Got this neat Boswell pipe last month on the Bay. It was advertised as an unknown maker since the seller could not tell what the nomenclature said. I have had several Boswell pipes in the past so I recognized the signature. The seller also claimed that there were no smoking issues. For $17.00 I figured I had a pretty good deal.It arrived in fairly nice shape. However,on starting to do a little refurb there was complete obstruction of the airway.Starting at the shank end I could not get a pipe cleaner into the bowl--in fact I couldn't get anything through the stummel.I ended up having to redrill the airway through the shank into the bowl.It was literally concrete from carbon and dried tobacco. The stem was the same condition--took several soakings in Oxyclean and alcohol to clear out all the debris. I don't think the pipe had ever been cleaned--don't see how anyone had been smoking it recently! Now with a little further cleaning and polish, I have a nice early Boswell sitter pipe. ( I talked with the folks at Boswell's. They indicated the signature and number 2 indicates a pipe from 1992.) Hope it smokes like a bought one !! Would be interested if any Boswell smokers can comment. Thanks, Hoppes
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