Just had my first bowl of Boswell's Northwoods, this stuff is good. Really smooth, I really enjoyed it. I only got 1oz to try it but I can already tell I'm going to have to order more soon.
Beautiful day outside so I sat in the backyard and enjoyed a bowl of Out Of Office - Civic Duty (a cherry blend) in the H.S Studio pipe I refer to as my H.R. Giger pipe because it resembles hiss's eclectic artwork.
@moite2 I did, but I'm not to up on how to directly reply. I hit reply on my email and it looks like it came back to me instead. So I posted a message on your Activity page. Not sure of that's the way it works but I think you'll se it there.
@motie2 When you buy a pipe on Ebay from H.S. Studio you never really know who the artist is - and I'd like to know his or her name. I have another in a similar shape but looks like an erupting volcano volcano. And I've almost positive it's by the same pipe maker. Do you know anyway to identify a pipe maker from H.S. Studios?
@ghostsofpompeii -- Uh, holy smoke!!! I just went to http://stores.ebay.com/benandci/HS-Studio-Pipe-/_i.html and I am knocked out. I knew nothing of this brand of pipes. The prices appear to be too good to be true, albeit they're bids with the pipes at auction with only a day left. But I'd guess people swoop in at the last possible moment and make a killing. There's a word for it; I forget.
On the other hand, if they are as good as they "appear" to be? How do they smoke? What are the bowls really made out of? What are the stems/bits made of? What else is used in their construction? I dunno.
Newminster Superior Navy Flake in a WF Sportif, I packed the pipe with the Palm Twist method and it worked well for me, complete burn, no relights and no Dottle.
@motie2 The two I have, which are pictured are both made of briar and smoke wonderfully. The bottoms of both pipes have a nice birds-eye grain and are quite beautiful as well.
@motie2, thanks for the kind words! Mr. Boswell has a special technique he uses to chip out his rustication, using a chisel if I am not mistaken. Here is a link you may find interesting, giving a little background on one of our country's most well known and respected pipe carvers, and shop owners. I have always wanted to drop by his retail store, but everytime I have been through PA, my schedule wouldn't allow me enough time to stop by for a visit.
xDutchx -- Thanks for pointing me in Mr. Boswell's direction. One can only marvel at his craftsmanship and what he has accomplished. What a wonderful environment he has created.
@motie2 - The "controversy" over HS Studio pipes seems to be mostly people getting their panties knotted because some of the pipes look to be copies of Danish pipes. I remember the threads you posted links to and went back through them. It sounds like the pipes discussed all turned out to be good smokers but smaller than what people expected. As far as the pipes being copies of a Danish design - in my opinion - that's like complaining someone's pick-up truck looks like my pick-up truck because it has a cab, 4 wheels and a bed you can through stuff in.
How many times has a Apple shaped pipe been carved by different carvers.
For those who don't want to go back and read the threads, HS Studio is more or less a clearing house for pipe carvers in China. My understanding is they buy the pipes from independent carvers and resale them.
Smoked some Boswell Cupcake in my inexpensive pear wood Calabash. First time smoking a Boswell blend and found it quite enjoyable. Didn't quite get the cupcake taste until I retro-haled ... and then I could get a distinct flavor of buttercream frosting.
Just finished a bowl of Boswell Christmas Cookie in my cheap Italian Churchwarden I got from Pipes And Cigars for $29.00. Great smoker and even better blend. Can't really detect much of a cookie flavor any more than I did a Cupcake flavor for the other Boswell blend I tried yesterday. But that's a topic for a different conversation I'm thinking about starting.
Comments
Just had my first bowl of Boswell's Northwoods, this stuff is good. Really smooth, I really enjoyed it. I only got 1oz to try it but I can already tell I'm going to have to order more soon.
McClelland Oriental #14 tinned in 97, in a Boswell Rusticated Poker carved in 2002......
Beautiful day outside so I sat in the backyard and enjoyed a bowl of Out Of Office - Civic Duty (a cherry blend) in the H.S Studio pipe I refer to as my H.R. Giger pipe because it resembles hiss's eclectic artwork.
@moite2 I did, but I'm not to up on how to directly reply. I hit reply on my email and it looks like it came back to me instead. So I posted a message on your Activity page. Not sure of that's the way it works but I think you'll se it there.
@motie2 When you buy a pipe on Ebay from H.S. Studio you never really know who the artist is - and I'd like to know his or her name. I have another in a similar shape but looks like an erupting volcano volcano. And I've almost positive it's by the same pipe maker. Do you know anyway to identify a pipe maker from H.S. Studios?
@motie2, thanks for the kind words! Mr. Boswell has a special technique he uses to chip out his rustication, using a chisel if I am not mistaken. Here is a link you may find interesting, giving a little background on one of our country's most well known and respected pipe carvers, and shop owners. I have always wanted to drop by his retail store, but everytime I have been through PA, my schedule wouldn't allow me enough time to stop by for a visit.
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-manufacturer-retailer-spotlight/jm-boswell-stradivari-of-the-pipe-world/