Blog

Restorations, Uncategorized

Reworking a Shank Repair on a Jeantet Neuilly Bent

This pipe has been on and off my work table since last August, believe it or not. It was just one of those projects that went in fits and starts, in this case due to the stubborn refusal of an old repair to submit to my ministrations. The pipe is a nicely shape full bent stamped… Continue reading Reworking a Shank Repair on a Jeantet Neuilly Bent

Guest Blogs, Restorations, Uncategorized

A Humpty Dumpty Cross Canada Project – Could this Poor Richards Select Square Shank Billiard 9489 ever be whole again?

Think that pipe in your box is done for? Take a look at this restoration, my second collaboration with Steve Laug of Reborn Pipes. We initially had labelled this pipe as firewood, but somehow managed a Hail Mary.

Restorations, Uncategorized

Author, Author! Cleaning up a Pair of Brigham Shape 29 Pipes

Here's another two-for-one pipe refurbishment. I've been picking up estate pipes in ones and twos recently, and adding them to the refurb box as I go. When I realized I had two vintage Brigham Shape 29  (aka Author) pipes waiting for me, I decided to work on them together. The first pipe is a 2-Dot… Continue reading Author, Author! Cleaning up a Pair of Brigham Shape 29 Pipes

Restorations, Uncategorized

Completing My Set of Brigham Bent Bulldogs

I've collected a few Brigham Shape 26 Bent Bulldog pipes over the years. The shape is one of my favourites, and was produced at every level in the Brigham range except the entry-grade 100 series. I had examples of the shape in 3-, 4-, and 5-Dot versions, so when I had the opportunity to acquire… Continue reading Completing My Set of Brigham Bent Bulldogs

Tobacco Reviews, Uncategorized

First Group Tobacco Review – Dunhill Standard Mixture

A fun group exercise -  a collective tasting and review from the Briars & Bull Pipe Club. The Briars & Bull Pipe Club makes our first bold foray, for good or ill, into the contentious world of pipe tobacco reviews with this post. At our February meeting last weekend we undertook as … Source: First Group Tobacco Review… Continue reading First Group Tobacco Review – Dunhill Standard Mixture

Pipe Essays, Uncategorized

IPSD Starter Sets for The Boys

February 20th is International Pipe Smoking Day! This is the perfect day for all pipers to be loud and proud about our pipe smoking hobby, so get out there and do your bit to support and encourage pipers everywhere! As February 20th in Canada tends to be a little on the nippy side, I decided… Continue reading IPSD Starter Sets for The Boys

Restorations, Uncategorized

The English Patient – Repair & Restoration of a 1918-1921 Dunhill Shell Briar

An email pinged into my inbox a few weeks ago, sent by a fellow member of the Briars & Bull Pipe Club here in Kitchener. He had, he said, an old Dunhill pipe he'd like to have cleaned up, and would I be interested in tackling the project for him? I said yes, of course, and… Continue reading The English Patient – Repair & Restoration of a 1918-1921 Dunhill Shell Briar

Restorations

Refreshing a Comoy’s King’s Ransom Bent Dublin

This King's Ransom pipe is another from my recent haul of estate pipes at a local antique market. It is stamped “King's Ransom” over “London Made” on the top of the shank, and “604” on the bottom. Unfamiliar with this marque, and finding nothing online, I emailed Steve Laug of RebornPipes, who linked me to… Continue reading Refreshing a Comoy’s King’s Ransom Bent Dublin

Restorations

Re-Stemming a Repatriated Patent Era Brigham 273 Panel Billiard

This pipe came to me via a recent eBay auction all the way from Israel. I usually try to stay a bit closer to home in my buying, but the prospect of adding a new Patent Era pipe shape to my Brigham collection had my mouse hand clicking “Bid Now” on this one. The seller… Continue reading Re-Stemming a Repatriated Patent Era Brigham 273 Panel Billiard