OK; I rested the pipe for over a day and smoked one bowl of Carter Hall in it (yum). Here's what happened (with pictures!):
Before. Notice the moisture I showed in the original "after" picture is pretty much gone, with a light stain left behind. I took pictures from other angles as reference. There is minor perceibable coloring on the right hand side.
During. I was very conscious about not touching the briar while smoking, holding the pipe by the stem and not resting it on any surface. I feel like President Ford. Not a comfortable situation at all.
After. Moisture spots are clearly back, around previous areas and in some new ones. A bit more darkening on the sides. The pipe is nowhere near broken in yet.
Fun factor? Still high. :puffpipe:
Before. Notice the moisture I showed in the original "after" picture is pretty much gone, with a light stain left behind. I took pictures from other angles as reference. There is minor perceibable coloring on the right hand side.
After. Moisture spots are clearly back, around previous areas and in some new ones. A bit more darkening on the sides. The pipe is nowhere near broken in yet.