Thanks, this is a great pipe. I'm not sure what you mean by IIRC. By 4 dot and three dot I'm assuming you mean the stamped C's? From this link, I understand all the rusticated tans are grade 2 with 2 c's. 3 and 4 dot would be grades 5 and 6 in smooth finish with 3 and C's? https://www.theitalianpipe.com/infowell/guides/cavicchi.htm
If I remember correctly..... Yeah, that's what I was referring to. And my son's Cavicchi that I like best is in fact a 2 dot, or 2 C's. the 4 C's has unbelievable grain, but I like the shape and feel of the other.
The Briary used to carry a full line of Cavicchi's; Skip recently mentioned Claudio Cavicchi has gotten a little harder to do business with. Not sure if he meant prices or what. But they are mighty fine pipes.
Here's the haul from The Briary a couple of weeks ago. Frim the left is a very soft leather pouch for the Skip Elliot pipe, 2 tins of Frog Morton on the Town, a tin of Cohiba which is a semi-aromatic, similar to Partagas without the light touch of Latakia, 2 boxes of Swan matches, 2 tins of Dunhill 965, a tin of Dunhill Three Year Matured, Tin of Partagas, a GBD vintage Canadian from around 1970, and the Skip Elliot handmade. I'll get better pictures of the pipes when I'm not fighting shade, or washing out in sun light.
You can see the two pipes a little better here. Taking the SE on it's maiden voyage now, with H&H Virginia Spice, lit by Swan matches. The draw is unbelievable! The result of precisely drilled holes at 4mm vs industry standard 5/32, and deceiving bowl thickness aiding in cool smoke. The way the bowl and draft hole are drilled, not only is the draft hole perfectly centered and on the bottom, but dang near in the center of the bowl without being drilled too low. The draw is so effortless you have to be conscious of not over puffing compared to most factory produced pipes. I did get the LTC discount...long term customer! One other thing, the Swan matches are great! Hardly a trace of the odor and taste compared to Diamond kitchen matches.
Yes indeed! When you're down this way next time, if you can get away for lunch we'll hit up Jim N' Nicks again for some BBQ and head over to The Briary. Skip cleaned up the GBD, and trimmed the cake back. It had no odor whatsoever, but it seems to me that there is some sort of ghosting in the pipe. Whoever had it before apparently never smoked it all the way down, because the cake left doesn't go down the last 1/4 of the bowl. I'm thinking of getting Skip to take it down to the wood. He can do it without damaging the pipe, and then I can rebuild the cake the way I want it. This afternoon I scrubbed the shank with a bristle cleaner and pipe sweetner, and swabbed the stem thoroughly as well. I'll try it again a few times before getting Skip to do anything to it. I really like the vertical lines on the bowl, and the matching lines that go all the way around the shank.
I decided to wax my meeeschaum to see if it brought out a bit more color. It worked like a charm. The pic with the corks is before the dip wax treatment.
Something other than pipe tobacco...?? Just kidding Chris! Maybe in a former life, but I know you well enough now to know better!
I understand my friend, I've been in the same boat. Between some back issues (disc degeneration) dealing me fits, helping my daughter and son-in-law, and my son with various projects, I have had little time to sit back and relax with a pipe. I have had a few pipes that never made it into posts here, because I haven't had as much time to be online either!
me too! Unfortunately this finishes the tin of Reiners. Leaving on a business trip to San Diego tomorrow, so no pipes til Tuesday night.
Haven't posted here in a while but still puffing away. First bowl was a custom Twain with maple shank with Paul's Morning Smoke. Now enjoying 1820 in a Vermont Freehand Morta
