I've always found a dense tapestry of birdseye and a neat trail of cross grain stretching from rim to mortise to be my absolute favorite type of briar grain.
Sure, straight grain is lauded and gets the vast majority of the attention. So much so that you'll pay an outrageous premium for top specimens.
And I get it - it looks cool - but for me, I can get lost in the swirly briar eyes staring back at me.
Some pipe Marques have held the these in high regard as well. Castello has their Occhio di Pernice stamp. I think a couple classic Britwood companies had some short lived stamping too.
Who else is with me?
(Over the last couple years I've missed out on two Walt Cannoy Cardinal House pipes that grabbed my attention. Over the weekend he posted up a beautiful straight billiard with my precious darling cross grain in spades so I had to jump on it. I think waiting for its arrival is what has got me thinking.)
Sure, straight grain is lauded and gets the vast majority of the attention. So much so that you'll pay an outrageous premium for top specimens.
And I get it - it looks cool - but for me, I can get lost in the swirly briar eyes staring back at me.
Some pipe Marques have held the these in high regard as well. Castello has their Occhio di Pernice stamp. I think a couple classic Britwood companies had some short lived stamping too.
Who else is with me?
(Over the last couple years I've missed out on two Walt Cannoy Cardinal House pipes that grabbed my attention. Over the weekend he posted up a beautiful straight billiard with my precious darling cross grain in spades so I had to jump on it. I think waiting for its arrival is what has got me thinking.)