NOLA Show Purchase - Ryan Alden Author

[ssjones]

I've had my eye on a Ryan Alden Author shape for the better part of year, including emails with Ryan on a commission. But, it just never came together. A few days before the NOLA show, Ryan posted that he would be in attendance. So, I messaged him inquiring about an Author shape. He was bringing just one, a top-of-the-line smooth. As soon as he sent me a camera pix of the pipe, I was hooked. So, I spent most of my show funds the night before! I was on pins and needles the night before the show and as the doors opened, I made a bee-line for Ryans table and sealed the deal.
Throughout the show, Ryan took some time to come out side and have a quick smoke and chat with the show attendees. I rarely buy a new pipe and previous to this, I've never met the carver. So, that was a real treat and something I'll always remember about the show and this pipe.
At the table, I pulled the stem and once I saw the tenon features, I was hooked. A cleaner glides to the bottom. The first smoke was at the venue and despite my yakking non-stop with folks, the pipe just stay lit. This one will have a very memorable spot in my collection. Ryan sent me this pix last night, we're still working our way home (in Memphis for two days).









You can see I was pretty excited to have grabbed this one.

 

[bigpond]

Al you have a great smile. Looks like you hd a great time. I clicked the photo link without reading your post and what stood out to me the most was 1) Ryan needs to lose some serious height and 2) that tenon. Ryan tended to the finer points which often seem an afterthought even on pipes with price tags orders of magnitude above. The stem is quite graceful, something that really distinguishes the shape.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Awesome pipe. That is some very nice grain. It was great to meet you two. It would have been great if we could have gotten Ryan outside with us to smoke and be social. I hate that he was stuck at his table, but I am glad that he was moving his wares.

Let us know how it smokes!!

 

[pruss]

Congrats on your Alden pickup, Al. That's a lovely, lovely, pipe. Ryan is making wonderful pipes at the moment, and you got a corker!
Ryan, congrats on what looks like a great show buddy. Any show where Ryan is too busy to a) smoke or b) drink must mean brisk trade.
-- Pat

 

[fadingdaylight]

Gorgeous pipe Al. Ryan's work has been catching my eye for a few years now, I really love his style. I'm hoping come tax time this year I can finally get my hands on one!

 

[morton]

Nice pipe, Al. Looks like it fits right in your favorite shape category. Ryan has made a few pipes for me in similar shapes to that. If yours smokes as good as mine do, you'll never have a bad smoke out of it. Congratulations, Ryan! Your stuff just keeps looking better and better. Of course, we're going to have to disagree about the BlueJays and the Rangers.....
Post 666. Hmmmm....

 

[lestrout]

Yo Al - a beauty that is. I'm up to 2 Aldens now: a morta author and a nice dawg, which I'm busy breaking in with VAs.
hp

les

 

[peteguy]

That sure is a nice looking pipe. #drool

 

[gloucesterman]

Nice addition. I like it a lot.

 

[pappymac]

I've just added one of this to my "Buy this pipe next list!"

 

[fishnbanjo]

Very nice and so you know this is the straw that broke the camels back and for me searching for an Author you enabler you! Beautiful pipe enjoy it.

banjo

 

[mso489]

Fabulous grain, and a nice size pipe. From the pipe photo, I thought it was one of these heavyweights, but from the photo of you and the carver, it's a good-sized pipe but not a doorstop. It's a beauty.

 

[captainprophesy]

Wow... Now that's a purdy pipe indeed. Major congrats.

 

[papipeguy]

Classy pipe for a classy guy. Enjoy.

 

[lonestar]

Al I'm glad you wound up with this one, and even happier to know you are enjoying it. With your love for Authors it means a lot to me that this one is a part of your collection !

Any show where Ryan is too busy to a) smoke or b) drink must mean brisk trade.

Pat you know me too well. I did get some smokes in, though some shows it seems like I'm there to smoke, and take a pipe selling break every now and then ! Brian Levine kept grabbing me by the shirt sleeve and dragging me back to my table this time around haha.

 

[rigmedic1]

That is a nice pipe! Ryan Alden does some fantastic work.

 

[danielplainview]

That's real beauty. Congrats SS ! Looks like the show was a blast.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Brilliant, just brilliant!

 

[jkrug]

That's a real beauty Al. Enjoy. ::

 

[tobyducote]

Beautiful pipe