Jazz-
If that Pete which you won't smoke nor sell nor give away is still around, send it to me. I'll pay shipping. It'd be a great experiment to see if some of my techniques can improve on its smoking characteristics.
A photo in the thread showing the drilling would be cool, too
:D Nice try but I didn't say I never smoke it. I said I rarely smoke it. To be more specific, it only gets smoked in summer and only certain, very dry tobaccos ever get put into it and even then it's rarely. When I think about it, it probably got smoked about 3-5 times last summer. It's a real shame because I love the looks of it. I always have, even though, as the years have passed I have developed a preference for straights and 1/4s. I'm a clencher and would like to use it as one of my dog walking pipes but clenching that thing just doesn't work. Especially this time of year.
Also, it was not really a cheap pipe. Well, of course, that's relative and many would laugh at that statement and they are entitled to but to me, for something to burn tobacco in, it wasn't cheap. I can't afford to spend that kind of money and not get as much as I can out of it. OK, I don't smoke it often and the truth is it's a stinker but I would be lying if I said that when I looked at it I didn't get some pleasure from it. Because I do. It's part of the collection and I have learned much from it. Also, and I'm a little hesitant to share this because I'm British and have a fear of sentimental guff, but the truth is I am a sentimental man and it reminds me of a nice day out with a very dear friend. A very dear man who is no longer with us and that is to all our detriment, I assure you. Some may understand that some may not but pipes really are memories. You can't get that with a cigarette butt or cigar.
Regarding selling it. The above aside, I won't sell it because I wouldn't feel comfortable selling something that doesn't meet my standards. It's as simple as that.
I'd be happy to oblige you with photos but I don't own a camera. I have always hated them. They have always made me stiff and uncomfortable. I have never owned a camera apart from "smartphones" and I don't like them either so that's gone. I don't even take pics of the fish I catch :D Even if I did have one, I'm not sure how the hell I would get a good picture of the problem. Perhaps my buddy wouldn't mind trying to get a few shots of it when he's over next.
