Weird Stem on a GBD

[ak2000]

Have any of you seen anything like this before? I asked Steve Pipestud since I got it from him and he says he didn't even notice since he "sees so many of them" and called it a "looped stem". I call bullsh-t. Looks like someone filed a notch on either side of the button and there is no mention of this on pipedia or any other GBD I've ever seen online. Plus, what could possibly be the purpose of this extra "manufacturing" step?

 

[Elric]

If Steve said it, you can probably take it to the bank. Could be a replacement stem. Looks like it could take an O-ring to function similar to a softie bit.

 

[SpookedPiper]

If Steve said it, you can probably take it to the bank. Could be a replacement stem. Looks like it could take an O-ring to function similar to a softie bit.

The o-ring idea Is pretty neat idea, much better than a softe bit. Those things are so big and feels like I am chewing gum instead of smoking a pipe.

 

[whsergent]

Never seen anything like that, own a few gbds and have crushed on quite a few online but thats a new one on me.

Im going with the "modified for an o ring or softy bit" theory. Unless maybe someone developed a lateral clench and modified it accordingly.

 

[BROBS]

what's the nomenclature on the pipe?

 

[ak2000]

It's the original stem, inscribed "Hand Cut". I would like to simply take Steve's word for it, but there is no information that I have found that backs it up and no logical reason for these notches to be there in my opinion. I too have been collecting gbd pipes for a number of years and have amassed a bit of a collection, so I have some experience with them.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Interesting, I bet it fits a clench like a glove. How does it smoke?

 

[condorlover1]

Actually thats really neat. I have to say I have never seen anything like that ever before. The fact I am enchanted by that stem means whatever it is, it is certainly a one off addition to your collection. Maybe a rubber gromit on the stem would really work well.

 

[crashthegrey]

I've never seen it but it is super interesting. Seems like it was well done and clean. It doesn't open into the slot or anything?

 

[SpookedPiper]

I've never seen it but it is super interesting. Seems like it was well done and clean. It doesn't open into the slot or anything?

That's an interesting thought as well, like a drool chamber?! ?

 

[BROBS]

I zoomed in on the pic at work..
looks home done to me. why? I couldn't tell you.. a better clench? oring install?

 

[ak2000]

Interesting, I bet it fits a clench like a glove. How does it smoke?

Haven't smoked it cuz I'm too obsessed with getting to the bottom of it. ?

 

[ak2000]

I zoomed in on the pic at work..
looks home done to me. why? I couldn't tell you.. a better clench? oring install?

Exactly, it's rough like it was done by a previous owner and not a factory standard. Though the stem is stamped hand cut, so ?

 

[BROBS]

I think the hand cut stamping is just a coincidence.

unless maybe someone ordered this directly from GBD or a reseller? I mean really anything is possible.

does the "hand cut" stamp match other GBD hand cut stampings?

 

[ak2000]

No idea as I don't have any other GBDs with this stamp. I have no doubt that this is the original stem.

 

[ssjones]

I've seen a dozen of so GBD's with "Hand Cut" stem stamps. Does your stamping look like these examples? I assume the stem has the GBD rondell?

One distinguishing feature of Hand Cut stems is all but one have had the round, what I call the "bullet style" tenon. The lone exception was the Prehistoric finish Cavalier shape (3rd stem down), which instead had a beautifully funneled tenon. (and that was the only Prehistoric I've seen with a Hand Cut stem stamp).

I've seen a lot of GBD catalogs and never seen a button like. I'd say pretty confidently that is not original to the stem as it came from GBD.

 

[ak2000]

Yup exactly like these and the expected rondelle

 

[ssjones]

Sounds like the original stem, that someone modified oddly. (Bullet tenon?)

 

[ak2000]

I've seen a lot of GBD catalogs and never seen a button like. I'd say pretty confidently that is not original to the stem as it came from GBD.

Exactly my thinking which is why I asked Steve about it after received. He was pretty dismissive about it. Plus it wasn't shown in the listing. On the other hand I honestly didn't even consider this particular pipe when I bid on the lot it was included in. I got a very good deal on the group of GBD pipes this was a part of and extremely happy with the rest.

 

[SpookedPiper]

Haven't smoked it cuz I'm too obsessed with getting to the bottom of it. ?

What are you waiting for again to enjoy it? You may have accidentally gotten a gem! Enjoy it and let us know, maybe we will all be carving out stems for comfort!