Is My Grabow Damaged

[Old_Newby]

My first briar came in yesterday. A Dr Grabow. Economical, good starter, made in North Carolina. I know it’s not the best pipe but I have heard good thinks about them. I have to be thrifty and this fits my personality because I lose my sun glasses, readers, and am usually knocking around in the garage or outside. I love it, but
did see a concern.

There is a divot or notch on the mortise where the stem plugs in (see picture). I asked tobaccopipes.com and they tell me it’s normal but they will pay for shipping and refund.

“The area that is missing from the mortise is from drilling the pipe. It occurs across many different brands. If you would like to send it back to us for a refund I can send you a prepaid return label.”

Does anyone have any experience with this issue? I don’t want it to be a failure point or leak and waste $40, but I also don’t want to worry about a non issue.

 

[captpat]

If it's a bent pipe it's normal.

 

[seanv]

^^ what he said

 

[sandollars]

That notch is put there intentionally during the construction process. It also makes it a little easier to run a pipe cleaner.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your pipe.

 

[Old_Newby]

Thanks Everyone!!! You guys are such a great resource. Love this place. !!

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

It's diabolical workmanship, but if you can get a a draw and the stem doesn't wobble, I guess it's ok.
it's maybe normal for Grabow, but it's not normal, never seen anything like it before.

 

[sandollars]

It's normal. I have this notch on 2 Nanna Ivarsson's , A teddy Knudsen, Several Bangs, numerous Dunhills, Savinellis, etc. etc. It's part of the construction process drilling the hole in a bent pipe.

Straight pipes do not have this notch. @Morrison Jeremiah , I bet you smoke straight pipes?

You have ZERO worries.

 

[Latakia Dave]

Looks normal to me. Maybe a slight bit more pronounced than I see on most of my bent pipes.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

It's normal. I have this notch on 2 Nanna Ivarsson's , A teddy Knudsen, Several Bangs, numerous Dunhills, Savinellis, etc. etc. It's part of the construction process drilling the hole in a bent pipe.

Straight pipes do not have this notch. @Morrison Jeremiah , I bet you smoke straight pipes?

You have ZERO worries.

20 bent pipes. 10 straight ones, mostly Dunhill seconds. All of them perfect.

 

[reloader]

As others have stated, its normal on bent pipes. I have many with that notch and they all smoke fine.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Does anyone have any experience with this issue?

Perfectly normal on a bent pipe.

but it's not normal

Actually very normal. It keeps the airway aligned in bent pipes.

20 bent pipes. 10 straight ones, mostly Dunhill seconds. All of them perfect.

That would explain why out of five Dunhills I've only ever had one pass a pipe cleaner.

 

[craig61a]

As was mentioned, this is necessary in order for the drilling of the airway to meet up with the proper spot in the bottom of the chamber. I'm surprised they offered to send you a prepaid return label. They flat out refused to send me return labels for some Christmas pipes, because "minor variations in drilling" aren't considered defects...

 

[captpat]

There were some companies that drilled the airway with a bit capable of creating a curve, IIRC Ser Jacopo used this technique at one time.

 

[sandollars]

Perfectly normal on a bent pipe.



Actually very normal. It keeps the airway aligned in bent pipes.

View attachment 127749


That would explain why out of five Dunhills I've only ever had one pass a pipe cleaner.

I KNEW we could count on you to put up a diagram to explain why. Thanks!

AND

I KNEW we could count on you to take a swing at Dunhill!

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

Well, I learn something new every day.
Maybe one day I'll see the evidence with my own eyes.

 

[mso489]

I've been smoking pipes, including bent pipes, for forty some years and never noticed this. So thank you for asking the question, and for the authoritative answers. Now I'll notice every time.

I'm a Grabow fan. I especially like their Royalton pipes with acrylic stems, and especially their Royalton bulldogs that don't seem to be available new anymore. I suspect the artist who shaped those has retired, because he really did an artisanal job shaping them.

The Dr. Grabow plant in Sparta, N.C., in the western part of the state up north near the Virginia line, suffered earthquake damage a few years ago, and it took them a few days or weeks to get back in production. I think they have outlasted everyone to be the largest manufacturer by volume of briar pipes in the U.S.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I KNEW we could count on you to take a swing at Dunhill!

Not even intended as such. Considering why carvers use the technique and Dunhill doesn't, it explains bad drilling that I hadn't considered the reason behind. They go for a straight hole instead of airway alignment.

 

[Old_Newby]

I've been smoking pipes, including bent pipes, for forty some years and never noticed this. So thank you for asking the question, and for the authoritative answers. Now I'll notice every time.

I'm a Grabow fan. I especially like their Royalton pipes with acrylic stems, and especially their Royalton bulldogs that don't seem to be available new anymore. I suspect the artist who shaped those has retired, because he really did an artisanal job shaping them.

The Dr. Grabow plant in Sparta, N.C., in the western part of the state up north near the Virginia line, suffered earthquake damage a few years ago, and it took them a few days or weeks to get back in production. I think they have outlasted everyone to be the largest manufacturer by volume of briar pipes in the U.S.

There is a nice video about them on YouTube. Goes over the history and employees. Some have been there 50 years.