Time for an update.
Today, I had my 50th smoke in this pipe and took some pics for comparison.
For the sake of continuity, I took the same four shots in the same positions.
As far as handling the pipe, I'm still holding it by the stem and clenching while smoking. To remove the stem, I hold it on either side of the shank with two fingers, where the name Tekin is and opposite of that.
After each smoke, it gets the pipe cleaner and paper napkin treatment. The pipe cleaner will occasionally pass, but most often, the stem must come out.
I was initially smoking it once per day, several days per week. Lately, it's drifted off to maybe once or twice a week.
It always provides a very good smoke and neither moisture nor heat has been an issue.
It has been fed mostly Dark Bird's Eye and Dark Plug, with a few loads of various burley flakes.
See you at 100!