Just Bought a New H.I.S. Briar and It's Got a Black Residue in It?

[briarcliff]

Hi guys
So this is my very first pipe. I normally roll my own cigarettes but was in the mood for something different so I popped into a shop and bought pipe cleaners, a multi tool (stamper, scoop, pick) some hazelnut pipe tobacco and this classy looking H.I.S. briar pipe. About $55 total.
The firs thing I did was take it apart and I noticed some brownish powdery stuff on the plastic mouth piece where it inserts into the wooden bowl. I dapped a paper towel in rubbing alcohol and wiped it down. It was kind of disconcerting to think I could have heated and inhaled whatever that was. There was also a lot of black residue inside the pipe which I rubbed out with paper towel soaked in rubbing alcohol and the pipe cleaners also soaked.
I got most of it out and have started smoking. It seems to be fine. Is it normal for there to be so much mysterious black residue inside a new pipe? I'm guessing its like a saftey coat of honey-like residue to protect the wood from burning. Is that correct?

 

[cleidophoros]

Black stuff sounds like some bowl coating and brown stuff is probably briar dust; check this out; http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/out-of-the-ashes/bowl-coatings-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-part-i/

http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/out-of-the-ashes/bowl-coatings-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-part-ii/

 

[zonomo]

I'd also make sure you purchased a new pipe as lots of stores also sell Estate pipes. I've bought pipes that ask the customer if they want it "pre carbonized" - I usually don't. This is better then my 1st pipe purchased where after my first bowl, I found a dang dime in there!!!!!