I need help with this Meerschaum pipe. It is a vintage CAO Meerschaum by Ismet Bekler. I purchased it unsmoked and in pristine condition about 4 years ago. It was smoked regularly for a while, but it's been a drawer for over 2 years because I don't smoke Meerschaum often, eventually I kind of forgot about it to be honest. When I got the pipe I remember there was a plastic screw in mortise/tenon, the one that the tenon could be turned clockwise to simulate a briar tenon, and counterclockwise to unscrew the mortise. Recently, I pulled it out to smoke and noticed that the screw in mortis is clearly missing. I have no idea what happened, and I looked everywhere, but can't find it. I was always careful with the screw in mortise/tenon combination, having been warned about this very thing happening. It is still smokeable and the tenon does push snuggly in the stem, but I don't want to risk the stummel falling off the stem and breaking on the ground.
So what happened here? Can I get another screw in mortise? Is there a pipe repair guy for this kind of thing? It's a great pipe and I want to start smoking it regularly again.
So what happened here? Can I get another screw in mortise? Is there a pipe repair guy for this kind of thing? It's a great pipe and I want to start smoking it regularly again.