The Gourd Calabash Lovers Thread

[hawke]

Im having a bowl in my 1908 Gourd Calabash. A relic gifted to me which I consider one of my "Special" pipes. Thse guys sure do provide ample clouds of smoke and a coolness beyond compare I think.

 

[maxpeters]

You're right about the coolness. I like to smoke Penzance in mine, as well as other strong tobaccos. It mellows them somewhat, yet retains the flavor.

 

[bigboi]

I love mine. I smoke ODF in mine. It is delicious

 

[rigmedic1]

 

[thesmokingtexan]

Those are awesome I need to get one. What is a good brand or is it best to find an older one? What should I look for when purchasing one to make sure I get a good one?

 

[rigmedic1]

Honestly, I don't know. I saw 2 of them at the Epitome in Biloxi, MS, the other day. Hefty price tags! I do not think they are being made anymore. I bought mine in the 1980's, it is a Pioneer, and the composite meerschaum bowl is cracked. I want to have a new bowl made through the Meerschaum Store.

 

[schaum]

Probably my favorite pipe. Dry, cool and neutral. Expensive but you only live once.

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

What should I look for when purchasing one to make sure I get a good one?

Look for a real gourd body and a real meerschaum bowl. A lot of the newer ones have a wood body, some have ceramic bowls. Make sure the shank attaches the stem firmly to the gourd, usually by a silver band or army mount. Look out for loose fitting meerschaum bowls that can fall out of the gourd and break (been there, done that). Butz Choquin makes some nice long stemmed calabashes, but they cost about 250.00. You should be able to find a nice smoke-able antique calabash for less if you keep your eyes open.

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

Here's mine. I love it, great smoker. That and I scored it for $40, just needed a little bit of cleaning and buffing. The stem was oxidized and dirty.

 

[hawke]

Scottie(scotties22) makes some very nice ones.

Im in the process of making a crude one, just for the fun of it. I need to update the pics there. Have a look. Calabash Pipe Project

 

[maxpeters]

For anyone who wants a real gourd calabash, there seems to be one for sale right now at Smoker's Haven, unsmoked Pioneer, with stand, for a decent price.

 

[topd]

Fikri Baki makes pipes with real gourd bodies and block meerschaum. They are rather expensive but well worth the price. The pipe on the right is a Strambach, made in Austria. It has a gourd body, but a press meerschaum bowl. It'll never color like a block will, but smokes great. Pipe on the left is a Baki...

 

[hawke]

Whahoo, arent these pipes great!

 

[ravkesef]

Here's a request for some help. My calabash has developed an air leak around the cork gasket so that when I try and draw, air seeps in between the gourd and the meerschaum bowl. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

 

[hawke]

Read something about lanolin cork grease somewhere too.

Search the forums here.



Cork grease

 

[ravkesef]

Tomorrow morning will bring a visit to the music shop. I play a brass instrument (euphonium) and slide grease wouldn't work.

 

[redbeard]

I am a lover of these pipes! They look awesome! I bought one a while back but it doesn't want to smoke for me, not sealed properly so too much air flowing through in the wrong spots. It's a nice piece to look at though!!

 

[smokeybear]

I gotta try one of these someday.

 

[hawke]

I have only one other Calabash Pipe which Ive made myself. Since I decided its finished Im going to show its pick here. It took me about 2 months working off and on. It smokes pretty good. My favorite part it the button which with the lightness of the pipe overall its easy to hold when I dont have my dentures in. The process was documented at Calabash Pipe Project if anyone is interested.

 

[jarit]

Nice calabashes, everyone. Great work on that self-made 'bash, Hawke!
I took these photos of my Strambach when someone asked about 'bashes construction and parts: