Jimmy Craig-era Ashton’s (Are Awesome)

[mtwaller]

I haven’t posted any pipe porn in a long time, and I just want to say how exquisite and lovely to smoke these new era Ashton’s are. I’ve never smoked a Taylor-era pipe, so I can’t compare them. But these new ones, the pebble grain is 2016, the brindle 2018, are just fantastic.

I’ve heard the oil curing process makes them smoke “sweet” from day one, and that has absolutely been my experience. These are dedicated Balkan Cake and English pipes, and they taste out of this world good from the very first bowl.

If anyone is on the fence about new Ashton’s, I wouldn’t be. These are all I’ve smoked since I bought them. Sorry for the long-winded rant, but I have to show some love for this brand. Absolutely beautifully crafted pieces, these are. Jimmy Craig knows how to carve a pipe. Properly cared for, these will be exquisite classics by the time I’m dead... assuming I live for a while.

 

[cshubhra]

Beautiful Pipes!

 

[elpfeife]

I agree. I have two Craig pipes and I like them a lot.

 

[trouttimes]

Really nice!

 

[mtwaller]

Ashton needs some love! They are mildly popular on smokingpipes, but otherwise I can only find nice Ashton’s regularly on Italian sites. Had to translate every part of the order process to get that brindle, but damn if it wasn’t worth it!

 

[gamzultovah]

Why did you do this??? What has been seen cannot be unseen...Sigh... ?

Absolutely beautiful pipes, by the way. Enjoy.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Are they still oil cured?

 

[mso489]

I often admire the new crop of Ashtons. I'm glad to hear they are as good as I'd hoped.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

Are they still oil cured?

Real good question.

 

[elpfeife]

My understanding is that they are not oil cured any longer, but I don't know where I got that idea.

 

[pipestud]

I visited with Mr. Craig for quite some time at his table at last weekend's West Coast Pipe Show. A finer gentleman you will not meet. He had about 50 or so pipes on his table and I manhandled every one of them. Mr. Taylor taught him well. Jimmy Craig Ashton pipes are beautifully crafted and you can tell that he pays a lot of attention to the finer details of finish out. Since my collecting motif is tanblast American carver hand made pipes, I don't smoke much from other country made pipes but the two Craig Ashton pipes that I own (both OLDCHURCH Canadians), are terrific smokers, and since they are tan blasts, do fit nicely in my collection.

 

[americaman]

Great to hear that because I’ve been looking to get one. Jimmy Craig was at the West Coast Pipe Show and it was great talking to him. He has that old school English accent that just fits him perfectly, and I wanted to buy one of his pipes but there were none that caught my eye.

There was an unsmoked Ashton Canadian with ring grain on smokingpipes.com recently for about $160 and I eyeballed it for a while until one day it was sold. Shoulda coulda woulda. Haven’t seen one that caught my eye since.

 

[mtwaller]

I just assumed they were still oil cured, but maybe not? The finish definitely has a slick, shiny oiliness about it on both pipes. But that could have absolutely nothing to do with being oil cured, I honestly couldn’t say.

 

[writingraav]

Couldn't agree more. I own three and they are top notch.

 

[lelik]

Beautiful pipes. Enjoy.

 

[mngslvs]

Thanks to all of you. Very persuasive.
Just ordered one from smokingpipes.eu . 109 euros ( around $120 today), on sale of 15% . Generally not keen on blasts, but this thing had a certain allure. If it smokes as good as you claim, it will have been an extreme bargain.

Had never ordered from SP eu before. Astonished to discover fee shipping.

 

[mngslvs]

and no state sales tax

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

@mngslvs ,Congrats on your new acquisition, smokingpipes.eu will do it right, they will ship you from Ireland right from Peterson locations in Sallynogging
@mtwaller ,Congrats on your gorgeous Ashtons, looks great I have two of Craigs Ashtons and they perform wonderfully, right of the bat, well-made pipes no doubt, the only one minus was huge stem buttons which I had to modify to suit my preferences

 

[mtwaller]

@mngslvs I’m sure it won’t disappoint. I was skeptical when I got my first one when American SP had their estate sale, but they’re awesome pipes. What did you end up getting?

 

[mngslvs]

Well, since I bought it, most likely it is not on their site any longer, so I can't quote their description, but I'd call it a straight apple (if memory serves), with that bizarre blast. Well bizarre may be too strong, but....interesting anyway. I'll try to post a photo when it arrives.