Forgot to mention that the insert is black burled ash. The finish I wanted I described to him as the color of an old military rifle stock. The dark reddish brown of an old Springfield, Krag or Winchester.
It's too bad there isn't a tobacco named Isandlwana or Rorke's Drift that you can smoke in your Zulu. If there was, that would be quite fitting. I wonder what types of tobaccos those might be?
Maybe Isandlwana would be an aggressive Oriental and Rorke's Drift a full English - with a touch of Brandy in honor of the movie Zulu.
I love Rad's Zulu shape. That dished/polished top really makes the pipe sing. Excellent stain choice as well. I love everything about that pipe, enjoy!