Kansas City Pipe Show Report... Great Time! (image heavy)

[mrjerke]

Hey everyone,
Just wanted to give a little report on my first Pipe Show. KC was an absolute blast. I couldn't have had more fun and met nicer people. I have to be honest, meeting some of these pipe carvers I was like a kid in a candy store. These guys have phenomenal talent and are even nicer people.
Friday I arrived at the Argosy early and was able to sit and hang out with forum member Zack Hamric and his wife Greta. They couldn't be nicer people and we enjoyed some Stonehaven while I was able to check out Zack's selection. He does some amazing work, if you don't own a Hamric, you need to check him out.
After dinner I met some awesome people. Brian, Kevin, Ernie Markle, Ryan Alden, Nate King, Thomas James, Scott Thile, Jesse Jones, Premal Chheda, Steve Fallon, Greg Pease, forum members Sandoval and Pylorns, and too many others to remember. I was so enamoured with Ryan Alden's work I picked up 2 of his pieces. Little did I know he was one of the winners of the billiard contest announced the next day! I cracked a roughly 2000 tin of Escudo with Brian and enjoyed the company of him, Steve, Mike, and James. Another gentlemen had an old tin of Escudo and we were able to do a comparison. Check out the dark coins with plume. Such a good night.
The next morning at the show was enough to make my head spin. So many good pipes and met some more great people. The team from SPC, Russ Oulette, Scott Klein, Lee Von Erck, and more. I had to grab a Scott Thile, because not only is he a great pipe maker, but a great musician and I'm a huge fan of his and his sons work. I spent the rest of the day enjoying tobacco with Nate, David Huber (dsh pipes), some other great people. Smoked my old Escudo, Stonehaven, 2007 Haddo's Delight, John Aylesbury Luxury Flake, and 10 year old Full Virginia Flake (WOW!)
Sunday morning concluded with the Slow Smoke Contest. We got a Ben Wade pipe for entering and the top prize was quite a nice Neptune pipe. My goal was to not finish last. I finished second to last. :? But it was great fun. I didn't stick around long enough to see who won but my money was on Steve Fallon.
My highlight of the show was definitely enjoying that classic Escudo with Brian, Steve, and the guys. Met some really great people, made some great friends, and can't wait to do it again. If you've never attended a show, do yourself a favor and book one. It was the experience of a lifetime.
Hamric pipes selection...

Old Escudo tin...

Cracked Escudo...

Escudo comparison...

James, Mike, and Me...

My new Ryan Aldens...

New Scott Thile bamboo billiard with stainless steel tenon...

About to crack in the Thile with some Stonehaven...

 

[allan]

Thanks for sharing your experience at the show.
Sounds like you had a terrific time. Scott Thile is an amazing guy with quite a few talents. I own a couple of his pieces and they smoke like a dream.
Not to forget that he is the creator of pipedia.org.

 

[rangerearthpig]

Looks like a hoot! The pipes are amazing! Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[msandoval858]

Had a blast in KC. My first pipe show and I am already looking forward to the next!
Thanks again Jordan for sharing the great tobacco and conversation with me! I owe you one for sure.

 

[jamesmertens]

That's Awesome, I live about 3 hours from there so wish I would have went.

 

[pylorns]

Was great to hang out - hand tight for my pics and video and round-up. I'm working on it for the next couple of days or so.

 

[pipestud]

Great report, Jordan! And it sure was a pleasure meeting and visiting with you at the show. You have a great deal of enthusiasm regarding our hobby and you are also very knowledgeable!
The KC Show was a blast. Wonderful hotel, great food and people. There were a ton of pipemakers there as well as vendors. Lots of new pipes were on display but good estate pipes were a little harder to find. Joe Skoda and Lee Von Erck both sold individual pipes for over $2,000 apiece and they were beauties. A guy from Japan bought a private individual's whole table of new and estate pipes and the negotiating was fun to watch. Hope the KC folks can keep the same venue for a long time. The Argosy Casino & Spa was terrific. The way the show was put on and the great accommodations of the hotel should spread throughout the pipe collecting world and get more collectors to attend in future years.
The Saturday night dinner was wonderful. Could not have been better. Great food and fellowship. We heard from industry big wigs Greg Pease, Mike McNiel (McClelland's), Russ Oulette and Mark Ryan (Daughters & Ryan) regarding tobacco. We also got to hear from a lot of pipe makers (17 of them came to the dinner), and the speakers really had the audience laughing with their antics and letting fun barbs fly at one another. pipesmagazine.com guru Kevin Godbee and pipe DJ Brian Levine talked about the PipesMagazine forum and pod casts. They did a great job!
And finally, kudos to all the great GKCPC members who spend literally months of very hard work to make the show so special for all the attendees. It was an absolute blast from start to finish.
Pipestud

 

[pruss]

Thanks Jordan, and Steve, for the show reporting. It sounds like a great time was had by all. Jordan, it looks like you did well for yourself with your purchases. I hope that they are all wonderful smokers.
Nicely done.
-- Pat

 

[sidious]

Thanks for sharing. I hope to make it out to a show next year.

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

Another member that had a gret first at the convention. Someday I'll make it out to one. I like that Scott Thile bamboo billiard, good eye.

 

[philobeddoe]

Thank you for posting all of those pics, it is truly appreciated. I'm glad you had such a good time, and your pipe and tobacco purchases are envy inducing!

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

Those Hamric pipes look awesome. Tell me about that 10 year FVF- how would you compare it to young FVF?

 

[pipestud]

That was Escudo, hiplainsdrifter, not Full Virginia Flake. And the age difference is spectacular! The older stuff was silky smooth with a HUGE depth of flavor and the Virginias are naturally sweetened due to all the aging. I have to wipe the drool off my face everytime I look at Jordan's photos!
Pipestud
PS... And Jordan, I ran out of leaf in the pipe smoking contest and finished 4th. Guess I was puffing too fast.

 

[kcghost]

I really enjoyed all the guys who came to the show. It's our guests who make these shows special for us.

 

[kcghost]

I cracked a roughly 2000 tin of Escudo with Brian and enjoyed the company of him, Steve, Mike, and James. Another gentlemen had an old tin of Escudo and we were able to do a comparison. Check out the dark coins with plume. Such a good night.

The other gentleman was Richard Gray from, you guessed it, Texas.

 

[mrjerke]

Those Hamric pipes look awesome. Tell me about that 10 year FVF- how would you compare it to young FVF?

That was a gift from pipe maker Thomas James. Super nice guy to chat with. I was more enjoying the company of others than dissecting the blend, all I know it was pretty darn good. It was super dark like the Escudo photo's and covered in crystals. Very good stuff.

 

[lonestar]

It was great to meet you Jordan. I appreciated the conversation, and the Escudo. I'm going to give Thomas James hell next time I see him for not sharing any 10 yr old FVF with me !