Wow, that is a really beautiful pipe! The grain pattern on it is so amazing and yes, the added briar to the stem is a really cool accent. Would you mind me asking where you picked it up and how much it set you back? I may need to save up for one of those beauties.
It's an estate pipe I got from Shiny Pipes on ebay. I think it set me back about 70 bucks, new it would have been a lot more. Also, verdict after about half a bowl is it smokes as good as it looks.
Yes they do. Unfortunately, while it is a plus that my current job is so close to home, I no longer have the option of running by the Briary after work. So I have to make a special trip now. Not that big a deal, I just haven't had a chance to get over there lately except to say goodbye to a guy who retired, having worked at The Briary and it's predecessor store for over 30 years. Unfortunately, while I support the local B&M as much as possible, P&C is about $25 less on the Draculas. However, one good thing about buying a pipe at The Briary is if a problem arises I know Skip will make it right. Plus I get to hold it in my hand. Hard to do that over the Internet. It's also hard to check draft hole placement, look in the bowl and shank, and feel the draft hole for placement without actually having it in hand.
The Bulldog is a classic shape. I've got a straight and bent Bulldog. You can find rusticated bulldogs, but they are probably most often smooth. Peterson makes a rusticated Bulldog, but I'm not sure what price range.
That is a beautiful Bulldog! I agree with everything you said about it. The stain, grain, the Amber colored stem that fits well with the stain, and the briar stem treatment are all awesome!
I am dying for someone to buy one of those so I can hear how it smokes. If it isn't a typical hot smoking Pete, it could be a winner.
I was browsing around P&C, and noticed a few offerings that might be in your range. This isn't quite the classic Bulldog, but it is rusticated: http://www.pipesandcigars.com/pipes/76846/bjarne-viking-houston-rustic-pipes/ This Roma isn't bad looking: http://www.pipesandcigars.com/pipes/87413/roma-panel-light-pipes/ In a less expensive Bulldog, this Luca straight may be my favorite: http://www.pipesandcigars.com/pipes/83891/rossi-lucca-pipes/ I can't remember if you have a local store, but if you do, sometimes you might luck up and find a "counter top" Bulldog. A little better grade than a basket pipe, but with no brand name, and considerably less than name brands. My straight Bulldog was a "counter top," and is a great pipe. One small putty fill that doesn't affect the way it smokes.
Don't forget to scour Smoking Pipes' estate pipes and watch Shiny Pipes on ebay. Both restore their pipes to smoking condition when you receive them, and you can pick up estate pipes that would normally be out of range pricewise if you had to get them new.
Estate pipes can be real bargains. I only have one, a Lorenzo with a very unique shape, that I picked up for $50 at The Briary. Brand new this was easily a $100 pipe or more. Plus, it was already cleaned up, and in excellent like new condition.
Those are all nice; but sadly wayyyyyy out of my current price range. =/ To me, a "value" or "bargain" pipe isn't the same as what P&C define them as. I just can't view spending $40-100 on ONE pipe as a "bargain" or "value". To me, $10-20 would be a value or bargain, with $20 being at the higher end. I remember when Dr. Grabow pipes could be bought just about anywhere, even ga stations; for all of $9.99. I'm actually looking for a Dr. Grabow Royal Duke (the Bent Bulldog style). I will keep an eye out for counter pipes if I ever happen on any tobacco stores. Sadly, the closest to me is about 60 miles away, so may be a lil while before I haeppen in to browse what they have. lol
If I can get over to The Briary I'll check out their counter top and basket pipes if they have any. If I spot a Bulldog for a great price I might just pick it up, and if you don't want it, I would really hate having another pipe!
Lol, fair enough good sir. Let me know what you come across and I am sure I can find someway to get you payment for it. And after all, who; sane or not; would mind having another pipe?! And ty. =) I may have to contact Dr. Grabow and see what it would take between them and a major retailer to start carrying their pipes at a decent price as well. I've been trying to work with Wal Mart and tobacco manufacturers to get Wal Mart to carry more than just Prince Albert; so may as well throw some pipes in the mix, right? lol
I hope you have success with that. I haven't seen any Dr. Grabow pipes in a while for what I would call reasonable prices.
Thanks! It's one of my oldest, from Humidor Pipe Shop in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. When you are looking at estate or house pipes, it's important to check the bore fore free clearance, the height of the drill out in the bowl (bottom dead center ideal), and look the pipe over for obvious putty fills. There are great values to be had, and many in my collection are of this type. Sandblast and/or rusticated are definitely my fave, but I didn't know that yet when I bought this back in the early nineties.
Nor have I. I saw one Duke at Walgreens today tucked onto a dusty bottom shelf behind the counter. It was $35! About twice the MSRP. I think the problem comes down to volume these days for the most part. The more a place can buy of them, the lower the price per unit. But a lot of places also no longer carry them because A). Pipe smoking had kind of become a lost art and "thing of the past" by and by for a good while. and B). The stigma about how "smoking is bad". So fewer stores seem to carry the quantity nor varieties they once did even 10 years ago. But I think if Wal Mart could be convinced that having a greater variety of tobaccos and some pipes at true value prices would gain customers and make them money based on the convenience to said customers, they may go for it, at least as a trial. And with the volume thy would buy, prices should be pretty low. I'm starting locally with Wal Mart though, so could be a while. But hey; you gain nothing if ya don't bother to try, right? I may even use you guys as a "test group" if the regional manager says they'd be willing to propose it to corporate.
Last night's notes on Gawaith Medium Virginia Flake-- A mild, straight VA. No signs of heavy fermentation , though you can tell it's pressed in the Lakeland style. Using a well-caked pipe, it yielded a mild a dry and cool smoke. The taste was typical VAa sweetness with a and of citrus and almost a molasses edge in the top half, full blown VA American style smoke in the second half. Will try agin in a couple of days.
Yeah, most of what I've seen are between $35 and $45. I may just be stuck in the past, lol; but I feel that is ridiculous for a Grabow. I feel like if they had more retailers and were able to retail the pipes somewhere in the $15-20 range, that they would have greater sales due to a recent upswing in the pipe smoking trend. I know if I could still walk into a store and buy a Grabow , Medico, Yello-bole, Kaywoodie for that price, I'd probably have a massive collection by now. lol
