Fashioning a Replacement Stem for a French Gentleman No. 1 Rusticated Horn Pocket

This unique pipe came to me in what I have called the French Lot of 50.  I acquired it from the French eBay auction block and it has yielded many great collectable pipes for stewards who commissioned them from the For “Pipe Dreamers” Only! collection.  The picture below shows the French eBay seller’s presentation – …

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Sprucing Up a Classy Savinelli Silver 111 KS Italy Billiard

It’s fitting that the next pipe on the worktable is another well-known Italian pipe name, Savinelli.  Pipe man Gary from North Carolina added this Italian to the Brebbia Portofino, which came out great.  In the research drilling down to understand the origins of the Brebbia Portofino line, I discovered that this production line was an …

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Reviving a Kiko Countryman Genuine Block Meerschaum 7 Billiard of TANGANYIKA

The Kiko on the worktable came to me on a pipe picking expedition on December 27, 2019.  My wife and I were still living in Sofia, Bulgaria, where we had lived for 15 years.  In the center of the city is erected a majestic Orthodox church called Nevski Cathedral.  Just a small distance from Nevski …

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A New Beginning for an Elegant Orlik Royal Sovereign Made in England 188 Prince

The next pipe on the worktable is an elegant Prince shape commissioned by pipe man, Mike, who has commissioned other pipes as well benefiting the Daughters of Bulgaria – helping women and girls who have been trafficked and sexually exploited.  Mike is the founder and administrator of the FB group, Brothers by Briar, and currently …

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A Fresh Start for an Unbranded Italy Slightly Bent Oval Shank Billiard

The next pipe on the worktable got my attention when I saw it in January of 2018 on the online auction block from a seller in Hillsdale, Indiana.  Even though the only clue to its provenance was the stamp, ‘Italy’, I liked the oval shank and that gentle, slight bend that lends itself to the …

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Overcoming a Cracked Bowl and Button Rebuild for a French GEFAPIP 2500 Rusticated Dublin

The next pipe on the worktable came to me in what I have called the St. Louis Lot of 26 which my son, Josiah, discovered in a local antique shop.  He sent pictures to me in Bulgaria where we were still living, and I liked what I saw.  Josiah had one caveat regarding the purchase: …

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A Fresh Start for a Savinelli Oscar Aged Briar 102 Billiard of Italy

The next pipe on the table has some sentimental value to me.  It came to me in July of 2018 as a gift from a dear friend in Bulgaria.  Svetly actually gifted me 3 pipes on this occasion with the bones of one more.  A ‘Nelson’ quarter bent Billiard, London England, a Churchwarden Bruyere Garantie, …

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Fashioning a New Stem and Chamber Repair for a Chacom Relief Oval Shank Billiard

The next pipe on the worktable is an attractive Chacom Relief.  I am surprised it stayed in the ‘For “Pipe Dreamers” ONLY!’ collection as long as it did.  I acquired the Chacom December of 2018 in what I have called the ‘St. Louis Lot of 26’ that my son, Josiah, helped me to land.  Josiah …

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A Stem Replacement and Fresh Start for a McMillan Sports Made in England 60S Billiard

In January of 2018 I saw this fist-filling saddle stem Billiard on the online auction block from a seller in Hillsdale, Indiana.  The obscured grain had great potential, but the stem needed a good bit of help.  I put out a bid and brought this stout Billiard home to Bulgaria where we lived at the …

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