Kaywoodie & Yellow Bole questions

[mso489]

I may back up from my nice mid-level collection of nonfiltered pipes and acquire two or three

U.S. machine made pipes, to go with some other U.S. artisan/carver pipes I have. I have two

questions. Have Kaywoodie pipes always had stingers, as all of them seem to have now? Do these

diminish their being a good smoke? I guess you don't clean them with a simple pass of a pipecleaner.

And Yellow Bole, are the little "spoon" stingers removable by simply sliding them out, or do you have

to saw them off? These seem of another time, and interest me, but maybe more as collector pieces

than as a smoke. Any comments on Dr. Grabow, Kaywoodie, Medico, and Yellow Bole? Are they

still all made in the U.S.? Dr. Grabow is made in Sparta, N.C. Are Kaywoodie and Medico part of the

same company? Is Yellow Bole part of that? I am researching this, but any lore you have off hand

is appreciated.

 

[teufelhund]

I've smoked all but the Dr. Grabow... Not sure if you can remove the stingers (never tried) but I believe there are a few offered without filters or stingers. Medicos usually have a paper filter you can just take out. Generally I've had no complaints with stingers, but I don't like filters. Always good to have some cheap briars to run over with the lawn mower. Give em a shot you may like them and if not your out like $20.

 

[teufelhund]

Ok just took apart my campus pipe; I forgot that the stem screws into the shank, but you could always just keep the treads and hacksaw the stinger off if you don't end up liking it.

 

[lifeon2]

Kaywoodie and yello bole are made by the same company Grabow is a whole other company. You can get filtered or stingered models in the grabows. You can remove the stingers and not use filters. I currently have over 60 grabows. New kaywoodies dont have stingers older ones do please dont buy one and saw off the stinger pretty much every collector in the world myself included would trade you a cut stingered pipe for a non cut of the same type. That said with both these brands I feel that the older pipes are superior to modern ones.

 

[hodirty]

I have 3 Grabows and 1 yello-bole. they all smoke well, especially since im a cheapskate! my yello-bole has a removable stinger. $20 pipe or not, id most definitely NOT saw on it. If you are looking for a handsome Grabow, check out the Royalton, they have Lucite stems and for $30 it is my nicest looking pipe. Glad to hear you want to buy American as well, IMO.

 

[lestrout]

I have both new and old Kaywoodies, among my best smokers. Some models do not have stingers. The limited editions and POYs are essentially handmade artisan pipes and are best buys for a pretty high grade briar. If you ever get a chance, it's a thrill to tour the KW factory in Peekskill, NY, the real deal for Americana and rich in history.
hp

les

 

[mso489]

I have a Dr. Grabow Royalton arriving today (if tracking works), from Forum's sponsor

Tobaccopipes.com, and I have my eye on a Yellow Bole. Maybe a Kaywoodie later.

A forum member sent me forums on these pipes to check out, so thank you for that.

My only problem with accumulating pipes is my reluctance to get such a pipe shop

going on my racks that I have great pipes that I smoke infrequently. That's a balance.

But I'm glad to hear so many Forums members enjoy these good old U.S. pipes, and

I'm about to join you. And of course, I'm a long time Missouri Meerschaum smoker.

I went to school there and go back to visit wife's family, and have a patriotism for

the cob pipe. Who doesn't? Any more info on U.S. machine made pipes is welcome.

They look like nothing else.