Meet an old friend, Nørding

[cortezattic]

I've already put the wife on notice: "If there's a fire I'm taking the dog and the Nørding. You're on your own."
I bought this pipe sometime around 1967, and it's been a faithful companion, comforter, and object of my affection for over 40 years. Lighting it up, therefore, is something special. More than just a reliable smoker, it is a contact point with my history. Or should I say our history.

It's stamped with a "B", which probably represents Nørding's grading system, that ran from low to high: A B C D & extra at the time this pipe was purchased. Afterwards an F grade was added which, I believe, was/is inferior to the A.
Okay, so the grain is mixed; and not terribly pretty. Neither am I. I suppose that's one of the reasons we've gotten along so well all these years.

 

[admin]

I love that pipe! It's very cool. I like that it is different with the green stain, and you have burl on both ends - at the top of the bowl and the shank.

 

[python]

That's a great looking pipe!

 

[pipegangster]

That is a very sweet looking pipe! I met Mr. Nording at a pipe show in Albany, NY in 2005. I got my pic taken with him and his autograph as well. The pic is still up on Habana Premiums web site(pipesandcigars.com) to this day under The customer service button. Of course I had to buy one of his free hands while I was there ;-).

 

[cortezattic]

Thanks Brandon,

I heard that Nørding is quite an inventor too. I have another Nørding that is machine made, with a shellac-like finish; but it smokes very nicely. The shape is a ¼-bent Author.
The conventional wisdom is that pipes with finishes such as shellac, paint, etc., should be avoided because they don't allow the briar to "breathe." But I have five such pipes and I don't notice any difference from the naturally finished pipes. Perhaps my rotation is large enough to rest them sufficiently. It is also possible that, thru the miracle of modern chemistry, pipemakers have found a coating that allows the pipe to breathe. The alternative conjecture is that such pipes are condemned to a relatively short life (whatever that may be.)
Does anyone have experiences or opinions regarding pipes with non-natural finishes?

Would such a finish deter you from buying a pipe that appealed to you in all other respects?

 

[whiskeymick]

What a gorgeous pipe. Fabulous.

 

[admin]

The conventional wisdom is that pipes with finishes such as shellac, paint, etc., should be avoided because they don't allow the briar to "breathe." But I have five such pipes and I don't notice any difference from the naturally finished pipes.

Keep in mind there is a difference between shellac and stain. Shellac will block the pores in the wood and not allow it to breathe. Stain, on the other hand, will add a color, whether it be green or brown (which will look like a natural wood color) and allow the pipe to still breathe.
The green Nording pipe above is stained green. I think green stained pipes were most popular in the '70s.

 

[brazz]

Thanks for introducing us to your old friend. That is a great looking pipe and its age adds that much more character

 

[cortezattic]

Kevin said

Keep in mind there is a difference between shellac and stain

Right. The pipe pictured above has only stain and carnauba wax.
The other pipes to which I subsequently referred were shellac'd (or varnished, whatever,) and a couple of them were "clear," not blasted. I really don't think I would have purchased them if I had known that, but they were online purchases. I tried them, they seemed to be OK, and they're smoking as sweetly as any other pipe I own.
I was wondering if others had similar reservations and experiences with, shall we say, "coated" pipes.

 

[python]

Cortezattic, that's a good question and subject. I think it deserves its own thread. My response will be in the new thread.
Here is the link to the new thread:
Pipes with Shellac/Varnish Finishes