Have Smooth Grain Finishes Edged Out Of Fashion?

[mso489]

Seems like ten or twelve years ago, about a third of up-market pipes were smooth polished finish featuring notable grain, and they are still popular in a general sense. But it seems that blast, carved, rusticated, and semi-rusticated seem to have risen in popularity. It seems like the smooth polished grain has backed off to about ten to fifteen percent of pipe offerings. I'd guess they'll be back, the way fashion fluctuates, but is my sense of it a real "thing?"

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I perfer smooth finishes. I don't own any pipes with any kind of textured finish. I have also noticed that the sandblasted pipes seem to be more popular.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I prefer sandblasted to smooth and rusticated.

 

[brandaves]

You can get away with a lot more imperfections in a Rusticated pipe which I guess is why the tend to be less expensive compared to smooth pipes. I don't necessarily think they are more popular, I think people want to pay less money for a briar pipe.

I could be wrong, but overall smooth briar do seem to cost a bit more in my experience, especially with a nice grain pattern.

 

[ofafeather]

To me, nothing beats a great blast.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

For me it’s either smooth or blasted. “Rustication” doesn’t do it for me aesthetically.

 

[Casual]

I have a few well executed non-smooth finish pipes, but for me, nothing beats a smooth finish and crisp edges. That goes double for meers.

Though nothing beats a roughed up finish for grip. If I ever rock climb with a pipe, I’ll make sure it’s sandblasted or rusticated.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Same year, line, and four digit shape combo. The blasted Giubileo D'Oro 9004 is the favorite. Also the more expensive of the two.

 

[doctorbob]

For me, I was a straight up smooth guy until I actually held a good blast in my hands. Now I prefer sanded over smooth. Lots more visual and tactile appeal.

 

[Chasing Embers]

For me, I was a straight up smooth guy until I actually held a good blast in my hands. Now I prefer sanded over smooth. Lots more visual and tactile appeal.

View attachment 36804

Sounds like what changed my mind.

 

[smokey789]

Doesn't much matter to me. If it smokes, I'll probably like it.

 

[garageboy]

Blast and smooth for me. I like wood's natural grain. Corallo/sea rock is the only rustication I like.

 

[petes03]

When I first smoke, smooth finished pipes were all I really cared about. Nothing else would even draw my gaze. Then I was offered a deal on a NOS Nording bulldog that had a rusticated finish. I bought it, and couldn’t get over how good it felt in the hand, and how cool it smoked. It’s a fact the two pipes of the same shape and size, one smooth and the other rusticated or blasted, will smoke with different external temperatures. There’s just more surface are on a craggy pipe.... These days I still buy the occasional smooth pipe, but I’ve come to enjoy the look and feel of blasted and rusticated pipes to the point that they make up probably 90% of my purchases. I still like to see some nice birdseye, straight and flame grain pipes, I just don’t buy as many these days.

 

[petes03]

Funny thing though, I actually just bought a smooth Luciano Volcano today.... That said, I also have an Eric Heberling sandblasted strawberry wood billiard on the way as well.

 

[craiginthecorn]

Since price should reflect the relative demand, the answer is absolutely not. Smooth pipes still command a significant premium.

 

[rmpeeps]

Tinsky TanBlast Dublin.
Enough said.

 

[Sonorisis]

Blasted or Rusticated for me. They are easier to hold onto.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Maybe briar with pristine grain isn't as easy to come by these days?

 

[Slacey]

As a fairly new pipe smoker, I have examples of all finishes - but for me personally, I prefer sandblasted.

 

[tobefrank]

I think American carvers particularly have elevated the sandblasted finish to a new level and the demand and appreciation for a good sandblast has gone up along with it. Not sure if rusticated pipes are more popular than before, but sandblasts definitely are.