I had an artisan make me a pipe, and I requested that it be blasted. But, as he was working, he got some killer grain. He wrote me and asked if I was interested in having a smooth with killer grain. I really didn't, because I just think smooths suck. I agreed if he would reduce the price... which is backwards from how they usually want to charge less for blasts... which doesn't make sense because half the artisans in the US send them to Rad to have blasted for a charge. Anyways, when I got it, it had an area where it was blasted. I asked about that, and he said that usually if you have a pit, you can either fill it or rusticate it in that area... but, since I seemed to like blasts, he had it blasted in that area.
Maybe the maker ran into a pit? I only deduce that from this one artisan pipemaker's reasoning.
Honestly, I think it looks like shit, like those ugly ass Marksman pipes that look like worms have eaten the wood away. I never smoke that custom pipe by the way. I should have just told the guy to keep that one for someone else if he wanted and make me one meant to be blasted.
