Anyone know who made this thing? It’s unmarked, but looking at the grain orientation, as well as the stemwork and bit, it was clearly made by someone with skills!
Thanks ahead for any help!
Thanks ahead for any help!
Mystery Pipe! Identification Mission
- Thread starter alaskanpiper
- Start date
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Could have been made by anyone, of course, but it does look a lot like a pipe Dave Neeb @mkelaw fashioned for me a few years ago in terms of the lines/look. I'm not much for paying attention to the wood, but that is really something.
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Someone who was definitely motivated and went for "the current style" a few years ago (I'd guess early-mid teens).
The bowl shaping and 80%-finished button---as well as the curved "Butera like" design of it---suggest his reach exceeded his grasp somewhat at that point in time. He'd probably been carving a year or so.
I'd also guess American or Canadisian.
Being unstamped could mean it was kept as a shop pipe because of a flaw and didn't want any bad press down the line, quality wise. (Which would also indicate he was serious)
It'll be fun to see if the Whodunit gets solved.
The bowl shaping and 80%-finished button---as well as the curved "Butera like" design of it---suggest his reach exceeded his grasp somewhat at that point in time. He'd probably been carving a year or so.
I'd also guess American or Canadisian.
Being unstamped could mean it was kept as a shop pipe because of a flaw and didn't want any bad press down the line, quality wise. (Which would also indicate he was serious)
It'll be fun to see if the Whodunit gets solved.
Interesting shaping at the rim- it curves inward giving a bit of a barrel shape to the bowl.
I do like the Butera style curved bit.
Pretty pipe!
I do like the Butera style curved bit.
Pretty pipe!
I know who didn't make it...me. 
Nice looking pipe.
Nice looking pipe.
@alaskanpiper
Do you still have the Alaskan Pipe Club going? The sticker is holding up quite well on the back of our camper.
Do you still have the Alaskan Pipe Club going? The sticker is holding up quite well on the back of our camper.
Yes sir! In a bit of a lull now due to the ongoing bogus shutdown of the lounge that was our meeting location, but were still at it. Meeting in my garage lately with the few guys that are local to my area.
Out of interest, where did you get it?
A complete shot in the dark, but could it be a JS (Joel Shapiro) pipe? He made that style of bit, had wooden inserts in stems, and had some nice grained briar. Mine at least has a narrow shank and a forward canted bowl. Mine has a much lower and narrower bit.
(Sorry for the oxidation!):
A complete shot in the dark, but could it be a JS (Joel Shapiro) pipe? He made that style of bit, had wooden inserts in stems, and had some nice grained briar. Mine at least has a narrow shank and a forward canted bowl. Mine has a much lower and narrower bit.
(Sorry for the oxidation!):
Lots of guys like the elegant look and feel of the "curved shield" button, and a fair chunk of them give it a go on their early pipes.
Virtually none of them do it for long, though, because it's a tricky PITA to get spot-on, looks bad/obvious when you don't get it spot-on, and requires considerable shop time that you don't get paid for. (A "normal" button will sell for the same price.)
With the surplus 20% removed:
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Interesting. I definitely prefer them this way myself. The curved shield that is, not the 80, or 100, or whatever. Never have really noted that.
Mike Butera stuck with it for his entire career (though the depth of the curve varied a bit as he got older). If his pipes have not been on your acquisition radar, there you go.
Haha, well aware of Mike's pipes, but most of the ones that become available are either too large for me, or not really my style. I always look, but have yet to buy.
Since you like 'em, the next time you commission a pipe request a Butera-style shield button.
(Your mouth will love you, but the pipemaker will probably flip you off when your back is turned for the rest of his days.)
(Your mouth will love you, but the pipemaker will probably flip you off when your back is turned for the rest of his days.)
Haha, I have quite a few already from various artisans that have similar buttons.Since you like 'em, the next time you commission a pipe request a Butera-style shield button.
(Your mouth will love you, but the pipemaker will probably flip you off when your back is turned for the rest of his days.)
