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Homer

Starting to Get Obsessed
Aug 7, 2020
264
885
44
Finland
Father Dempsey in the little meer. Another day, more adventures. This particular day of adventures finds me turning 44 years young. Which honestly is refreshing because the first 4-5 months of this year I believed that I was going to be 45. 🤣View attachment 318657
Happy birthday!
Don’t worry about memory.
I am also 44yo.
 

Sig

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 18, 2023
228
1,263
Western NY

Makes sense -- why would a manufacturer or a carver take a stunning straight grain or an awesome birds eye and then sandblast or rusticate it, hiding its natural beauty. The exception is a sandblast or a rusticated with beautiful, amazing ring grain.
I've also heard .... underscoring your comment .... that "ugly" briar was chosen for leather wrapped pipes, with the same logic.
This is usually the case.
But, some sandblasted pipes may not have the grain they appear to have.
There are techniques to CREATE a beautiful ring grain sandblast from a less desirable piece of briar. Its not as easy as it seems to blast a pipe perfectly along its grain. Some makers who are VERY well known for their deep, craggly blasts don't even really follow the grain very well at all.....or so ive been told. ;)
I won't mention names but you can probably guess.