price was too good to pass up. They just came in the mail yesterday so I plan to start testing them out today.
I'd love to get a nice Austrian gourd database pipe, but I just know its too big for me, and far too showy. Now if my career path leads down to solving mysteries, perhaps.
I love the calabash shape but not into the gourd thing that much. I had Michael Parks make me a calabash shape out of briar and hits all the buttons for me. If you are thinking about a briar calabash, I put the link to mine below.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/michael-parks-briar-calabash
I have two gourd calabashes, for aesthetic or collector purpose only.
They really look nice sitting in a dark bookshelf, plus they sort of epitomize pipe smoking.
Been looking for a Strambach calabash because I like them the most, but they seem to be sold out everywhere.
Mailed the company and asked them about it but no answer.