Freehand?

[fshu2]

Hey yall. I am new to this site as well as fairly new to pipe smoking only one great year. i have recently acquired a love for the look of most freehand pipes but i can not for the life of me figure out why they are called freehand. I have searched the internet and your forums already and still have no idea the closest i can figure is it has something to do with the carving of the pipe. if any of you could tell me what makes a pipe a freehand i would love to know.

 

[hilojohnny]

Welcome to the Forum!.....I think this has something to do with the fact that the freehand pipes are not the "classic" shapes. If this is not correct, someone will come along shortly to render the proper explanation.... :lol:

 

[fshu2]

well that makes sense. Thank you for the quick response and the welcome.

 

[directshot]

Believe hilojohnny nailed the answer on this one.
Welcome to the forum fshu2.... from another new member. This is a great forum!!

 

[mlaug]

Freehand pipes generally refer to pipes made by hand. Sometimes it also refers to pipes made by machine, but finished by hand, but this isn't the strict interpretation.
The wood grain and flow of the grain is the primary criteria for determining the shape of the pipe, plus the carver's skill and imagination. Machine made pipes, in the classic shapes, are all pattern pipes and tend to look alike. Freehands are single creations.
Some times they can be finished smooth and other times the rough plateaux of the briar is left on the shank or bowl.
In my mind....no country out carved the Danes. The names of their carvers are legends in the pipe making world.

 

[mlaug]

Here are some freehands I already have photos of.

 

[pstlpkr]

IMHO I agree with Mlaug, and I might add that the actual cutting of the briar into a non classic shape is done without the aid of jigs or in some cases drawing on the block.

The pipe is cut usually on a band-saw and held by hand. Thus the artistic quality of "free forming" is expressed. e.g.

 

[yoru]

Freehand pipes are like freehand drawings -- or just what johnny said.
welcome to the forum also.

 

[fshu2]

thanks a lot yall, those were great answers and some beautiful pipes.