What is Your Favorite Type of Straight Grain on a Pipe?

[ssjones]

I agree, Comoys pipes run fairly small, Group 4-ish, around 40 grams. My two Extraordinaires (Comoys speak for larger pipes) are 55 and 68 grams each.

 

[rebornbriar]

Alan, thanks for the blog post, I was just on your site reading the other entries. Good articles.
Dave

Thanks Dave, I don't consider myself much of a writer. I will never be in the league of Neill Archer Roan

 

[cigrmaster]

Allan, there are plenty of Former pipes that are under 50 grams. I have owned 6 Formers and they were all excellent smoking pipes. His prices are way up there even as estates and honestly not a one smoked better than my American artisan pipes. Bang for the buck they are no bargain. If you are really pining for one, I can help you. The buttons on his stems are not nearly as pronounced as your Rad's or Thile's and definitely not as comfortable.

 

[allan]

Thanks, Harris.
I'll look online and check them out more carefully.
The fact is, I think I have enough pipes, but I'm confused with myself. Why do I want more? What is this obsession with getting more pipes? How many can one smoke at one time?
Its just not rational, this PAD and TAD. Where is my discipline? Searching for the pipe, deciding on it, bidding or buying it, waiting for the package to arrive, tearing it open (hopefully carefully, I'm a klutz), looking it over, feeling it, deciding which tobacco to put in it for the first time...Wanting to show it to my wife, even when she gives me that 'look'...
I must be ill. LOL

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

This thread is just getting better and better. Mainly because of the eye candy Beautiful pipes everyone.

 

[cigrmaster]

Allan, I will keep my eyes open for you in regards to Former, but honestly I think you will be better served keeping to American artisans for less money.
In regards to your very real case of PAD and TAD, don't fight it, rejoice in it. Be thankful that you have the means to feed the beast. You are not alone, the entire site is filled with like minded people who just love looking at pipes and thinking how nice a new one will be. New tobacco is always fun, new tastes, new experiences it is all good. Life is short, don't deny yourself, revel in your PAD and TAD and don't apologize to anyone. You are very disciplined, you do not pay 1000.00 for a new pipe, you have your price threshold and you stick to it which shows me that you are very disciplined. Now get online and buy a new pipe, you know you want to. :nana:

 

[kashmir]

While were on the subject of "straight grain", I read somwheres that when blasted a straight grain will yield a ring grain or shilling pattern. Has anyone heard of this? In looking at my smooth, unblasted straight grain pipes I often will see ring grain lines beneath the surface (perpendicular to the straight grain), which I guess,are the ring grain when the straight grain is blasted. If anyone could shed light on this, it would be most appreciated.

 

[pipebow88]

Harris I'm with you. Straight grain is nice, but I'll take my birdseye any day of the week! By far my favorite to see.
What Peck was talking about with Michael parks using saliva to see the grain is a common woodworking trick. Here are examples of that with a pipe that I'm currently restoring. Might get a coat of stain on it tonight as a matter of fact.

B

 

[petes03]

As Harris said, I am somewhat of a grain whore. So here's a few pics of different grains on a few of my pipes.
Left side, top to bottom;

Savinelli "122" Extra
Peterson "03" Shannon
Peterson "XL02" Aran
Right side;

Peterson "606" St. Pats
Peterson "B10" Shannon
Peterson "03" Aran

 

[petes03]

Left side;

Royal British "207'
Charatan "348DC"
Right side;

Peterson "Barrel"
Peterson "31" System
Ehrlich "Straight Grain"
Stanwell "40" Zebrano

 

[petes03]

By the way Kash, that Comoys is beautiful! It's my idea of what a bulldog should look like!

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Petes, those are all lovely pipes. I especially like the look of that '31' system

 

[petes03]

Thanks Anthony!

 

[kashmir]

Thanks petes. Yeah, Comoy really knew how to cut a bulldog, back in the day.

 

[tarak]

I'm drawn to straight and flame. Don't really own much yet…for my first season of pipes I only liked blasted and rusticated so….I'm currently on the hunt for an estate with great grain that I can afford…..
Right now the dream is a straight stem billiard, saddle stem, 1.3 oz. or under, with nice flame grain.

 

[lqjones]

My favorite kind of straight grain is the kind that's straight. My favorite kind of flame grain is the kind that's "flamey", etc. :mrgreen:

 

[owen]

A great thread some lovely pictures. I will never get tired of Kashmir's Comoys.

 

[fishnbanjo]

Picking one grain type against another is like having a preference of blondes over brunette's over redheads etc.
I have to state the majority of the pipes I own are blasts, rusticated or whatever way the maker uses to show the gnarly grain pattern of the briar, Strawberrywood, Morta or what have you.
If looking for a favored smooth pipe I'm definitely a Birdseye whore but won't turn my nose at wild grain patterns as long as they are homogenous with the pipe. When it comes down to straight grain patterns I'm definitely a fan of Angel Hair grain so fine they look thinner than natural hair.
Here are a few examples of what I mean.

That's how I roll!
banjo

 

[iamn8]

Love me some straight grain!!

 

[seacaptain]

I usually like a nice birdseye the best.
This pipe, Wow! what a work of art!