Calabashes

[smudgersmissingleg]

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

The ones Baki makes are removable for cleaning.


Removable bowl:

 

[BingBong]

I'm intrigued by observations that they moderate nicotine or mellow the smoke. What I've found with the empty 9mm chamber is that the smoke is fully mixed - Cabbies is the ideal test, because in several pipes I get strong perique separated from or overwhelming the virginia, whereas with the chamber, everything arrives together "in phase" - delightful. Whether it is mellowed or not is moot - still tastes full and mouthwatering.

 

[PaulRVA]

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

Thanks for posting that.
Against the 320 it gives me a size reference as my earlier question went unanswered. It’s hard to determine scale without one in hand.

 

[condorlover1]

I just couldn't see myself rocking one of those pipes!

 

[OzPiper]

Gorgeous example.
What are the approximate dimensions on that pipe ?

Couple of pipes for comparison.
The top pipe is a Group 4 Dunhill
The gourd chamber is conical, and quite small.

 

[sablebrush52]

I have a few of them. One is by Scottie Piersel, two others, of course, are Barlings, a 1908 Barling gourd calabash and a 1908 Barling briar calabash.

 

[MisterBadger]

I just couldn't see myself rocking one of those pipes!

I had been pondering the same question myself, poring over calabash porn on eBay and contemplating a purchase. I think one would have to build a smoking-room for it first, replete with oriental rugs and cushions to lounge on, attired in one's smoking cap and jacket.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I had been pondering the same question myself, poring over calabash porn on eBay and contemplating a purchase. I think one would have to build a smoking-room for it first, replete with oriental rugs and cushions to lounge on, attired in one's smoking cap and jacket.

I smoke mine lying on the sofa in my tracksuit bottoms and wife beater. It's a mood.

 

[PaulRVA]

Couple of pipes for comparison.
The top pipe is a Group 4 Dunhill
The gourd chamber is conical, and quite small.

View attachment 342592

Thank you for posting that example.
That’s such a lovely Calabash and I had hoped the size would be significant but not unwieldy and it looks to be perfectly sized.
It really is a nicely executed example and if it smokes as good as it looks has to be a blast to have in your collection.

 

[BingBong]

I suspect that Holmes used his as an ear-trumpet too, to catch a dying victim's last words.

 

[condorlover1]

There was a guy on here years ago whose name alludes me who used to make calabashes including cleaning out and drying the gourd that formed the chamber. He gave me a Scripto lighter once which he used to restore to like new condition as a hobby. Anyone else remember him?

 

[MisterBadger]

I suspect that Holmes used his as an ear-trumpet too, to catch a dying victim's last words.

As a Sherlock Holmes fan, it is my duty to inform you that the calabash pipe was never used in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. Its first portrayal in this context, which has since of course become iconic, was by William Gillette in the four-act play co-authored by Conan Doyle and Gillette, called (unsurprisingly) 'Sherlock Holmes', first staged in 1899. Gillette found it easiest to smoke and speak simultaneously on stage - as the directions required - with a calabash and, like the deerstalker cap (also popularised by Gillette), the image stuck. The Holmes in Doyle's stories is described variously as smoking a clay, a briar, and a cherrywood. He may, however, have used the *victim's* calabash to catch his dying words...

 

[condorlover1]

@MisterBadger : That is indeed correct and apparently the calabash pipe was easier to see from the nose bleed seats at the back!

 

[OzPiper]

Thank you for posting that example.
That’s such a lovely Calabash and I had hoped the size would be significant but not unwieldy and it looks to be perfectly sized.
It really is a nicely executed example and if it smokes as good as it looks has to be a blast to have in your collection.

I bought this in the late 1970s-early 1980s
The only marking is “Austria”.

I had a couple of others but I wasn’t happy with the shape or curve of the gourd portion so I gave those away.

Because the chamber is quite small, I use it for cube cut flakes which gives a reasonable 40min smoke.
Unless packed tightly, shag cut gives a 20-30min smoke.