Samuel Gawith Black XX Twist and Dad's Gun Cabinet

[JimRoseLV]

Okay, I've been struggling with this for a long time so finally decided to throw it out there. My favorite pipe tobacco is SG Black XX Twist rope. I've been smoking pipes in earnest for about 2 and a half years and I remember early on thinking I should wait awhile on rope tobacco until my palette has had more training, but then I said, screw it, I'm trying it. I loved Black XX Twist right away but one of the things that has always struck me (and partial reason for loving it) is the smell in the tin/jar. The smell is exactly like my dad's old shotgun cabinet when I was growing up. Now, it's possible my dad had smoked this blend or a close approximation and stored it there and it lingered. He did smoke pipes for a few years before I was born, but I'm doubtful he ever smoked anything too high end. This makes me wonder if there's something in the guns and ammo loading items, whether it be the powders, the cleaning oil, something in there that is responsible for this memory. Any ideas?

 

[Briarcutter]

Well, black rope pressed and cooked with vegetable oil, supposedly rape seed oil, a video said olive oil but SG expert confirmed its rape seed oil. I don't suppose any of that has to do with guns but maybe the other way around. Maybe the combination of tobacco, cooking and oil is similar to something your dad used on his guns. Maybe even the oil the gun cabinet was finished with or a combination. Just guessing here.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I need to sniff my twist with a new frame of reference…

 

[VDL_Piper]

Well, black rope pressed and cooked with vegetable oil, supposedly Canola oil, a video said olive oil but SG expert confirmed its Canola oil. I don't suppose any of that has to do with guns but maybe the other way around. Maybe the combination of tobacco, cooking and oil is similar to something your dad used on his guns. Maybe even the oil the gun cabinet was finished with or a combination. Just guessing here.

Rape Seed oil is what is used, not canola

 

[Brad H]

use the oil in the Black twist to clean a gun? Wipe it down with the oil?
Remanence in the smell of gun oil?

 

[Briarcutter]

Rape Seed oil is what is used, not canola

Yes, i stand corrected. I thought she said Canola

 

[Bbailey324]

Canola oil is made from genetically modified rapeseed so they are kinda similar.

 

[VDL_Piper]

Canola oil is made from genetically modified rapeseed so they are kinda similar.

Canola isn't Rape and not all canola is GM and no rape is GM

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I bought a tin of Black XX and Brown No. 4 back in 2016. I've smoked maybe 3 bowls of Brown No. 4 and maybe 5 bowls of Black XX. Both were very strong, and I just couldn't get into them. I've been letting them rest, and I'm hoping with some age on them, they will be more enjoyable. I don't know if I've let it age long enough yet. LOL

When I smell Black XX it smells fine, but it definitely doesn't remind me of a gun cabinet. LOL

 

[anotherbob]

Okay, I've been struggling with this for a long time so finally decided to throw it out there. My favorite pipe tobacco is SG Black XX Twist rope. I've been smoking pipes in earnest for about 2 and a half years and I remember early on thinking I should wait awhile on rope tobacco until my palette has had more training, but then I said, screw it, I'm trying it. I loved Black XX Twist right away but one of the things that has always struck me (and partial reason for loving it) is the smell in the tin/jar. The smell is exactly like my dad's old shotgun cabinet when I was growing up. Now, it's possible my dad had smoked this blend or a close approximation and stored it there and it lingered. He did smoke pipes for a few years before I was born, but I'm doubtful he ever smoked anything too high end. This makes me wonder if there's something in the guns and ammo loading items, whether it be the powders, the cleaning oil, something in there that is responsible for this memory. Any ideas?

I know either SG or Gaiwith and Hogarth got their snuff mills from a place that made black powder.
Yea some darker more oilly tobaccos have a similar note to black powder.
P.s. I assume you never had a circus but just share a name with someone who did.

 

[Sig]

My gun safes smells like Ballistol and leather. Black XX rope smells a bit like smoked meat to my recollection.
But I do remember years ago when I inherited my grandpas gun collection, the guns had a distinct aroma. They smelled like my grandpas house, cooked hamburgers and cigarettes.
Tough old coot lived to 97 years old, while eating hamburgers daily and smoking cigarettes for over 80 years.

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

You win the prize for the manliest version of Proust’s Madeleine that I’ve ever read.

My jar of Black XX is right next to my gun cabinet, so after reading your post I had to spend a few minutes huffing the vapors from each. Turns out, I’m not lucky enough to have a gun case as fragrant as a musty old rope of tobacco.

Initially I was thinking that your (and others’) suggestion that the oils was the answer, but Black XX doesn’t smell so much like petroleum lubricants and solvents that usually scent a gun case. Maybe there’s residue of combustion clinging to the guns and as well as the tobacco? Maybe the damp woody smell of a cabinet matching the damp oily lignin of the tobacco leaves?

Whatever the case, I’m happy for you to have such a nice memory mixed in with your tobacco.

 

[JimRoseLV]

I know either SG or Gaiwith and Hogarth got their snuff mills from a place that made black powder.
Yea some darker more oilly tobaccos have a similar note to black powder.
P.s. I assume you never had a circus but just share a name with someone who did.

Nope. I don’t do tricks unlike the other Jim Rose.

 

[JimRoseLV]

My gun safes smells like Ballistol and leather. Black XX rope smells a bit like smoked meat to my recollection.
But I do remember years ago when I inherited my grandpas gun collection, the guns had a distinct aroma. They smelled like my grandpas house, cooked hamburgers and cigarettes.
Tough old coot lived to 97 years old, while eating hamburgers daily and smoking cigarettes for over 80 years.

We did eat a lot of meat. Lol.

 

[JimRoseLV]

You win the prize for the manliest version of Proust’s Madeleine that I’ve ever read.

My jar of Black XX is right next to my gun cabinet, so after reading your post I had to spend a few minutes huffing the vapors from each. Turns out, I’m not lucky enough to have a gun case as fragrant as a musty old rope of tobacco.

Initially I was thinking that your (and others’) suggestion that the oils was the answer, but Black XX doesn’t smell so much like petroleum lubricants and solvents that usually scent a gun case. Maybe there’s residue of combustion clinging to the guns and as well as the tobacco? Maybe the damp woody smell of a cabinet matching the damp oily lignin of the tobacco leaves?

Whatever the case, I’m happy for you to have such a nice memory mixed in with your tobacco.

Yeah, I’m starting to think it was a gun/tobacco cabinet, and I never saw the tobacco. I kinda hope so. Means we had the same taste in tobacco.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

My gun safes smells like Ballistol and leather. Black XX rope smells a bit like smoked meat to my recollection.
But I do remember years ago when I inherited my grandpas gun collection, the guns had a distinct aroma. They smelled like my grandpas house, cooked hamburgers and cigarettes.
Tough old coot lived to 97 years old, while eating hamburgers daily and smoking cigarettes for over 80 years.

Your grandfather was Ron Swanson Sr.