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BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
1,179
5,089
London UK
Pretty good swear word, now I see it. Anyway. Does anyone have a pukka calabash? Do any of the Peterson's fall into that category?

I'm prompted to ask by the recent realization that my (cheap) 9mm filter pipes, with filter chambers left empty without filters, give me superior flavours to anything else I have in my collection. I have yet to buy a 9mm Savinelli, say, and prove this beyond any doubt, but the Calabash principle appears to be the way forward for me.

Of course, the real things have enormous condensing chambers, are they even better? I notice that, with my 6mm Savinelli, not so much gained - is bigger always better, or is there a volume past which one has diminishing returns?

Btw, I just noticed that I became a "Lifer". Yikes.
 

Sigmund

Lifer
Sep 17, 2023
2,821
26,701
France
I dont have an answer but congrats! Now you are stuck here.

I think the question I have is wether the increase in flavor is due to having a large chamber or the fact that its a super open draw with no filter. That said, I dont think they simply made the large condensing chambers for Sherlock Holmes fans....
 

BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
1,179
5,089
London UK
I dont have an answer but congrats! Now you are stuck here.

I think the question I have is wether the increase in flavor is due to having a large chamber or the fact that its a super open draw with no filter. That said, I dont think they simply made the large condensing chambers for Sherlock Holmes fans....
Interesting, but oddly these don't have what I'd call a super open draw - I have other, standard pipes which are more open.
 

PaulRVA

Lifer
May 29, 2023
4,530
75,394
“Tobacco Row” Richmond Virginia USA
As far as a Historic Calabash pipe I wish I had an answer for you.
I’ve always wanted one but they were either too small if affordable or too expensive if flipping the bill.
Briar Works produces a Calabash with a Magnetic Cup which I find fantastic and Mimmo is churning out some gorgeous Calabash’s as well.
I have a Reverse Calabash Meer that is doing really well and have no quorum’s about getting another.
Hopefully someone on here will chime in as several members have displayed them on the WAYS thread.
 

condorlover1

Lifer
Dec 22, 2013
8,415
29,777
New York
I had one from the 1900's which I gave away to someone on here years ago. They are interesting pipes but I have always felt that they are bit unwieldily and require the wearing of a silly hat whilst smoking them. I am always reminded of the silly Holmes and Watson joke about them going camping on the Dartmoor whilst searching for the hound in the Hound of the Baskervilles. Watson says to Holmes as they zip themselves into their sleeping bags, look at the stars on this clear night. You can see the Milky Way and Orions Belt. What does it all mean Holmes? Holmes lights his pipe and after a few moments tells Watson that 'It means that someone has stolen our tent Watson!'. rotf
 
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PaulRVA

Lifer
May 29, 2023
4,530
75,394
“Tobacco Row” Richmond Virginia USA
Are they still making these? I was looking for one a couple weeks back and couldn't even find a reference to them on the Briarworks site, much less an actual pipe for sale somewhere.
I’ve seen a run back in 2022 and noticed a couple pop up since as estates. I’d love to get one. Last time I checked the BW site they were out of stock.
 
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Dec 3, 2021
5,399
46,281
Pennsylvania & New York
I have three Gourd Calabash pipes easily accessible for some pics.

William Harrison (Birmingham silversmith) with a silver rim cap and ferrule, with a horn stem from 1909:

20241014_210604.jpg

FDUPH (hallmarked silver bowl rim, Birmingham, 1909) with a silver band on the shank by W.H. Carrington (hallmarked Chester, 1909):

20241014_210620.jpg

Kaywoodie (four hole stinger), circa 1940s:

20241014_210640.jpg

The first two pipes are relatively small (they measure about six inches on the diagonal); because of the period they’re from, they both have orific bits and have somewhat small draught holes, typical of the period; the Kaywoodie has a large chamber, but the stinger narrows the draw—the draw feels rather restricted on all three pipes, especially the Kaywoodie—you would probably get a much more open draw with a 9mm filter pipe without a filter.

Here are all three next to each other with a Savinelli Series III 320 KS to get a sense of relative size:

20241014_212033.jpg
 

lraisch

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 4, 2011
720
1,476
Granite Falls, Washington state
I have three Gourd Calabash pipes easily accessible for some pics.

William Harrison (Birmingham silversmith) with a silver rim cap and ferrule, with a horn stem from 1909:

View attachment 342144

FDUPH (hallmarked silver bowl rim, Birmingham, 1909) with a silver band on the shank by W.H. Carrington (hallmarked Chester, 1909):

View attachment 342146

Kaywoodie (four hole stinger), circa 1940s:

View attachment 342147

The first two pipes are relatively small (they measure about six inches on the diagonal); because of the period they’re from, they both have orific bits and have somewhat small draught holes, typical of the period; the Kaywoodie has a large chamber, but the stinger narrows the draw—the draw feels rather restricted on all three pipes, especially the Kaywoodie—you would probably get a much more open draw with a 9mm filter pipe without a filter.

Here are all three next to each other with a Savinelli Series III 320 KS to get a sense of relative size:

View attachment 342153
I've never understood those without a meerschaum cup. Do you just smoke from the gourd or is there some sort of liner? Seems like a dried gourd would burn out real fast.

I have a Pioneer with a meerschaum cup and it smokes quite well, but is certainly clumsy. (I have a deerstalker hat too.)
 
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OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
6,675
35,992
72
Sydney, Australia
I've never understood those without a meerschaum cup. Do you just smoke from the gourd or is there some sort of liner? Seems like a dried gourd would burn out real fast.

I have a Pioneer with a meerschaum cup and it smokes quite well, but is certainly clumsy. (I have a deerstalker hat too.)
The ones with the silver/gold rims have the meerschaum cup hidden under all that metal.

Looks nice, but a PITB if you want to clean out the gourd
 
Dec 3, 2021
5,399
46,281
Pennsylvania & New York
I've never understood those without a meerschaum cup. Do you just smoke from the gourd or is there some sort of liner? Seems like a dried gourd would burn out real fast.

I have a Pioneer with a meerschaum cup and it smokes quite well, but is certainly clumsy. (I have a deerstalker hat too.)

There are inserts mounted under the silver caps.
 
Jun 9, 2018
4,369
14,039
England
I think they are beautiful in a sort of iconic way.
Unfortunately Strambach closed business some years ago, I liked their style the most.
I managed to get a couple of Strambachs before they shut down. Both are fitted for a 9mm filter but they work just as well with or without. They're both pretty big.
20180917_2120042-600x337.jpg

20180917_211812-600x337.jpg

Size comparison with a Peterson b10
IMG_20190801_210124.jpg
IMG_20190801_210205.jpg


I've also got a Northern Briars that's a small/medium size.
IMG_20240122_155210.jpg


And a small Baki
IMG_20240122_160102.jpg