To the fellows who recommended the economical Nording billiards, my thanks. The modest Nording billiard I got smokes like a champ, and is a worthy addition to my rotation.
Nording Pipe Quality
- Thread starter sparrowhawk
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Good!! Enjoy!! I know that Nordings aren't going to be one of the high end beauties, but I don't have one that isn't a great smoker. Enjoy!!
My first pipe was a Nording bent Apple. I need to give it a good alcohol and salt scrubdown, but overall it's a great smoker. The Nording mortise and tenons tend to be pretty tight fits from my experience. I need to take some fine sand paper and make it a better fit, but ultimately they are great quality for the prices.
Out of three Nordings, I had one with a slight wobble in the mortise (with pressure), and the drilling in the shank is a bit rough compared to my Icarus pipe by Briarworks (Which are near technical perfection), but the rough drilling in the Nording looked like it was there because they were still shaping the airway in the shank to align airflow between the shank and tenon, so it was a good move, just not very polished.
The stems pretty much perform like any stock stem, not much refinement there (which may or may not mean anything to you).
The stems pretty much perform like any stock stem, not much refinement there (which may or may not mean anything to you).
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Many people aren't familiar with this little know fact, but the only tool Nording uses is a... hammer. That's right, every one of his pipes are shaped, drilled, finished, and stained, using only a hammer. And, not just any hammer, but a 20lbs sledge hammer. Yes, see? That puts a whole new perspective on his skillz now, doesn't it?
Nording makes nice pipes and he is personally a really nice guy. I have 4 Nordings and all are great smokers. I have always been drawn to the Danish style, the nice smooth lines and grains. I have a beautiful panel gifted to me by Sablebrush that was made by Eric himself, but the others are beautiful too. I would buy another without hesitation.
I believe Nording trained as an engineer and this shows in the consistency of drilling, fit and finish, very functional and precise. Most of his pipes are moderately priced, but he does some more individually crafted pipes with higher end materials and prices to match. Even his economy pipes are excellently produced. He had a low-end line called Eriksens, and I have a bent billiard version. The rustication looks manufactured, but it is a durable little pipe, sturdy for pocket or car, and a fine little smoker. Friends gave me one of his signature freehands, and that one is completely satisfying too. It's one of my wife's favorite pipes visually, rustic.
My lowest Nording is a Signature. My highest is a Grade 20. From that Signature with its unfinished rustic charm to the 20 with its elaborate shaping and great grain, all my Nordings are great smokers and quite beautiful. I have a total of 7 so far and I can guarantee I'll get more. I have to thank Peck for turning me on to the grade Nordings, my first being a 13 that he slyly gifted me along with a Nording tamper some time ago.
Well the new ones are all right, BUT..... Stay away from those Nording estates... I'll take the hit for everybody on those.
No really, it is just the kind of guy I am. :wink:
As everybody says, seriously good pipes and some of them are beautiful too.
I was in a moratorium on PAD last year when a perfect virgin freehand in natural stain came on e-bay. It went for peanuts, kicked myself for months after that.
No really, it is just the kind of guy I am. :wink:
As everybody says, seriously good pipes and some of them are beautiful too.
I was in a moratorium on PAD last year when a perfect virgin freehand in natural stain came on e-bay. It went for peanuts, kicked myself for months after that.
I have only one Nording but cut, color, style and finish stand out from among many other, more cost pipes, sitting on the same rack. It is a great smoker, ideal for slippers, a lazy boy, and a good single malt.
I have six Nordings now, all great pipes, including my recent billiard. But the champ among my Nordings the the one below, the only giant pipe I have and I don't think I could sell it for a thousand.
I love that Giant, Fred. I keep telling myself I need to get one to add to the collection, and I keep putting it off for some reason.
One little concern with the Nording billiard, but it seems to burn a little hot--walls too thin or breaking in? I would think the justification would dissipate the heat.
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