"Unsmoked"?

[rodo]

Bought a forty year old collectible pipe recently. It was sold as "unsmoked." Sure seems like it is so. But pulled the stem out the other day and...not sure. Maybe it was...er...briar dust? Maybe it was a tiny bit of residue from tobacco flakes? Can't smell a thing, no burns, no bite marks, no nothing down in the bowl. Other ways to confirm a pipe really has never been smoked?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Bought a forty year old collectible pipe recently. It was sold as "unsmoked." Sure seems like it is so. But pulled the stem out the other day and...not sure. Maybe it was...er...briar dust? Maybe it was a tiny bit of residue from tobacco flakes? Can't smell a thing, no burns, no bite marks, no nothing down in the bowl. Other ways to confirm a pipe really has never been smoked?

An uncharred chamber?

 

[workman]

Bought a forty year old collectible pipe recently. It was sold as "unsmoked." Sure seems like it is so. But pulled the stem out the other day and...not sure. Maybe it was...er...briar dust? Maybe it was a tiny bit of residue from tobacco flakes? Can't smell a thing, no burns, no bite marks, no nothing down in the bowl. Other ways to confirm a pipe really has never been smoked?

Briar dust is red or tan, like mahogany, and can often be found in new pipes.
If the pipe seems unsmoked, it probably is.

 

[mso489]

I agree, the dust could be from manufacture if there are no others signs of the pipe being smoked. The chamber is the big tell. Even a few smokes will leave some signs of an ember, more so if the bowl is uncoated. If the dust is the only clue, I'd guess it was unsmoked.

 

[wolflarsen]

Unsmoking a pipe is not an easy thing to do. Especially without leaving a little briar dust behind.

 

[olkofri]

DNA test?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Well, lets see that thing! Pictures!! We’re all about pipe porn. Snap it and post!!

 

[sandollars]

Errrr, if you are going to smoke it does it really matter?

Some Most of my favorite pipes are used, smoked, slightly abused, ESTATE pipes.

Thanks Sable.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

The rim, the inside of the bowl and the smell from the bowl should tell the tale. Many pipes have a carbon coating of some kind but it would look like it had been smoked, if it had.

 

[FurCoat]

Smell test. If it's been smoked you will most likely smell it. If it doesn't smell like Captain Black consider yourself lucky, you got a good one that you can dedicate to your blend of choice.

 

[DAR]

I've purchased pipes that were labeled "unsmoked" and what I'm sure they really meant was unsmoked since they refurbished or cleaned them because it was quite evident that they had been smoked even though they were in pristine condition. That's why before purchasing I always ask any seller that is claiming "unsmoked" what exactly they mean by unsmoked. If I want a legit unsmoked pipe I purchase "new". And even then I ask the seller if it's ever been smoked.

 

[rodo]

Great suggestions and advice, thanks everyone. So here is the pipe:


It is a '79 Dunhill Quaint, quaint indeed. (I've written about it elsewhere on the site.) I tried to take a photo inside the bowl...

Not easy to see. Seems okay... But something wasn't quite right so I took the stem off to have a look...

Looks like stained briar and no tobacco residue. No smell in there. Minute particles of brownish dust. But also something else. I had to sort of gently pry and poke and then I figure out the problem:


It was full of heroin. I ought to have guessed that based on what I paid for the pipe. Well, problem solved.

 

[sablebrush52]

The pipe was filled with heroin, not cocaine or ricin? You're sure? That 's a new one. Did the seller charge extra for that?

You might want to give that a GOOD cleaning before smoking it. Or not if you're into thrills.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I knew it! I immediately guessed that was a heroine pipe. And it makes perfect sense that it’s unsmoked... because you don’t smoke heroine. I think they just snort it up their nose with the stem.
Nice pipe. I’d rather see you smoke it though. The pipe, not the heroine.

 

[weezell]

Maybe it was smoked with Cartel Haul...

 

[unadoptedlamp]

You snort that powder (it should be cocaine) before you smoke. The stem of your pipe is a good delivery method. For the best effect, get someone to blow hard into the bowl and it will shoot it straight into your brain. Solitary is fine too. Just less effective, IMO.

Clears out the sinuses and allows you to intensely focus on the blend for the next several hours. Gives solid energy to write long, detailed reviews as well.

Did you think we were all addicted to nicotine? That's very sweet of you.

It's an old timer trick. Yours just came pre-loaded. Lucky you!

 

[rodo]

Oddly, the heroin seemed to be flavored with just a pinch of latakia.

 

[DAR]

If someone was using heroin in a Dunhill it would be completely ruined and not as nice as the photos look. Plus.... any heroin addict worth their weight would not leave heroin in a pipe or do anything but use a needle. I’ve had to deal with a few and they usually would kill their mother for that much white powder. But that is an nice Dunhill......

 

[Chasing Embers]

Doesn't appear smoked.

 

[mikethompson]

If it was smoked once 40 years ago, does that matter today in the grand scheme of things?

I've never heard of a heroine pipe. Is that similar to a hero pipe?