Linkman’s Grabow 9733A Corrosion?

[DotAndBang’sPipes]

I recently picked up a Linkman’s Grabow author shaped pipe- propellor logo and all (which is how it caught my eye in the otherwise terrible shape it was in)! The problem is, 1) the band around the shank seems to be corroded and 2) I can’t even twist the stem off.

I’m not a fan of stingers… but I don’t want to mess up the original vibe of this beauty either. I know other Grabow fans do away with the silver/nickel piece altogether. What’s my best move here? Yes, I’d like to smoke it. No, I’m not a Grabow collector.

Right now it seems like I could tackle getting the stem dislodged but anything more than that and a good cleaning would mean me sending it off to someone. And where to? Now that Walker isn’t operating anymore!?

 

[Briar Lee]

What I do for severely corroded pipes is soak them in Everclear.

It’s cheap to try.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Heat the shank and band area with a hairdryer. It's got a metal threaded shank and tenon. You want to soften the build-up holding it together.

 

[DotAndBang’sPipes]

Thanks! And I think the metal around the shank/band area is going to be too gnarly to leave in place. It looks pretty gross. I could replace or remove it, perhaps?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Thanks! And I think the metal around the shank/band area is going to be too gnarly to leave in place. It looks pretty gross. I could replace or remove it, perhaps?

Got any photos? It may just need a good cleaning.

 

[DotAndBang’sPipes]

Update: I got it detached using drops of Isopropyl Alcohol as suggested elsewhere on the forum.

Now, I’m weighing the pros and cons of asking a pipe repairman to replace the metal/stinger with a push/pull tenon. I know that would be historically incorrect but again I’m not really a collector. Plus, the fills are a bit too numerous. But I’m cautious and curious if changing the stem style would just be a bridge too far for this wonderful little piece of pipe smoking
history that I’d like to honor.