Less than advertised...
It is not a Briar pipe(it's not even Myrtle as the "wax berry" name states, nor gourd as Calabash states, and on the subject of Calabash, is not vaguely gourd-shaped.), it's heavy, clunky, and more fragile than a high-quality Meerschaum.<br /><br />The overwhelming solvent and pine smell let me know that it was not assembled properly(which also makes me hesitant on trying to use it to "break it in" for a worn look).<br /><br />The stain is several shades lighter than the picture, and not a Berry shade either.<br /><br />Under the porcelain bowl(which as others have noted, has a too small bowl for such a large piece of porcelain), was way too much glue to hold such a tiny band of thin cork, and the bowl was attached to the cork(most likely because they set the bowl and cork up, then pushed it into the bead of glue, hence the excessive puddles inside).  As another stated, the stem, ferrule and screw tenon (in the shank) are hard, plastic and stink of the glue they used to attach the cork.<br /><br />The Four pieces do not fit well, and after a lot of work, I was able to make it look decent(New Cork Band, sanding off the excessive puddles of glue, airing out the inner bowl to attempt to remove most of the solvent smells).  I probably will get a new stem kit to make it look better(and do more fitting work to make it sit well).<br /><br />I originally got it to be a prop for my son's Holmes costume, and had to do many repairs on it out of box to get even one good photo, as it fell apart upon posing.<br /><br />Bottom line, with work, it's a decent prop pipe(to sit on a mantel in a pipe stand), but nothing more.  If you are a connoisseur of fine tobacco, pass this one up, as it is not worth even trying to break in.<br /><br />Just my 2cp.
Rating: 2 stars