Chasing Grain

[Mike N]

I'm more of a Birds-eye guy but this James Upshall B grade is the top grain pipe in my collection



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I agree. While I love my straight grain, finding a pipe with the grain and Birds Eye is the Holy Grail for me. This little bamboo by Danish carver Henri Sorensen surprised me with both when it arrived. Henri learned his craft from Jens "Tao" Nielsen, Tom Eltang and Lasse Skovgaard. I assume he also learned where to source quality briar, too. As any chef will tell you, even the toughest recipes are a lot easier to prepare when you are working with top quality ingredients.

 

[Mike N]

One more smooth bamboo billiard from a personal favorite, carver Abe Herbaugh:

 

[OzPiper]

Here is one of the straightest grains I have ever held in my hands and the brand was absolutely unexpected for me...
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@Dshift,

Would you mind showing the other side please

I have a Parker "Straight Grain" Billiard, but the grain isn't quite as spectacular your example

 

[sablebrush52]

Here's a pipe by Ken Barnes:

 

[sablebrush52]

Here's one by Paul Tatum with one of his signature hand poured stems. I call it my hot rod pipe, fins and flames:

 

[irishearl]

One more smooth bamboo billiard from a personal favorite, carver Abe Herbaugh:


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I do like pipes with bamboo extensions, owning 1. However, most seem to have bowls with relatively small chambers and I'm more into large chambers these days.

 

[Dshift]

@Dshift,

Would you mind showing the other side please

I have a Parker "Straight Grain" Billiard, but the grain isn't quite as spectacular your example

Of course - here are all the sides

This Parker almost didn’t survive its previous previous restoration attempt - the “restorer” overreamed it with a sharp knife, resulting in a football shaped rim and wavy chamber walls… had to sacrifice some material in the reshaping of the rim and chamber itself but now she looks a lot better. Also the briar is superb - so soft that you can put a dent with your fingernail.

 

[Mike N]

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I have to reiterate bootlegpipes request - who made that incredible pipe? Wow..

 

[Dshift]

I have to reiterate bootlegpipes request - who made that incredible pipe? Wow..

The stem logo looks like it could be a caminetto

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Here's a pipe by Ken Barnes:

That is pretty much a perfect example of a straight grain pipe. I'm old-fashioned in the sense that I'd probably would've preferred a white band to a black stem but this is stunning none the less.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I have to reiterate bootlegpipes request - who made that incredible pipe? Wow..

As I recall, @georged and a friend of his collaborated on it; there’s a thread somewhere about it. Overall, I think it’s gorgeous, but have had mixed feelings about the angle of the accent in terms of visual flow since I first saw it (and guess I still do).

 

[sablebrush52]

As I recall, @georged and a friend of his collaborated on it; there’s a thread somewhere about it. Overall, I think it’s gorgeous, but have had mixed feelings about the angle of the accent in terms of visual flow since I first saw it (and guess I still do).

Quinton Wells is George's friend

 

[Mike N]

Here are 3 more smooths I pulled from the pipe case with nice straight grain:

Top: David Neeb bamboo

Left: Stokkebye 4th Generation “Autumn”

Right: Edwin pipes smooth apple

 

[Dshift]

I think I've shown a photo of this pipe before, but now with all angles in the right thread

 

[Dshift]

I couldn't find an Il Ceppo thread so this pipe lives here now
IL Ceppo House pipe 1997


I am also adding a before and after photos of the bit, just to show my progress with the "invisible" stem repairs

 

[Dshift]

A very dramatic straight grain on a larsen