Fired up Grandpa's Pipe For the First Time...

[SnowmanKPT]

Hi all!
I cleaned up my Grandpa's pipes and fired up the BBB 57 for the first time with about 1/3rd of a bowl of Brigadier Black Alamo blend. (It seemed pretty tasty.) However, I definitely need to work on my packing, I had to relight quite a few times.
Regardless, it felt good to sit out in the winter sun and fresh air to think about Grandpa and fire up his pipe. (It definitely got the feels going.)
I am looking forward to increasing my knowledge base from interacting with you all.

 

[Brad H]

Grandpa would be proud.
Damn glad you're here!

 

[Pooh-Bah]

Grandpa had a handsome piece!

Packing is the bit that takes the most learning. Well, packing and pacing - three years in I still puff fast enough that my briars get uncomfortably hot fairly frequently.

 

[Snook]

Looks like a great pipe to start with! Grandpa had good taste.

 

[huntertrw]

Both of my grandfathers were pipe-smokers. My paternal grandfather passed when I was 10-years old and I would have given much to have had just one of his pipes, but they were thrown away like so much trash along with his tobacco (Prince Albert and Half-and-Half). My maternal grandfather passed before I was born, but I do have one of his pipes, a KB&B Yelo-Bole Imperial bullmoose. To me, it's a tangible link back to a man whom I never knew, but know I would have loved.

Did you know your grandfather? I hope so, and that his pipes bring you solace.

 

[SnowmanKPT]

Both of my grandfathers were pipe-smokers. My paternal grandfather passed when I was 10-years old and I would have given much to have had just one of his pipes, but they were thrown away like so much trash along with his tobacco (Prince Albert and Half-and-Half). My maternal grandfather passed before I was born, but I do have one of his pipes, a KB&B Yelo-Bole Imperial bullmoose. To me, it's a tangible link back to a man whom I never knew, but know I would have loved.

Did you know your grandfather? I hope so, and that his pipes bring you solace.

Fortunately I DID know him. He passed about 5 yrs ago. He hadn't smoked in about 3+ decades and had these packed away. I'll always think of him anytime I smell Captain Black.

 

[SnowmanKPT]

Grandpa had a handsome piece!

Packing is the bit that takes the most learning. Well, packing and pacing - three years in I still puff fast enough that my briars get uncomfortably hot fairly frequently.

Fortunately, this time, I managed to take my time and not overheat the bowl. (Along with having multiple relights. LOL) I have been reading where others say to "sip" on the stem, like a straw, and it seemed to help.

 

[SnowmanKPT]

Looks like a great pipe to start with! Grandpa had good taste.

I wish I could pin down more specifics on it. It appears to be an American made 'second or two star'(?), but I can't seem to find any more info. The only other marker on it is the number 57.

 

[Snook]

I wish I could pin down more specifics on it. It appears to be an American made 'second or two star'(?), but I can't seem to find any more info. The only other marker on it is the number 57.

Sometimes I think the appeal of old pipes like that is the mystery. Who made it? What year? How did your grandpa come to own it? You might never know, but I think that's kind of cool. Like an old piece of furniture and all the homes it might have been in and all the people that might have used it.

 

[SpuddsBuckley]

Welcome aboard! That pipe looks like a beaut.

 

[PaulRVA]

Welcome From Richmond Virginia USA
And Congratulations on keeping the Pipes in working order and the connection to your Grandfather!

 

[VDL_Piper]

Welcome to the forum from Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and remember Grandpa didn't fuss about his pipe, he filled it and smoked it and most likely thought of you whilst he did circle of life my friend, well done.

 

[ssjones]

That is a wonderful way to honor his memory! Not everyone gets a relationship with their grandfathers, savor it!

 

[Brad H]

I have a picture of my grandfather sitting on the wing of his Douglas MacArthur bomber plane.
He had a pipe in his mouth. I would have loved to have it but that was so many years ago.

So you are very fortunate to have your grandfathers pipe!

 

[SpuddsBuckley]

I have a picture of my grandfather sitting on the wing of his Douglas MacArthur bomber plane.
He had a pipe in his mouth. I would have loved to have it but that was so many years ago.

So you are very fortunate to have your grandfathers pipe!

Sounds like a pretty badass photo.

 

[stearmandriver]

I do like those old paneled pipes... Really nice! Excellent way to remember and connect with your grandfather.

Don't sweat relights. They'll always be required and they're harmless. Puffing hard to try to keep it constantly lit, now that isn't harmless; ruins the flavor and burns your mouth.

Look at it this way: if it goes out, you get to play with fire again. Who doesn't like that?

 

[Brad H]

It was a right before he flew 2 missions on D-Day.
Took a hit of flak to the leg I think. Earned a Purple Heart in d-day.

 

[filmguerilla]

I grew up in a family of pipe smokers. My grandfather had a small pipe rack with a jar that he kept on a small table beside his La-Z-Boy. His tobacco of choice was Velvet, his pipes were an even mix of Dunhill and Grabow. When he passed away I got a couple large cans of Velvet, a Grabow Sculptura poker, and a Dunhill Cumberland straight apple. By then I had already purchased a CAO meerschaum and an Xmas pipe from the local Tobacco Lane. My father had a small collection of Barling black meers that he loved and carried while in the army. I have one of those. I think this tradition within my own family is a big part of why I smoke a pipe, along with the ritual and flavor.

 

[DeerparkDays]

It was a right before he flew 2 missions on D-Day.
Took a hit of flak to the leg I think. Earned a Purple Heart in d-day.

Hello, would you mind sharing the photo? I for one, would love to see it.

 

[Brad H]

I’ll see if I can find it. We posted them at his 101st birthday party