Savinelli Estate Find Question

[AA5x50]

Hey guys,

New to the forums and somewhat new to pipes. I am a pretty serious cigar smoker and lately, I have been mixing in a bowl or two here and there. So far, it's been working out nicely. I only have a couple of pipes - Savinelli 606 KS and a 626.

I was at my local B&M today looking around and saw they had some estate pipes on sale. They had a couple of Savinelli's that caught my eye. One was a 673 KS and the other was a Punto Oro - Mister G 128. As soon as I picked it up, I knew it was mine. Very nice overall used condition with some light wear on the stem. I really wanted to try a pipe with this type of profile and I guess it was my lucky day today.



The problem is, this thing smells like a latakia bomb. I am not a huge fan of latakia and would imagine that whatever I smoke in this pipe will get some residuals...Is there a proper method to clean the pipe to address this or just run my normal tobacco through and let it eventually take over - if ever?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[cigrmaster]

Pass. The bowl also looks out of round.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I’d do a light ream, then I’d do a salt/cotton alcohol clean out with Everclear or something very high proof. Using many a pipe cleaner. After that I’d run the pipe under warm water. See what you have after all that.
OR
You can just run Haunted Bookshop through it until the Latakia is dispersed. ?️

 

[OSOBUCO]

Hi - I don't know anything about restoring pipes other than when I recently bought an estate savinelli I cleaned it with Jameson whiskey. No joke. That said I found this an interesting read - Cleaning Up a Gunky Peterson Aran 80S Bulldog - https://dadspipes.com/2017/02/06/cleaning-up-a-gunky-peterson-aran-80s-bulldog/

 

[mikethompson]

Pass. The bowl also looks out of round.

You sure it isn't the lighting?

I’d do a light ream, then I’d do a salt/cotton alcohol clean out with Everclear or something very high proof. Using many a pipe cleaner. After that I’d run the pipe under warm water.

I would do all that and ensure you clean out the shank and stem as well.

What else I would do is pack the bowl with damp coffee grounds and let it sit for a day or two. You might have to repeat it, but this cures the most stubborn ghosts in my experience.

 

[mikethompson]

I cleaned it with Jameson whiskey.

Save that for sipping!

Clean your pipes with vodka or other such neutral alcohol as it doesn't leave a taste behind.

 

[OSOBUCO]

Save that for sipping!

Clean your pipes with vodka or other such neutral alcohol as it doesn't leave a taste behind.

Indeed - what you say is true for sure but the first bowl after the Jameson wash had a really nice flavor - LOL.

 

[BROBS]

Ream the sides out with a flat ended pipe knife and clean the stem, inner bowl and shank with 99% alcohol. Let it dry and the taste will go away quickly.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Pass. The bowl also looks out of round.

You sure it isn't the lighting

The rim on the Mister G line is chamfered down to the chamber and the photo is at an angle.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The problem is, this thing smells like a latakia bomb.

Clean the mortise with alcohol and Q-tips until they come out white. Ream the chamber with 320 grit sandpaper back to the wood and use the cotton ball and alcohol treatment mentioned above.

The long discontinued Mister G line was the lower tier production line of the Punto Oros that featured a sandblast finish with a smooth rim, brass and wood banding, and vulcanite stems.

A 904 I used to have.

 

[STP]

The rim on the Mister G line is chamfered down to the chamber and the photo is at an angle.

^^^ This. It’s the angle of the photo. You can see that the diameter of the flat surface on the rim is uniformed before it bevels down.

OP, nice pick-up. Good suggestions above, or you could just smoke it w/your favorite tobacco and the smell might dissipate ?

 

[mso489]

You never find a ghost until you smoke a pipe. Or do you? I wonder if sniffing an estate pipe when you are shopping in person wouldn't pick up on some of them. It might look a little kinky, but I can sometimes pick up blends from the scent of the bowl of a rested pipe. Even though I don't build cake. Incidentally, if you have any second thoughts about it, I very much like my Sav 673 KS, compact and hefty with plenty of chamber. Mine is a smooth "Opera," one of my dressier pipes.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Honestly, considering how thin the carbon is, you may be able to work wonders by just wiping the chamber out with a wet paper towel or an unscented baby wipe.

 

[AA5x50]

Appreciate all the comments guys! It cleaned up nicely and as Chasing Embers pointed out, the carbon was quite thin. Overall, I am satisfied with the cleanup and will give it a fresh bowl tomorrow.

mso, I am giving that 673 KS second thoughts. I think it was only like $70 for it and should have just got it too. I believe it may have been a Punto Oro also, hrmmm...