Hobby Kit
Construction: Bowl: Ceramic, annoyingly heavy and draught hole is bottom center. Takes my thumb, but only to the knuckle, resulting in 45 minute smoke max.  No  capacious 2 hr. Calabash smoke here. It was held in place by tack glue. Removed, underside of bowl is threaded, but soft wood surface does not bode well for repeated removal,sealings. Probably best to clean here quarterly.  There is also a gap the thickness of 2 sheets of newspaper, when bowl is in place.<br />Pipe Body: This is NOT BRIAR. Unbelieveably  . . . it is made of BALSA WOOD! Top of pipe body is hollowed out with a floor at mid body and a 2nd Draught Hole at the back, 1/4" above the shank.<br />Stem: The stem, ferrule and screw tenon (in the shank) are hard, plastic, not Vulcanite.  It has a chemical taste to it initially. End of Bit is not round, but somewhat flatted and this makes for an air gap top & bottom when inserted into the ferrule.  After first use, the screw tenon in  the shank came loose. Wood glued it came loose a second time. Will probably need to resort to JB Weld to keep it in place. Gluing the stem to ferrule receiver to cure that air gap, is not an option, as you don't know where the pieces will line up when threaded back on the screw tenon. I subbed a bent Vulcanite stem, but there was still an air gap, but not as bad as the stock unit.<br />Useability: I gave it 2 stars, as it is smokeable. That overtly top heavy bowl requires some dexterity.  It always wants to fall forward. Hard to light, due to weight, bulk and center draught hole.  Czech Pipe tool handy when loading. Once going, draw is medium tight. This can be improved by opening 2nd draught hole to 5/32nd.<br />The knock on Ceramic pipes, is the heat they generate.  Here, the light wood body, gives a cooler surface to hold while your tobac burns cleanly in the Ceramic bowl. This is this lowly pipes' saving grace.<br />I looked for lowest price ($23.90 with Ship)and waited for the leisurely, 3 week, International shipping. Still, I paid too much by half, judging by product received. This pipe made by committee has a goofy charm for those who like to tinker, but I believe it is not worth the money or the aggravation to most pipesters.
Rating: 2 stars