I’m accumulating some pipes from Canadian carvers. It looks like we are past the heyday of Canadian carvers, so I‘m glad to get unsmoked examples of pipes from these men, two of which are deceased, and one in the game for over 60 years.
I am blessed that Canadian carvers seem to have produced humble pipes for regular folks, alongside their fancy expensive ones. Here are a John Calich 2002 billiard, a Philip Trypis rusticated billiard, and a nice short Julius Vesz billiard. They’re all no-nonsense: briar bowl, no adornment, stingers, or filters, and all have a vulcanite fishtail stem.
The Calich appears to be 2002, I think six years before his death. He was an avid motorcyclist, so this pipe will probably accompany me on my motorcycle trips to commemorate its maker. Stem work looks nice and thin, with a really deep, gradual funnel at the bit. Nice attention to detail. I had to polish it the stem, as it had oxidized waiting for me for 19 years. The dot on top appears to be steel!
The Trypis has his unusual rustication. I’ve warmed to it, as it‘s the grippiest stuff I have ever held. Looks like dragonscale to me. He must have turned these out at a great pace, as they aren’t expensive at all. The button is a bit bigger and rounder than the other two, keeping with the theme of grippiness with the rustication.
And last is a new Julius Vesz pipe. He is still making pipes, at 87! I thought that was amazing, so I ventured to get one, and found he makes pipes everywhere from thousand dollar gold capped pipes, to the humble 5” pocket billiard below. Like Castello, he says they each have quality aged briar, but the more expensive ones have prettier grain. The shaping on this one you can tell is done by hand, as the curves are not completely smooth, showing signs of hand work. But I find that a great reminder of a long career and fortitude it takes to be 87 and still making anything other than complaints.
Thats it for now. I have some more Canadian carver pipes to get, although I dare say I’ll probably never have a Michael Parks unless he starts giving them away. Anyone have any to show that I should know about?
I am blessed that Canadian carvers seem to have produced humble pipes for regular folks, alongside their fancy expensive ones. Here are a John Calich 2002 billiard, a Philip Trypis rusticated billiard, and a nice short Julius Vesz billiard. They’re all no-nonsense: briar bowl, no adornment, stingers, or filters, and all have a vulcanite fishtail stem.
The Calich appears to be 2002, I think six years before his death. He was an avid motorcyclist, so this pipe will probably accompany me on my motorcycle trips to commemorate its maker. Stem work looks nice and thin, with a really deep, gradual funnel at the bit. Nice attention to detail. I had to polish it the stem, as it had oxidized waiting for me for 19 years. The dot on top appears to be steel!
The Trypis has his unusual rustication. I’ve warmed to it, as it‘s the grippiest stuff I have ever held. Looks like dragonscale to me. He must have turned these out at a great pace, as they aren’t expensive at all. The button is a bit bigger and rounder than the other two, keeping with the theme of grippiness with the rustication.
And last is a new Julius Vesz pipe. He is still making pipes, at 87! I thought that was amazing, so I ventured to get one, and found he makes pipes everywhere from thousand dollar gold capped pipes, to the humble 5” pocket billiard below. Like Castello, he says they each have quality aged briar, but the more expensive ones have prettier grain. The shaping on this one you can tell is done by hand, as the curves are not completely smooth, showing signs of hand work. But I find that a great reminder of a long career and fortitude it takes to be 87 and still making anything other than complaints.
Thats it for now. I have some more Canadian carver pipes to get, although I dare say I’ll probably never have a Michael Parks unless he starts giving them away. Anyone have any to show that I should know about?
