New Meerschaum Owner - Any Info on this Pipe?

[ChippewaAce]

Settled on posting this post here instead of the "Pipe Smoking Basics & Beginner Questions", this seemed more appropriate, hope that's ok!

I recently was given this never been smoked pipe from a friend. I'm curious as to it's quality, it seems extraordinarily lightweight for such a large pipe and I understand there to be varying degrees of the clay quality depending on grades and where it was mined.

I've been smoking wood pipes for 13 years so I'm wondering if this is just the clay vs. briar. I've also tried researching a bit online as to this brand, but haven't found a lot yet so any insight is welcome.

The pipe weighs 42g. Thanks for your time everybody!

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Looks like a nice pipe, smoke it. Meerschaum is not clay, the two are significantly different.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Meerschaum is not clay,

Though not the same material as a traditional clay pipe, meerschaum is a type of clay.

 

[kurtbob]

Here is some info for you. GBD - Pipedia - https://pipedia.org/wiki/GBD

 

[ChippewaAce]

Here is some info for you. GBD - Pipedia - https://pipedia.org/wiki/GBD

Excellent, thank you!

 

[lelik]

Nice old meerschaum pipe.

 

[brian64]

meerschaum is a type of clay.

But is corn cob a type of meerschaum? That is the really perplexing question.....

EDIT: and please don't say meerschaum is a type of corn cob.......

 

[Chasing Embers]

EDIT: and please don't say meerschaum is a type of corn cob.......

Well......

 

[Chasing Embers]

@brian64

I need to see if Kenan would be willing to make a corn ear shaped meer.?

 

[weezell]

NICE PIPE... ? ?

 

[ChippewaAce]

Really appreciate everybody's insight and expertise!

How can I tell between Turkish Block and Composite? It obviously says Turkish on the case but is extremely lightweight, or is that normal for meerschaum?

 

[Chasing Embers]

How can I tell between Turkish Block and Composite?

Stick your tongue to the inside of the chamber (no kidding). If it sticks, block. If not, composite.

 

[ChippewaAce]

Stick your tongue to the inside of the chamber (no kidding). If it sticks, block. If not, composite.

Interesting! I'll give it a try. When you say "it sticks", are we talking a little resistance or it full on sticks like a frozen metal flag pole?

 

[kurtbob]

Interesting! I'll give it a try. When you say "it sticks", are we talking a little resistance or it full on sticks like a frozen metal flag pole?

It literally will suck every bit of moisture off your tongue and stick

 

[Chasing Embers]

sticks like a frozen metal flag pole?

Not quite that bad, but you'll notice it

 

[ChippewaAce]

Appreciate the moisture info you guys - I don't think my tongue noticeably stuck to the inside of the bowl, so it's probably a composite -

 

[weezell]

so it's probably a composite -

GBD Meer composite....... I really doubt that. My bet is block( just my opinion)...

 

[ChippewaAce]

GBD Meer composite....... I really doubt that. My bet is block( just my opinion)...

Man with all the reading I've been doing on GBD, I was thinking the same thing. They really seem to be a company of finely made pipes. I'm probably doing the lick test wrong

Really appreciate everybody's candor in my ignorance with meerschaum and pipe maker history in general. I've been smoking for years but never have focused on that information until recently.

 

[anotherbob]

meers are light and composite is more rare then block from my understanding. The thing is meer isn't worth much until it's carved. What I can't wait for is too see how it colors up when you smoke it a few hundred times. Which is also a way to test if it's block or so I've heard. Block will color where as composite doesn't really.

 

[ChippewaAce]

meers are light and composite is more rare then block from my understanding. The thing is meer isn't worth much until it's carved. What I can't wait for is too see how it colors up when you smoke it a few hundred times. Which is also a way to test if it's block or so I've heard. Block will color where as composite doesn't really.

Ok cool, this thing is near featherweight, just very light. It's definitely a beautiful pipe, it should color nicely!