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acidpox

Can't Leave
Nov 18, 2018
460
317
Ran across these on Amazon today. Was wondering if anyone here has tried them. I figured I may buy them to practice working on pipes and finishing techniques, also have them as knock around pipes or as gifts to people who are curious about pipe smoking but dont want to invest money. Any thoughts?
5 pack unfinished briar pipe

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,433
It might be an interesting project. At the price, you aren't taking much risk. Some unfinished pipes, like Savinelli, are such that the fills and flaws are often minimal, the stems are good enough, and the pipes "finish" themselves over time, darkening and even developing a luster that can be quite handsome. My question on these would be, are the stems of high enough quality to be pleasing, and would the briar be sufficient to look reasonably good if you didn't carve or stain them. Pipes can last a lifetime, and most of us tend to keep most of the pipes we buy, so you don't want to buy pipes that just end up in drawers. The ones you don't smoke, just pass 'em along, I'd say.

 

acidpox

Can't Leave
Nov 18, 2018
460
317
Yeah, next pay check I'm getting them, be great for when I go kayaking and and camping and I've had a bit too much to drink, I always lose something and i hate for it to be one of my nicer pipes

 

aldecaker

Lifer
Feb 13, 2015
4,407
42
Hell yes! Go for it. They might even be surprisingly good quality. Some of the pipes they've sold on P&C's website have been new old stock French briar, and they're pretty damned good smokers, IMHO.

 

acidpox

Can't Leave
Nov 18, 2018
460
317
Yeah, next pay check I'm getting them, be great for when I go kayaking and and camping and I've had a bit too much to drink, I always lose something and i hate for it to be one of my nicer pipes

 

blendtobac

Lifer
Oct 16, 2009
1,237
213
I'm constantly amazed at all of the seventies' French factory pipes that keep popping up. We had some (as previously mentioned) on P&C and I've seen some elsewhere. They must have had pretty bad inventory control to have had so many pipes sitting around for 40+ years. But while most of these pipes would be considered smaller than average by today's standards, the ones I bought smoked like champs.
Russ

 

acidpox

Can't Leave
Nov 18, 2018
460
317
Yes, tracking says they sure be here tomarrow or Monday. Will post pics when they arrive.

 

trubka2

Lifer
Feb 27, 2019
2,470
21,640
Thanks for the post. I ordered a batch. Great gifts for friends and family who are finish carpenters and luthiers. Here's to hoping they get the pipe carving bug.

 

kola

Lifer
Apr 1, 2014
1,484
2,339
Colorado Rockies, Cripple Creek region
I like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Finished-Tobacco-Damaged-Mis-Cuts-Quality/dp/B01HMTWOTG/ref=pd_sim_121_5/145-3432789-4373939?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01HMTWOTG&pd_rd_r=349153b0-414c-11e9-9373-b7db777aa3d1&pd_rd_w=SitIB&pd_rd_wg=IjkcL&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=TKAD1JK0P1W48100MMXM&psc=1&refRID=TKAD1JK0P1W48100MMXM

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
24,565
27,068
Carmel Valley, CA
81khXmpCnVL._SX522_.jpg

But some are "D quality" from Mr. Brog, ca. $30. And I don't think many- if any- are briar.

 

acidpox

Can't Leave
Nov 18, 2018
460
317
Well they just came in and I'm happy with my purchase. All the stems are vulcanite and the inside of the bowls are flawless. Drilling seems to be fine, but I'm no expert on that, a few have some nice grain patterns. They do have some cracks and voids on the outside of the bowl but I was expecting that. One does have a nasty crack on the stem but I believe I can fix it. At less that 8 dollars a piece it's a no brainer, your paying cob prices for briar. There's some pics.
Here is all if them next to a kaywoodie drinkless for size comparison.
20190308_130133-600x600.jpg

Here's one of the basic kinda holes that need to be filled
20190308_130159-600x600.jpg

And here's that nasty crack on the stem of one
20190308_130230-600x600.jpg

Cant wait til I have some free time to work on and finish them

 

acidpox

Can't Leave
Nov 18, 2018
460
317
So I've been slowly working on the 1st one, turned out okay except the "rustication" job on the front I tried to do while pretty intoxicated to blend in a void I didn't want to fill. I still need to sand down the stem to better flow in the strummel, as you can see in one of the pics. I contast stained it black with yellow over top. Without further ado I give you the "Drunken Sunflower"
20190329_155009-600x600.jpg

20190329_154940-600x600.jpg

20190329_155059-600x600.jpg

20190329_155044-600x600.jpg


 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,210
60,433
Three or four of those will last as long as a pipe you'd buy for a few hundred bucks, and one or two might smoke as well. Also, without further finishing, these would darken and even develop a luster, as has happened for several of my Sav unfinished pipes.

 
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